On a theorem of Shizuo Kakutani (Q1101563)

\textit{S. Kakutani} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 43, 739-741 (1942)] solved the following problem for \(n=3\) and left it open for \(n\geq 4\). If f is a continuous real valued function on the (n-1)-sphere \(S^{n-1}\), must there exist n points \(P_ 1,P_ 2,...,P_ n\) on \(S^{n-1}\) such that \(OP_ 1,...,OP_ n\) are perpendicular and \(f(P_ 1)=f(P_ 2)=...=f(P_ n)?\) The present paper considers an analogous problem with \({\mathbb{R}}^{n-1}\) replacing \(S^{n-1}\), again with an affirmative answer for the case \(n=3\). A topological argument shows that if \(\Omega\) is a bounded simply-connected domain in \({\mathbb{R}}^ 2,\) then its boundary \(\partial \Omega\) contains the vertices of an equilateral triangle. From this it follows that if f is a continuous real valued function on the one-point compactification of \({\mathbb{R}}^ 2,\) then there exist distinct points \(P_ 1\), \(P_ 2\), \(P_ 3\), vertices of an equilateral triangle, such that \(f(P_ 1)=f(P_ 2)=f(P_ 3)\).