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Minkowski's Theorem with Curvature Limitations (I)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2018

Z. A. Melzak*
Affiliation:
McGill University
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The well-known theorem of Minkowski, [1], [2], states that;

(M) a plane convex region, symmetric about the origin O, includes a lattice point other than O if its area is greater than 4.

By a lattice point we shall understand a point in the plane, both of whose coordinates are rational integers. In connection with (M) a critical region is defined to be a convex symmetric region of area 4, which includes no lattice point other than O. One such region is the open square S={(x, y)| |x| < 1, |y|<1} an infinite set of critical regions is formed by the parallelograms bounded by the lines y = x+1, y = x-1, y-1 = k (x-l), y+1 = k(x+l), 0≤-k<∞. Finally, there is a critical hexagon H, bounded by the following six lines: y-1 = -(x-l), y+1 = -(x+1), y-1 = mx, y+1 = mx, y = (1/m)(x-1), y = (l/m)(x+l), where m = tan π/12. All the vertex angles of H are equal to 2π/3.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Mathematical Society 1959

References

1. Minkowski, H., Geometrie der Zahlen, (Leipzig, 1910).Google Scholar
2. Hardy, G. H. and Wright, E.M., Introduction to the Theory of Numbers, (Oxford, 1945).Google Scholar
3. Blaschke, W., Kreis and Kugel, (New York, 1949).Google Scholar