On the nonexistence of \(k\)-reptile tetrahedra (Q644820)

A closed \(d\)-dimensional set \(X \subset {\mathbb R}^d\) is a \textit{\(k\)-reptile} (sometimes written \textit{rep tile} or \textit{rep-tile}) if there exist \(k\) mutually congruent sets \(X_1, X_2, \dots, X_k\) that are similar to \(X\), have disjoint interiors, and whose union is \(X\). The paper under review studies the question for which \(k\) and \(d\) there exist \(d\)-dimensional simplices that are \(k\)-reptiles. Triangles that are \(k\)-reptiles were classified in [\textit{S. L. Snover} et al., Discrete Math. 91, No. 2, 193--200 (1991; Zbl 0758.05044)], but the only previously-known construction for higher-dimensional reptile simplices seems to be that of [\textit{M.J.M. Hill}, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. 27, 39--53 (1896; JFM 27.0407.03)]. Partially confirming a conjecture of \textit{E. Hertel} [Beitr. Algebra Geom. 41, No. 2, 589--595 (2000; Zbl 0971.51015)] that Hill simplices are the only 3-dimensional reptile simplices, the main result of the paper under review asserts that 3-dimensional \(k\)-reptile simplices exist only for \(k = m^3\) where \(m\) is an integer \(\geq 2\). The proof uses tools related to Hilbert's third problem on equidecomposability of polyhedra. The authors conjecture, for \(d \geq 3\), that \(d\)-dimensional \(k\)-reptile simplices exist only if \(k = m^d\) for some integer \(m \geq 2\).