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My friends Ulaf and Vicky are each given the vector ${\bf i} = (1, 0)$ and another constant vector ${ \bf u}$ and ${\bf v}$ respectively. Starting at the origin, Ulaf and Vicky take a 2-dimensional 'vector walk' where each step is either ${\bf i}$ or one of their constant vectors, either forwards or backwards.
Thus, Ulaf could reach the points $n{\bf i }+m{\bf u}$ and Vicky could reach the points $n{\bf i }+m{\bf v}$ for any whole numbers $n$ and $m$.
After walking around for a while, Ulaf tells me that the points nearest to the origin he could reach formed the vertices of an equilateral triangle and Vicky tells me that the points nearest to the origin that she could reach formed the vertices of a regular hexagon. Using this information, work out ${ \bf u}$ and ${\bf v}$.
Later that day, Wilber went on a vector walk using the vectors ${\bf i} = (1, 0)$ and ${\bf w}$. He tells me that the points nearest to the origin that he could reach formed a regular pentagon. Why must Wilber be mistaken?
Polygon Walk
Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level 
My friends Ulaf and Vicky are each given the vector ${\bf i} = (1, 0)$ and another constant vector ${ \bf u}$ and ${\bf v}$ respectively. Starting at the origin, Ulaf and Vicky take a 2-dimensional 'vector walk' where each step is either ${\bf i}$ or one of their constant vectors, either forwards or backwards.
Thus, Ulaf could reach the points $n{\bf i }+m{\bf u}$ and Vicky could reach the points $n{\bf i }+m{\bf v}$ for any whole numbers $n$ and $m$.
After walking around for a while, Ulaf tells me that the points nearest to the origin he could reach formed the vertices of an equilateral triangle and Vicky tells me that the points nearest to the origin that she could reach formed the vertices of a regular hexagon. Using this information, work out ${ \bf u}$ and ${\bf v}$.
Later that day, Wilber went on a vector walk using the vectors ${\bf i} = (1, 0)$ and ${\bf w}$. He tells me that the points nearest to the origin that he could reach formed a regular pentagon. Why must Wilber be mistaken?
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