Pick's Theorem gives the area of a simple polygon whose vertices all lie on points of an integer lattice, expressing that area in terms of the number of lattice points strictly inside the polygon and the number of lattice points on its boundary. Proved by Georg Alexander Pick, it provides an exact area formula requiring only counting, with no measurement of lengths or angles.
Facts
StatementFor a simple polygon whose vertices all lie at integer lattice points, the enclosed area A equals i plus half of b minus 1 (A = i + b/2 - 1), where i is the number of lattice points strictly interior to the polygon and b is the number of lattice points on its boundary. 1 Proof YearYear the result was first described by Georg Alexander Pick; popularized in English by Hugo Steinhaus in the 1950 edition of Mathematical Snapshots. Classification
Statement Form Connections
Has Statement Form
In Branch
Principal Result Of
Source MacTutor History of Mathematics, University of St Andrews: Georg Alexander Pick
Proved By
Source Pick's Theorem (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Pick's Theorem (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
In geometry, Pick's theorem provides a formula for the area of a simple polygon with integer vertex coordinates, in terms of the number of integer points within it and on its boundary. The result was first described by Georg Alexander Pick in 1899.
Proved By: Georg Alexander Pick, Lead
The result was first described by Georg Alexander Pick in 1899.
View the Source MacTutor History of Mathematics, University of St Andrews: Georg Alexander Pick
MacTutor History of Mathematics, University of St AndrewsPrincipal Result Of: Georg Alexander Pick, Biography textQuote, Principal Result Of: Georg Alexander Pick, Biography text
He is best remembered, however, for Pick's theorem which appeared in his eight page paper of 1899 Geometrisches zur Zahlenlehre Ⓣ published in Prague in Sitzungber.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.