(Not) hearing where certain triangular drums are struck

Abstract

We investigate whether or not one can hear at what point (up to symmetry) a drum is struck for some special planar triangles. We prove that one can hear where the equilateral and isosceles right triangles are struck. We also prove that the 30-60-90 triangle, surprisingly, has two audibly indistinguishable points. This is the first known topologically connected such example.

29 pages, 8 figures