A minimum distance: arithmetic and harmonic means in a geometric dispute

• Autores: Miguel Casquilho, Jorge Buescu
• Localización: International journal of mathematical education in science and technology, ISSN 0020-739X, Vol. 42, Nº. 3, 2011, págs. 399-405
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1080/0020739x.2010.526253
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• Resumen

  • Given two points, the source and the destination, on one side of an angle, the simple problem of finding a point on the other side at minimum total travelling distance has a solution that, when the angle tends to zero, is somewhat counterintuitive, leading to a geometric dispute between the arithmetic and the harmonic means.