Given $5$ points in the plane, no three of them being collinear. Show that among these $5$ points, we can always find $4$ points forming a convex quadrilateral.
Problem
Source: IMO LongList 1959-1966 Problem 4
Tags: geometry, combinatorial geometry, combinatorics, IMO Shortlist, IMO Longlist
08.09.2004 01:23
Please post your solutions. This is just a solution template to write up your solutions in a nice way and formatted in LaTeX. But maybe your solution is so well written that this is not required finally. For more information and instructions regarding the ISL/ILL problems please look here: introduction for the IMO ShortList/LongList project and regardingsolutions
08.09.2004 01:38
This is the famous result of Esther Klein which introduced Erds and Szekeres to Ramsay theory.... Clearly, there is nothing to prove if the convex hull of the five points is a quadrilateral or a pentagon. Since the points are not collinear, we only have to deal with the case that the convex hull is a triangle, say $ABC$, with two of the points, say $D,E$ in its interior. Now, the line $DE$ meet two side of the triangle $ABC$ (recall that no three points are collinear), say $AB$ and $AC$. Thus $B,C,D,E$ are in some order the vertices of a convex quadrilateral, and we are done. Pierre.
08.09.2004 01:41
Isn't this rather combinatorics? I just can't believe I'd solve a Geometry longlisted question so easy If point E is outside ABCD, the problem is trivially solved. If it's inside, draw the diagonal AC. Since no 3 are collinear, E is on one side of AB, say WLOG on the side towards D. Then it follows immediately that ABCE is convex Peter
08.09.2004 01:42
Ah darn, Pierre is once again faster. And this time with a <1 page solution this must be really easy!
15.08.2022 04:16
Let the $5$ points be $A$, $B$, $C$, $D$, and $E$. We first consider $A$, $B$, $C$, and $D$. If each of these is in the exterior of the triangle determined by the other $3$ points, we are done by $ABCD$. If one of these is in the interior, however, WLOG let it be $A$. We now proceed with casework based on the position of $E$. If $E$ is in the exterior of triangle $BCD$, the lines $AB$, $AC$, and $AD$ split the plane into $3$ regions. If $E$ is in the region determined by $AB$ and $AC$, then $ABEC$ is convex, and analogous reasoning applies to the other $2$ regions. If $E$ is in the interior of triangle $BCD$, extend $BA$ bast $A$ to intersect $CD$ at $E$, and define $F$ and $G$ similarly. Then, if $E$ is in the interior of triangle $ACG$ or $ADF$, $AECD$ or $AEDC$ is convex respectively. Analogous reasoning applies to the other $2$ pairs of triangles. $\blacksquare$
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