Question 623657: Why doesnt a three legged table wobble?
Answer by math-vortex(648)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Hi, there--
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Mathematically, three points determine a plane. In other words, for any three points chosen on an uneven floor, there is an even floor with some slight tilt that passes through these points. A stool with legs touching the floor at these three points doesn't know that it is not sitting on this even floor.
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When a four-legged stool, on the other hand, is to be set down so that its legs hit the floor at a certain four points, these four points are not necessarily contained in a single plane. Assuming the stool is designed for an even floor, it may be able to touch with only three legs at once, wobbling between different choices of three legs.
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citation: David Greenspan, Lexington, KY USA
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-18846,00.html
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