PUZZLE: Let S and T be unit segments in 3-space with S parallel to the z-axis, with midpoint at (-x,0,0) and T parallel to the y-axis, with midpoint at ( x,0,0).

Connect each endpoint of S to one endpoint of T so as to get disjoint segments U and V.

Set m(x) := the (least) distance between U and V.

QUESTION: What is the limit of m(x) as x -> oo ?

suppose instead that the length of S is 2a , and the length of T is 2b . now what is the distance between U and V , and how does this distance change as x --> oo ? mike