Proof that x*y requires reference length:

if x is reference length then x*y is y

if y is reference length then x*y is x

If we do not know the reference length and if x and y are different
then we do not know if x*y is x or y but we know that it could be
either of those.

-- 
Raul


On Thu, Jul 14, 2016 at 1:19 PM, Roger Hui <[email protected]> wrote:
> Given line segments x and y, construct (using compass and straight edge)
> line segments having the following values:
>
> x+y
> x-y
> x*y
> x%y
>
> The first two are immediate.  I have proven that x%y is impossible if you
> are not given a reference length 1 (or some other reference length from
> which to construct 1).
>
> The problem is, prove or disprove that you construct x*y without using 1.
>  (Constructing x*y and x%y _with_ 1 are pretty easy.)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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