Real projective space as a space of planar polygons

Abstract

We prove that real projective space RP^{n-3} is homeomorphic to the space of all isometry classes of n-gons in the plane with one side of length n-2 and all other sides of length 1. This makes the topological complexity of real projective space more relevant to robotics.

Improved geometric figures, minor clarifications. This version submitted for publication