Question 334938: There are two stools. Three-legged stool & Four legged stool
a. One stool rocks slightly from side to side on your kitchen floor. Which of the two stools could this possibly be? Explain why or why not
b. Suppose that each stool is placed on a flat surface that is slightly sloped.
Do you expect either of the stools to rock side to side? Explain why or why not.
My son has this as a geometry problem and I have no clue how to assist him or help explain this. Thank you for your help
Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! There are two stools. Three-legged stool & Four legged stool
a. One stool rocks slightly from side to side on your kitchen floor. Which of the two stools could this possibly be? Explain why or why not
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The four legged stool rocks when the three legged does not.
Why? The three points determine a plane. Even if the legs are
not the same length, the three feet of the legs are on one plane.
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b. Suppose that each stool is placed on a flat surface that is slightly sloped.
Do you expect either of the stools to rock side to side? Explain why or why not.
The flat surface is one plane, so the 3 legged stool should not rock.
Depending on the slope, it may fall over but it will not rock.
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Note: The problem is emphasizing that three poins determine a single plane
where 4 points do not.
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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