Hilbert's Third Problem - Original Question

Original Question

Hilbert's original question was more complicated: given any two tetrahedra T1 and T2 with equal base area and equal height (and therefore equal volume), is it always possible to find a finite number of tetrahedra, so that when these tetrahedra are glued in some way to T1 and also glued to T2, the resulting polyhedra are scissors-congruent?

Dehn's invariant can be used to yield a negative answer also to this stronger question.

Read more about this topic:  Hilbert's Third Problem

Famous quotes containing the words original and/or question:

    The Spacious Firmament on high,
    With all the blue Ethereal Sky,
    And spangled Heav’ns, a Shining Frame,
    Their great Original proclaim:
    Th’ unwearied Sun, from day to day,
    Does his Creator’s Pow’r display,
    And publishes to every Land
    The Work of an Almighty Hand.
    Joseph Addison (1672–1719)

    I don’t think the question needs to be genderized. It would feel great to anyone. But whether you’re a girl or a boy or a Martian, you still have to go out and prove yourself again every day.
    Julie Krone (b. 1963)