Problems

Age
Difficulty
Found: 24

A paper band of constant width is tied into a simple knot and tightened. Prove that the knot has the shape of a regular polygon.

image

In the picture below you can see the graphs of \(K_5\), the complete graph on \(5\) vertices, and \(K_{3,3}\), the complete bipartite graph on \(3\) and \(3\) vertices. A theorem states that these graphs cannot be embedded into plane, namely one cannot draw graphs \(K_5\) and \(K_{3,3}\) on a plane in such a way that there are no intersecting edges.
The question is: can you draw the graphs \(K_5\) and \(K_{3,3}\) without intersecting edges on a torus?

image

Is it possible to draw the graph \(K_{3,3}\) without intersecting edges on a Moebius band?

Is it possible to link three rings together in such a way that they cannot be separate from each other, but if you remove any ring, then the other two will fall apart?

If we glue the opposite sides of the paper band in the same direction as on the picture, we will get a cylinder. What surface do we get, if we glue the circles of the cylinder in the same direction as well?

image

We start with a rectangular sheet of paper - preferably with proportions more than \(6:1\), so that it looks more like a band. For now assume that one can stretch or shrink the paper band as needed. Describe the surface we get if we start with a rectangular sheet of paper and then glue the opposite sides of the paper band in the opposite direction as in the picture.

image

How would you describe the surface obtained by glueing the sides of the octagon as on the picture? Sides of the same colour are glued together in the same direction as shown.

image

Describe the surface which we can get if we start with a rectangular sheet of paper, make a cylinder by glueing the opposite sides in the same direction and then glue the other opposite sides of the paper band in the opposite direction as on the picture.

image

Describe the surface which we can get if we start with a rectangular sheet of paper, make a Moebius band by glueing the opposite sides in the opposite directions and then glue the other opposite sides of the paper band in the opposite direction as on the picture.

image

Suppose you have a coffee mug made of stretchy and expandable material. How do you mold it into a donut that has a hole inside?