Dynamic geometry of polygons (Q5945673)

The paper considers sequences \(T^jP\) (\(j=0,1\dots\)) of polygons, where \(P\) is an initial polygon and \(T\) some operator (for instance, \(TP\) can be the sequence of midpoints of edges of \(P\)). If \(P\) has \(n\) vertices and is cyclic, and \(\theta_i\) (indices modulo \(n\)) is its sequence of central angles, \(TP\) may be defined by having the same circumcircle and central angles \(\theta_i'=\sum_j s_{ij}\theta_j\). It is shown that \(\lim_{n\to\infty} T^n P\) exists up to a rotation and is a regular polygon if \((s_{ij})\) is doubly stochastic but no permutation matrix; and if \(\deg P = L^2-4 n\tan{(\pi/n) A}\) (the degree of irregularity of \(P\), with \(A\) as area and \(L\) as circumference of \(P\)), then \(\deg P>\deg TP\). The authors further consider some applications, extensions, and similar results, mainly in triangle geometry.