On the smallest area $n-1$-gon containing a convex $n$-gon

Abstract

We prove that every unit area convex pentagon is contained in a convex quadrilateral of area no greater than $3/\sqrt{5}$, and that every unit area convex hexagon is contained in a convex pentagon of area no greater than $7/6$. Both results are tight as the case of the regular pentagon (hexagon) shows. We conjecture that for every $n\ge 6$, every unit area convex $n$ - gon is contained in a $(n-1)$ - gon of area no greater than $1+\tan(2\pi/n)\sec(\pi/n)/n$.