For any two convex polygons P1 and P2 with mutually distinct vertices, denote by f(P1,P2) the total number of their vertices that lie on a side of the other polygon. For each positive integer n≥4, determine max(We say that a polygon is convex if all its internal angles are strictly less than 180^\circ.) Josef Tkadlec (Czech Republic)
Problem
Source: 2021 Czech-Polish-Slovak Match, P3
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05.05.2022 13:27
The answer is [\frac{4n}{3}] . the example can be constructed easily . Just fix P_1 and put P_2 in such a way that alternatively , there is two of three vertices of P_i on P_{i+1} (i is considered mod 2) Now , we shall somehow give an order to the 2n vertices of P_1 , P_2.Consider a point which is not on any of lines passing through two of 2n vertices , name this point A. Now consider all 2n lines connecting A and vertices of P_1,P_2.We can consider the 2n vertices ,in clockwise order , so we have the order we wanted. Let's show that for any three consecutive vertices in this clockwise order , at most two of them satisfies the condition (name this points good). Assume by contrary. clearly this three vertices cannot belong to the same polygon. If two of them belonged to P_1(or P_2 , there's no difference between this two case) , then if there were like 1 ,1 , 2 (exactly in this order) ,then there is another 1 in the right side of 2 so the 1's are all collinear which is impossible. If it was like 1,2,1 , these three points should be collinear and So there is another 2 in the right of 2,1 and another 2 in the left of 12 , So three of 2s are collinear which in contradiction . So at most two of any three consecutive vertices satisfy the condition. Summing up , the answer would be [\frac{4n}{3}].