There is a large circle with radius R. Inside this circle is placed another circle with radius r (< R) so that the two circles are concentric. Now, in the region between the circumferences of the two circles, place N circles (of diameter R-r) such that each small circle has one and only one point of contact with each large circle and with two adjacent small circles.
Basically, imagine that this is like a bearing system.
Is this possible? If so, what is the radius of the smaller of the two large circles (r) in terms of the radius of the largest circle (R). Also, how many "small" circles can fit in the space between the two "large" circles?
I hope this is clear. I thought about this puzzle earlier today and can't figure out how to solve it. I guess that's what 15 years of no formal math can do to a person... *sigh*
2007-10-01
16:47:42
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9 answers
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asked by
Anonymous
in
Mathematics