Problem

Source: 42nd International Tournament of Towns, Senior A-Level P7, Spring 2021

Tags: combinatorics, combinatorial geometry, Tournament of Towns



An integer $n > 2$ is given. Peter wants to draw $n{}$ arcs of length $\alpha{}$ of great circles on a unit sphere so that they do not intersect each other. Prove that for all $\alpha<\pi+2\pi/n$ it is possible; for all $\alpha>\pi+2\pi/n$ it is impossible; Ilya Bogdanov