Why is Helfenstein's claim about equichordal points false?

zbMATH Open1255.52003arXiv1202.1609MaRDI QIDQ713049FDOQ713049

Publication date: 25 October 2012

Published in: The New York Journal of Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: This article explains why a paper by Heinz G. Helfenstein entitled "Ovals with equichordal points", published in J.London Math.Soc.31, 54-57, 1956, is incorrect. We point out a computational error which renders his conclusions invalid. More importantly, we explain that the method cannot be used to solve the equichordal point problem with the method presented there. Today, there is a solution to the problem: Marek R. Rychlik, "A complete solution to the equichordal point problem of Fujiwara, Blaschke, Rothe and Weizenb"ock", Inventiones Mathematicae 129 (1), 141-212, 1997. However, some mathematicians still point to Helfenstein's paper as a plausible path to a simpler solution. We show that Helfenstein's method cannot be salvaged. The fact that Helfenstein's argument is not correct was known to Wirsing, but he did not explicitly point out the error. This article points out the error and the reasons for the failure of Helfenstein's approach in an accessible, and hopefully enjoyable way.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1202.1609

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zbMATH Keywords

equichordal point problem

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Invariant manifolds of functional-differential equations (34K19) Convex sets in (2) dimensions (including convex curves) (52A10)

Cited In (1)

Geometric continuity of plane curves in terms of Riordan matrices and an application to the \(F\)-chordal problem

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