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Yes, rectangle would also be degenerate. Basically any configuration where adding an epsilon weight somewhere generates a non-epsilon shift so to speak.


To me, "degenerate" means that it has a symmetry so that the different states are somehow identical (e.g. equal energy in a quantum system). If it's rectangle-ish (say, an imperfect hand-drawn rectangle) then it has 4 distinct equilibrium positions. Not sure if we're thinking of the same with "degenerate".


A plus shape "+" has four stable equilibriums which all stable optimums, resistant to weight and self correcting.


You mean unstable?




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