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An Introduction to The Geometry of N Dimensions
by D. M. Y. Sommerville

1929 (Dover 1958)
(Archive, text, pdf) Pages photographed in links, and preface/table of contents/Bibliography OCR (minimal correction)

CONTENTS (-8 to -6)

  • PREFACE (-5 to -1)

  • CHAPTER I: Fundamental Ideas  (1-21)

    • 1. Origins of geometry … 1
    • 2. Extension of the dimensional idea … 1
    • 3. Definitions and axioms of geometry … 2
    • 4. The axioms of incidence … 3
    • 5. Projective geometry … 4
    • 6. Construction of three-dimensional space … 4
    • 7. Desargues’ theorem … 5
    • 8. Extension to four dimensions 6
    • 9. Degrees of freedom : dimensions … 7
    • 10. Extension to n dimensions … 8
    • 11. Independent points … 8
    • 12. Common flat and containing flat of two linear spaces … 8
    • 13. Degrees of freedom of linear spaces : constant-number … 9
    • 14. Degrees of incidence … 9
    • 15. Duality … 9
    • 16. Number of conditions required for a given degree of incidence … 10
    • 17. Incidence of a linear space with two or more linear spaces: Enumerative geometry … 10
    • 18. Principle of specialisation … 11
    • 19. Enumerative geometry of linear spaces … 11
    • 20. Duality in enumerative geometry … 12
    • 21. Number of incident spaces in two and three dimensions … 12
    • 22. Incident spaces in four dimensions … 13
    • 23. Incident spaces in five dimensions … 15
    • 24. A general enumerative problem in n dimensions … 18
    • 25. Motion and congruence … 19
    • 26. Order. Division of Sn by n+1 hyperplanes ; the simplex … 20
  • CHAPTER II Parallels (22-29)

    • 1. Parallel lines. Elliptic, hyperbolic, euclidean, and projective geometries … 22
    • 2. Transitivity of parallelism … 22
    • 3. Euclidean geometry : Parallel lines and planes … 23
    • 4. Direction and orientation … 24
    • 5. Points, lines, and plane at infinity … 24
    • 6. Parallelism in space of four dimensions. Half-parallel planes … 25
    • 7. The hyperplane at infinity 26
    • 8. Parallelism in Sn ; Degrees of parallelism … 26
    • 9. Degrees of parallelism possible in a given space … 27
    • 10. Sections of two parallel or intersecting spaces … 27
    • 11. The parallelotope 28
  • CHAPTER III Perpendicularity  (30-38)

    • 1. Line normal to an (n-1)-flat … 30
    • 2. System of n mutually orthogonal lines. Complete orthogonality … 31
    • 3. Orthogonality in relation to the absolute : absolute poles and polars … 31
    • 4. The absolute in four dimensions … 33
    • 5. Half-orthogonal planes in S4 33
    • 6. Orthogonality in Sn 35
    • 7. Degrees of orthogonality … 36
    • 8. Degrees of orthogonality possible in a given space … 36
    • 9. Relation between orthogonality and parallelism … 37
    • 10. Degrees of orthogonality of a linear space to linear spaces lying in another flat … 37
  • CHAPTER IV : Distances and Angles between flat spaces  (39-50)

    • 1. Mutual invariants of two linear spaces 39
    • 2. Angle between an Sp and an Sq which have highest degree of intersection 39
    • 3. Distance between two completely parallel p-flats … 40
    • 4. Distance between two linear spaces with no common point. 40
    • 5. Distances between two parallel spaces … 41
    • 6. Angles between two planes in S441
    • 7. The two common orthogonal planes of two given planes … 42
    • 8. Maximum and minimum angles … 43
    • 9. Isocline planes … 44
    • 10. Special cases of two planes … 44
    • 11. The three mutual invariants of two planes in general … 45
    • 12. The pangles between two p-flats … 45
    • 13. The q angles between an Sp, and an Sq with one common point. 45
    • 14. Mutual invariants of and Sq in general … 46
    • 15. Construction of the q angles between an Sp and an … 46
    • 16. Angles between the normal flats to two given flats … 47
    • 17. Angles between Sq and the normal flat to Sp47
    • 18. Projections … 48
    • 19. Parallel projection … 48
    • 20. Orthogonal projection … 49
    • 21. Projection of an orthotope into an ortholope … 49
    • 22. Content of the projection of a p-dimensional region … 50
  • CHAPTER V: Analytical Geometry : Projective (51-72)

    • 1. Representation of a point by a set of numbers … 51
    • 2. Parametric equations of a line, plane, … , (p-1)-flat … 51
    • 3. Equation of an (n-1)-flat … 52
    • 4. Equations of a (p-1)-flat … 52
    • 5. Matrix notation. Rank of a matrix … 53
    • 6. Number of conditions implied by the rank of a matrix … 53
    • 7. Condition that p points should be independent … 54
    • 8. Condition that p hyperplanes should be independent … 55
    • 9. Simplex of reference … 55
    • 10. The unit-point. Coordinates expressed by cross-ratios … 55
    • 11. Duality … 56
    • 12. Equation of a variety : its order … 56
    • 13. Parametric equations. Rational varieties … 57
    • 14. Rational normal curves … 57
    • 15. Intersection of a variety by a linear space … 58
    • 16. Rational normal varieties … 58
    • 17. Quadric varieties … 59
    • 18. Conjugate points, polar, tangent … 59
    • 19. Correlations … 60
    • 20. Polar system, null system … 61
    • 21. Canonical equation of quadric … 62
    • 22. Real linear spaces lying on a quadric … 62
    • 23. Sylvester’s Law of Inertia … 63
    • 24. Specialised quadrics. Double elements. Hypercones … 64
    • 25. Hypercones in general … 65
    • 26. Polar spaces … 66
    • 27. Tangent spaces … 67
    • 28. Conditions for a hypercone … 67
    • 29. Degenerate quadrics … 67
    • 30. Linear spaces on a quadric ; cases where n is odd or even … 68
    • 31. Multiplicity of the linear spaces … 69
    • 32. Further distinction for n odd or even … 70
    • 33. The two systems of p-flats on a V2n-1: distinction for n odd or even … 71
  • CHAPTER VI Analytical Geometry : Metrical (73-95)

    • 1. Metrical coordinates referred to a fundamental simplex … 73
    • 2. Identity connecting the point coordinates … 74
    • 3. The hyperplane at infinity … 74
    • 4. Special coordinate systems analogous to trilinears and areals … 74
    • 5. Cartesian coordinates … 75
    • 6. Radius-vector ; distance between two points … 75
    • 7. Direction-angles ; angle between two lines … 76
    • 8. Equation of a hyperplane ; distance from a point to a hyperplane … 77
    • 9. Equations of a straight line ; Joachimsthal’s formulae … 77
    • 10. The hypersphere … 78
    • 11. The hypersphere at infinity ; Absolute … 79
    • 12. General cartesian coordinates ; the distance-function … 80
    • 13. Direction-ratios ; angle between two lines … 81
    • 14. The hyperplane ; direction and length of the perpendicular from the origin … 82
    • 15. Angle between two hyperplanes ; tangential equation of the Absolute … 82
    • 16. Plücker coordinates of a plane through the origin in S483
    • 17. Condition that two planes through the origin should have a line in common … 84
    • 18. Representation of the lines of Ss or the planes through a point in S4 by points on a quadric in S585
    • 19. Linear complex, linear congruence, and regulus … 86
    • 20. The special linear congruence … 87
    • 21. Metrical relations between planes through a point in S4 ; the absolute polar of a plane … 87
    • 22. Condition that two planes should have a line in common … 88
    • 23. Condition that two planes should be completely parallel … 88
    • 24. Condition that two planes should be half-parallel … 89
    • 25. Condition that two planes should be completely orthogonal … 89
    • 26. Condition that two planes should be half-orthogonal … 89
    • 27. The two common orthogonal planes to two planes through the origin … 89
    • 28. Numerical example … 90
    • 29. Coordinates of a (k-1)-flat in Sn91
    • 30. Identities connecting the coordinates … 93
    • 31. Condition of intersection of p-flat and q-flat in Sp+q+194
    • 32. Variety representing the assemblage of k-flats in Sn94
  • CHAPTER VII: POLYTOPES (96-117)

    • 1. Definition ; boundaries … 96
    • 2. Boundaries of the simplex … 96
    • 3. Configurations … 97
    • 4. Relations connecting the configurational numbers … 97
    • 5. Application of configurational numbers to a polytope … 98
    • 6. Simple and complex polytopes … 98
    • 7. Convex polytopes … 99
    • 8. Face- and vertex-constituents … 99
    • 9. Isomorphism … 100
    • 10. Schlegel diagrams … 100
    • 11. Allomorphism … 101
    • 12. Polar-isomorphism, reciprocal polytopes … 101
    • 13. Triangular and trithedral polyhedra. Truncating and pointing … 102
    • 14. Simplex-polytopes and simplex-polycoryphas … 102
    • 15. Sections and frusta of a simplex … 103
    • 16. Sections and frusta of a tetrahedron … 103
    • 17. Sections and frusta of a simplex in S4104
    • 18. Sections and frusta of a simplex in Sn105
    • 19. Isomorphism between sections and frusta of simplexes … 105
    • 20. Number of simplex-polytopes in Sn with n+2 cells … 106
    • 21. Other 6-cells in S4108
    • 22. Enumeration of polyhedra in S3 ; the complete enumeration of hexahedra … 109
    • 23. Pyramids … 111
    • 24. Prisms; parallelotope, orthotope … 113
    • 25. The simplotope … 113
    • 26. The pyramidoid … 115
    • 27. Prismoids … 115
  • CHAPTER VIII : Mensuration : Content (118-140)

    • 1. General considerations. The orthotope … 118
    • 2. The prism … 118
    • 3. The parallelotope … 119
    • 4. The pyramid … 123
    • 5. The simplex, in terms of its edges … 124
    • 6. The pyramid of second species, in terms of base and opposite edge … 126
    • 7. The pyramid of species r128
    • 8. The simplotope … 130
    • 9. Prismoidal formulas … 131
    • 10. The content of the prismoidal figure of species r expressed by means of pairs of parallel sections … 131
    • 11. Determination of the coefficients … 132
    • 12. Content of the general prismoid … 135
    • 13. The hypersphere : volume-content … 135
    • 14. The hypersphere : surface-content … 136
    • 15. Varieties of revolution … 137
    • 16. Content of a variety of revolution of any species … 138
    • 17. Extensions of Pappus’ Theorem … 139

    CHAPTER IX: Euler’s Theorem (141-160)

    • 1. Euler’s polyhedral formula : various proofs … 141
    • 2. Conditions of validity … 143
    • 3. Connectivity of polygons … 144
    • 4. Polyhedra with ring-shaped faces … 144
    • 5. Connectivity of polyhedra … 145
    • 6. Ring-shaped polyhedra … 145
    • 7. Polyhedra with cavities … 146
    • 8. Eulerian polyhedra … 146
    • 9. Incomplete polyhedra and polytopes … 146
    • 10. Euler’s theorem for simply-connected polytopes … 147
    • 11. Other relations connecting the number of boundaries of a polyhedron … 147
    • 12. Configurational relations in higher space … 149
    • 13. General theorems on simplex-polytopes and polycoryphas … 149
    • 14. Proofs of Euler’s theorem in four dimensions by consideration of angles … 150
    • 15. Measurement of n-dimensional angles … 152
    • 16. Relation connecting the area and angle-sum of a triangle in spherical geometry … 154
    • 17. Angular regions of a simplex … 154
    • 18. The angle-sums … 155
    • 19. Relations connecting the angle-sums of a simplex … 156
    • 20. Extension to an Eulerian polytope in spherical hyperspace … 157
    • 21. The angular relation corresponding to Euler’s equation in euclidean or non-euclidean geometry … 159

    CHAPTER X: The Regular Polytopes (161-192)

    • 1. Conditions determining a regular or a homogeneous polyhedron … 161
    • 2. A polyhedron as a configuration … 161
    • 3. Three types of configurations: elliptic, euclidean, and hyperbolic … 162
    • 4. Table of the homogeneous plane networks … 164
    • 5. The five elliptic networks or regular polyhedra … 164
    • 6. Conditions determining a regular or homogeneous polytope in n dimensions … 165
    • 7. Eleven possible homogeneous honeycombs in three dimensions. 166
    • 8. Configurational numbers of a four-dimensional polytope … 166
    • 9. Discrimination of elliptic honeycombs by dihedral angles … 167
    • 10. The six regular polytopes in four dimensions … 168
    • 11. Ratios of the configurational numbers … 169
    • 12. The construction of the six regular polytopes … 170
    • 13. Comparison with the three-dimensional polyhedra … 177
    • 14. Relations between the regular polytopes in four dimensions. 177
    • 15. The regular polyhedra referred to rectangular axes … 179
    • 16. The regular polytopes referred to rectangular axes … 182
    • 17. The problem in n dimensions … 186
    • 18. Eleven possible homogeneous honeycombs in four dimensions … 187
    • 19. Method of discrimination … 188
    • 20. Three regular polytopes in five dimensions … 189
    • 21. Table of homogeneous honeycombs in n dimensions … 190
  • Index (193-196)

 

PREFACE (-5 to -1)

It is scarcely necessary to apologise for writing a book on n-dimensional geometry. One should regret rather the comparative neglect which the subject has suffered at the hands of British mathematicians.* Yet one may almost say that this country was its home of origin, for, with the exception of a few previous sporadic references, the first paper dealing explicitly with geometry of n dimensions was one by Cayley in 1843, and the importance of the subject was recognised from the first by three of our most famous pure mathematicians — Cayley, Clifford, and Sylvester. On the Continent the classical works of Grassmann and Schlafli attracted at first no attention. Schlafli’s remarkable memoir, in fact, failed to secure publication, and in spite of Cayley’s gallant attempt at rescue by translating and publishing part of it in the “ Quarterly Journal” it remained unknown until it was found and published several years after the author’s death, and fifty years after it was written. By that time Schlegel and others in Germany had made the subject well known, but mostly in its metrical aspect. The wonderful projective geometry of hyperspace has been almost entirely the product of the gifted Italian school of geometers ; though this branch also was inaugurated by a British mathematician, W. K. Clifford, in 1878.

  • * In the twenty-seven volumes of the new series of the Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society there are barely a dozen papers dealing with higher space. On the other hand, it is interesting to notice that there are about an equal number in the three volumes of the Journal ; this seems to indicate a revival of interest.

The present introduction deals with the metrical and to a slighter extent with the projective aspect. A third aspect, which has attracted much attention recently, from its application to relativity, is the differential aspect. This is altogether excluded from the present book. In writing this book I have not attempted to produce a complete systematic treatise, but have rather selected certain representative topics which not only illustrate the extensions of theorems of three-dimensional geometry, but reveal results which are unexpected and where analogy would be a faithless guide.

The first four chapters explain the fundamental ideas of incidence, parallelism, perpendicularity, and angles between linear spaces ; and in Chapter I there is an excursus into enumerative geometry which may be omitted on a first reading. Chapters V and VI are analytical, the former projective, the latter largely metrical. In the former are given some of the simplest ideas relating to algebraic varieties, and a more detailed account of quadrics, especially with reference to their linear spaces. In the latter there are given, in addition to the ordinary cartesian formulae, some account and applications of the Plucker-Grassmann coordinates of a linear space, and applications to line-geometry. The remaining chapters deal with polytopes, and contain, especially in Chapter IX, some of the elementary ideas in analysis situs. Chapter VIII treats of the content of hyperspatial figures, and the final chapter establishes the regular polytopes.

A number of references have been given at the ends of the chapters. Some of these are the original works in which the various theories were first expounded, others are a selection of more recent works in which a fuller account may be found. Reference may be made to the author’s “ Bibliography of Non-Euclidean Geometry, including the theory of parallels, the foundations of geometry, and space of n dimensions” (London : Harrison, for the University of St. Andrews. 1911), which contains, in addition to a chronological catalogue, a detailed subject index and an index of authors.

I am indebted in particular to Schoute’s “ Mehr-dimensionale Geometric” (Leipzig, 2 vols., 1902 and 1905), Bertini’s “ Introduzione alia geometria proiettiva degli iperspazi” (Pisa, 1907), and the various articles of the “ Encyklopadie der mathematischen Wissen-schaften.”

For assistance in correcting the proofs I have to thank Mr. F. F. Miles, M.A., Lecturer in Mathematics at this College.

D. M. Y. S.

Victoria University College, Wellington, N.Z., May , 1929.

REFERENCES

  • SCHLAFLI, L. (see chap. viii.).
    • (The second part of this paper, published in 1860, gives the first enumeration of the regular polytopes in space of n dimensions, though priority is often ascribed to Stringham.)
  • SCHOUTE, P. H. Regelmassige Schnitte und Projectionen des Achtzelles, Sechzehnzelles und Vierundzwanzigzelles im vierdimensionalen Raume. Amsterdam, Verb, K. Akad. Wet., II., No. 2 (1893).
    • — … des 120-zelles und 600-zelles …. Ibid. No. 7, and IX., No. 4 (1907).
  • SOMMERVILLE, D. M. Y. The regular divisions of space of n dimensions and their metrical constants. Palermo, Rend. Circ. mat., 48 (1924), 9-22.
    • — Description of a projection-model of the 600-celI in space of four dimensions. Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh, 34 (1914), 253-258 (i plate). Stringham, W. I. Regular figures in n-dimensional space. Amer. J. Math., 3 (1880), 1-14. (A set of projection-models of the regular four-dimensional figures, prepared by V. Schlegel, was exhibited at the Niirnberg meeting of the Deutsche Math. Vereinigung, 1892, and were afterwards on sale by M. Schilling. A set of these models, from Professor Steggall’s collection in Dundee, was shown at the exhibition in connection with the Napier Tercentenary at Edinburgh, 1914. These are described in the following.)
  • Dyck, W. Katalog mathematischer Modelle. Miinchen, 1892. Deutsche Math. Ver. Niirnberger Ausstellung, p. 253.
  • Schilling, M. Catalog math. Modelle. Leipzig, 7. Aufl., 1911.
  • Steggall, J. E. a. Napier Tercentenary Celebration Handbook, ed.
  • E. M. Horsburgh. R. Soc. Edinburgh, or London ; Bell, 1914. P. 319-

Index (193-196)

  • Absolute, the, 32-33; point-equations, 79-81, 87; tangential equation, 83.
  • Allomorphic polytopes, 101.
  • Analysis situs, 100, chap, ix., 161.
  • Angle between two hyperplanes, 39; in rectangular coordinates, 77; oblique coordinates, 82.
  • Angle-constituents of a polytope, 100, 166.
  • Angle-sum of a spherical polygon, 142, 154.
  • Angles between two planes, 41-45; analytical, 90-91.
    • — between two linear spaces, 45-48.
  • Angular regions of a simplex, 154-157.
  • Axioms, 2-4, 5, 19.
  • Canonical equation of quadric, 62; of (n-1)-flat, 77, 82.
  • Categoricalness of a set of axioms, 2.
  • Complementary boundaries of a simplex, 115.
  • Completely orthogonal, 31; analytical conditions, 89.
    • -- parallel, 27; analytical conditions, 88.
  • Complex of lines, 10, 86.
  • Complex polytopes, 98.
  • Configurations, 97-98; polyhedral, 161, 166.
  • Congruence, 19.
    • -- of lines, 10, 86.
  • Conjugate points, 59.
  • Connectivity, 144-146.
  • Conservation of number, ii.
  • Consistency of axioms, 2.
  • Constant-number, def. 9.
  • Content, chap. viii.
    • -- of orthogonal projections, 50.
  • Convex polytope, 99, 143.
  • Coordinates, rectangular, 75; general cartesian, 80; Grassmann, 92; homogeneous, 51, 75; metrical, 73; Plucker, 83, projective, 51.
    • -- of a hyperplane, 56.
    • -- of a plane, 83.
  • Correlations, 60.
  • Correspondence, 56.
    • -- dualistic, 56, 60.
  • Cross-ratio coordinates, 55, 73.
  • Degenerate quadrics, 67.
  • Degrees of freedom, 7, 9.
    • -- of incidence, 9.
    • -- of orthogonality, 36.
    • -- of parallelism, 26.
  • Desargues’ Theorem, 5.
  • Direction, 24.
  • Direction-angles and cosines, 76 ; ratios, 81.
  • Directrices of a congruence, 86.
  • Distance between parallel flats, 40 ; non-intersecting flats, 40 ; two points, 76, 80 ; from a point to a hyperplane, 77, 82.
  • Duality, 9, 56 ; in enumerative geometry, 12.
  • Elliptic geometry, the absolute in, 32; measurement of angle, 152-154; angle-sums, 159; trigonometry, 163; networks, 163-165; honeycombs, 186-191.
  • Enumerative geometry, 10-19.
  • Equations of a ^-flat, 52, 82.
  • quadric, 59; parametric, 51, 56-57.
  • Euclidean geometry, parallel lines, 4; incidence of planes, 5; the absolute, 32; measurement of angle, 152; angle-sums, 159.
  • Eulerian polyhedra, 146.
  • Euler’s polyhedral formula, 97, chap, ix.
  • Existence-postulates, 3.
  • Face-constituents of a polytope, 99, 165.
  • Flat space, 8.
  • Freedom, degrees of, 7, 9 ; of a flat in a 69.
  • Frustum of a simplex, 103-106.
  • Fundamental numbers of a homogeneous polyhedron, 162 ; polytope, 167, 187.
    • -- points of coordinate system, 55.
  • Grassmann coordinates, 92.
  • Half-orthogonal, 34 ; analytical condition, 89.
  • Half-parallel, 25 ; analytical condition, 89.
  • Homaloid, 72.
  • Homogeneous coordinates, 51, 75.
    • -- parameters, 51.
    • -- polyhedra, 161.
    • -- polytopes, 165.
  • Honeycombs, 166.
  • Hyperbolic geometry, parallel lines, 22 ; the absolute in, 32 ; trigonometry, 163 ; angle-sums, 159 ; networks, 163-164 ; honeycombs in three dimensions, 166; honeycombs in four dimensions, 187-191.
  • Hypercones, 64-66.
  • Hyperplane, def. 7 ; equation of, 52 ; coordinates of, 56 ; at infinity, 26.
  • Hypersphere, equation of, 78 ; content, 135-137.
    • -- at infinity, 79.
  • Incidence, axioms of, 3 ; degrees of, 9.
    • -- of linear spaces, 10-19.
  • Incomplete polytopes, 146-147.
  • Indefinables, 2.
  • Independence of axioms, 2.
  • Independent points, 8, 54.
    • -- hyperplanes, 55.
  • Inertia, Law of, 64.
  • Infinity, hyperplane at, 26, 74.
    • -- hypersphere at, 79.
    • -- points, lines and planes at, 24-25.
  • Interior points of a simplex, 20-21.
    • -- of a polytope, 144.
  • Isocline planes, 44 ; analytical condition, 90.
  • Isomorphic polytopes, 100.
  • Joachimsthal's formulae, 78.
  • Legendre proof of Euler's Theorem, 142.
  • Lhuilier proof of Euler's Theorem, 142.
  • Linear space, def. 8.
  • Linearly independent points, 8, 54 ; hyperplanes, 55.
  • Listing, J. B., 160.
  • Matrix, 52-54.
  • Mensuration, chap. viii.
  • Motion, 19.
  • Networks, 162-165.
  • Normal curves, 57 ; varieties, 58.
    • -- to a hyperplane, 30 ; common to two non-intersecting flats, 41.
  • Null system, 61.
  • Order of a curve, 57 ; of a variety, 56.
  • Orientation, 24.
  • Orthogonality, chap. iii., analytical conditions, 76, 81, 82, 89.
  • Orthotope, def. 49 ; projection, 59 ; configurational numbers, 113 ; content, 118 ; regular, 171, 177, 182, 190.
  • Pappus' Theorem, 139.
  • Parallel, half or semi, 26.
  • Parallelism, degrees of, 26.
  • Parallelotope, 28-29 ; projection, 49 ; content, 119-123.
  • Parametric equations, 51, 56, 57.
  • Pentahedron, 103.
  • Perpendicularity, see Orthogonality.
  • Plucker's coordinates, 83, 91.
  • Pointing, 102.
  • Polar isomorphism, 101 ; allomorphism, 101.
    • -- system, 61.
    • -- with regard to a quadric, 59, 66 ; absolute, 32.
  • Polyacron, 102.
  • Polycorypha, 102, 150.
  • Polytope, def. 96.
  • Prism, 113 ; content, 118.
  • Prismoid, 115-117 ; content, 135.
  • Prismoidal figure, 131-135.
  • Projection, 48 ; orthogonal, 49-50 ; parallel, 48.
  • Projective geometry, 4, 22 ; analytical, 51.
  • Pyramid, 106, 111-113 ; content, 123-124 ; of second and higher species, 126-130.
  • Pyramidoid, 115.
  • Quadtic varieties, 59-72.
  • Radian angular measure, 152-154.
  • Radius vector, 75, 80.
  • Rank of a matrix, 53.
  • Rational curve, 57 ; variety, 58.
  • Reciprocal polytopes, 101.
  • Reciprocity or duality, 9.
  • Regular polyhedra, 161, 177, 179.
    • -- polytopes, chap. x.
    • -- simplex, content of, 125.
  • Regulus, 86.
  • Ring-shaped polygons, 144 ; polyhedra, 145.
  • Schlegel diagram, 100.
  • Sections of parallel spaces, 27 ; of a simplex, 103-106, 114.
  • Segment, 20.
  • Self-reciprocal polytopes, 101.
  • Simple polytope, 98.
  • Simplex of reference, 55.
  • Simplex-polycorypha, 102, 150.
  • Simplex-polytope, 102, 149-150, 157.
  • Simplotope, 113-115; content, 130.
  • Simply-connected regions, 144-145.
  • Simpson, T., 140.
  • Sine of n-dimensional angle, 121.
  • Singular correlation, 61.
  • Specialisation, principle of, ii.
  • Spherical geometry, 153 (see also Elliptic).
  • Staudt proof of Euler's Theorem, 143.
  • Steiner proof of Euler's Theorem, 142.
  • Stereographic projection of rational varieties, 59, 70; of spherical networks, 165.
  • Stratification, 26.
  • Surface-content of hypersphere, 136.
  • Tangent to quadric, 59, 67.
  • Total configurational numbers, 101.
  • Triangular polyhedron, 102, 148.
  • Trihedral polyhedron, 102, 148.
  • Truncating, 102.
  • Unit-point of coordinate system, 55.
  • Varieties, 56; of revolution, 137-138.
  • Vertex-constituent of polytope, 99, 166.
  • Virtual hypersphere, 79; quadric, 64.

People Index

  1. Baker, H. F., 95. (Henry Frederick Baker (1866-1956), United Kingdom)
  2. Bertini, E., vii, 72. (Eugenio Bertini (1846-1933), Italy)
  3. Bruckner, M., 117. (Maximilian Bruckner (1863-1937), Austria)
  4. Cauchy, A. L., 160. (Augustin-Louis Cauchy (1789-1857), France)
  5. Cayley, A., v, 21, 72, 102. (Arthur Cayley (1821-1895), United Kingdom)
  6. Clifford, W. K., v, vi, 72. (William Kingdon Clifford (1845-1879), United Kingdom)
  7. Dyck, W., 191. (Walther von Dyck (1856-1934), Germany)
  8. Cotes, R., 140. (Roger Cotes (1682-1716), United Kingdom)
  9. CULLIS, C. E., 72. (Charles Edgar Cullis (1861-1946), United Kingdom)
  10. Dehn, M., 160. (Max Dehn (1878-1952), Germany)
  11. Eberhard, V., 117. (Victor Eberhard (1861-1927), Germany)
  12. Euler, L., 160. (Leonhard Euler (1707-1783), Switzerland)
  13. Forder, H. G., 20, 21. (Henry George Forder (1889-1981), United Kingdom/New Zealand)
  14. Grassmann, H., v, 95. (Hermann Gunther Grassmann (1809-1877), Germany)
  15. Heegaard, P., 160. (Poul Heegaard (1871-1948), Denmark)
  16. Hilbert, D., 3, 20, 21. (David Hilbert (1862-1943), Germany)
  17. JESSOP, C. M., 95. (Charles Minshall Jessop (1861-1935), United Kingdom)
  18. Jordan, C., 50. (Camille Jordan (1838-1922), France)
  19. Klein, F., 95. (Felix Klein (1849-1925), Germany)
  20. Legendre, A. M., 160. (Adrien-Marie Legendre (1752-1833), France)
  21. Lhuilier, S. a. J., 160. (Simon Antoine Jean Lhuilier (1750-1840), Switzerland)
  22. Manning, H. P., 21. (Henry Parker Manning (1859-1956), United States)
  23. Meyer, W. F., 18, 21. (Wilhelm Franz Meyer (1856-1934), Germany)
  24. Muller, E., 95.
  25. Plucker, J., 95. (Julius Plucker (1801-1868), Germany)
  26. POINCARE, H., 160. (Henri Poincare (1854-1912), France)
  27. Schilling, M., 191. (Martin Schilling (1866-1927), Germany)
  28. SCHLAFLI, L., V, 140, 191. (Ludwig Schlafli (1814-1895), Switzerland)
  29. SCHLEGEL, V., V, 117. (Victor Schlegel (1843-1905), Germany)
  30. SCHOUTE, P. H., vii, 27, 29, 117, 191. (Pieter Hendrik Schoute (1846-1923), Netherlands)
  31. Schubert, H., ii, 19, 21, 95. (Hermann Schubert (1848-1911), Germany)
  32. Segre, C., 21. (Corrado Segre (1863-1924), Italy)
  33. Sommerville, D. M. Y., vii, 38, 44, 160, 191. (Duncan MacLaren Young Sommerville (1879-1934), United Kingdom/New Zealand)
  34. Staudt, G. C. K. von, 160. (Karl Georg Christian von Staudt (1798-1867), Germany)
  35. Steggall, J. E. a., 191. (John Edward Aloysius Steggall (1855-1935), United Kingdom)
  36. Steiner, J., 160. (Jakob Steiner (1796-1863), Switzerland)
  37. Steinitz, E., 117. (Ernst Steinitz (1871-1928), Germany)
  38. Stringham, W. I., 191. (Irving Stringham (1847-1909), United States)

CHAPTER I: FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS

1. Origins of Geometry. Geometry for the individual begins intuitional ly and develops by a co-ordination of the senses of sight and touch. Its history followed a similar course. The crude ideas of shape, bulk, superficial extent, and length became analysed, refined, and made abstract, and led to the conception of geometrical figures. The development started with the solid ; surface and line, without solidity, were later abstractions. Witness the inability of most animals and some primitive races of men to recognise a picture. Having no depth, except such as is imitated by the skilfulness of the drawing or shading, it conveys to the undeveloped intelligence only an impression of flat regions of contrasted colouring. When the power of abstraction had proceeded to the extent of conceiving surfaces apart from solids, plane geometry arose. The idea of dimensionality was then formed, when a region of two dimensions was recognised within the three-dimensional universe. This stage had been reached when Greek geometry started. It was many centuries, however, before the human mind began to conceive of an upward extension to the idea of dimensionality, and even now this conception is confined to the comparatively very small class of mathematicians and philosophers.

2. Extension of the Dimensional Idea. There are two main ways in which we may arrive at an idea of higher dimensions : one geometrical, by extending in the upward direction the series of geometrical elements, point, line, surface, solid ; the other by invoking algebra and giving extended geometrical interpretations to algebraic relationships. In whatever way we may proceed we are led to the invention of new

[1]  2 GEOMETRY OF N DIMENSIONS [i. 3

elements which have to be defined strictly and logically if exact deductions are to be made. A great deal is suggested by analogy, but while analogy is often a useful guide and stimulus, it provides no proofs, and may often lead one astray if not supplemented by logical reasoning. If we follow the geometrical method the only safe course is that which was systematically laid down for the first time by Euclid, that is to lay down a basis of axioms or assumptions. When we leave the field of sensuous perception and can no longer depend upon intuition as a guide, our axioms will no longer be self-evident truths,'* but simply statements, assumed without proof, as a basis for future deductions.

3. Definitions and Axioms. In geometry there are objects which have to be defined, and relationships between these objects which have to be deduced either from the definitions or from other simpler relationships. In defining an object we must make reference to some simpler object, hence there must be some objects which have to be left undefined, the indefinables. Similarly, in deducing relations from simpler ones we must arrive back at certain statements which cannot be deduced from anything simpler ; these are the axioms or unproved propositions. The whole science of geometry can thus be made to rest upon a set of definitions and axioms. The actual choice of fundamental definitions and axioms is to a certain extent arbitrary, but there are certain principles which have to be considered in making a choice of axioms. These are : —

(1) Self-consistency, The set of axioms must be logically self-consistent. No axiom must be in conflict with deductions from any of the other axioms. (2) Non-redundance or Independence, This condition is not a necessary one, but in a logical scheme it is desirable. Pedagogically the condition is frequently ignored. ( 3 ) Categoricalness. This means not only that the set of axioms should be complete and sufficient for the development of the science, but that it should be possible to construct only a unique set of entities for which the axioms are valid. It is doubtful whether any set of axioms can be strictly categorical. If any set of entities is constructed so as to satisfy the axioms,

FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS [3]

L 4]

it is nearly always, if not always, possible to change the ideas and construct another set of entities also satisfying the axioms. Thus with the ordinary ideas of point and straight line in plane geometry the axioms can still be applied when instead of a point we substitute a pair of numbers (or, j), and instead of straight line an equation of the first degree in Jtr and jy ; corresponding to the incidence of a point with a straight line we have the fact that the values of x and jy satisfy the equation. It is desirable, in fact, that the set of axioms should not be categorical, for thereby they are given a wider field of validity, and propositions proved for the one set of entities can be transferred at once to another set, perhaps in a different branch of mathematics.

4. The Axioms of Incidence. As indefinables we shall choose first the pointy straight limy and plane. With regard to these we shall proceed to make certain statements, the axioms. If these should appear to be very obvious, and as if they might be taken for granted, it will be a good corrective for the reader to replace the words point and straight line, which he must remember are not yet defined, by the names of other objects to which the axioms may be made to apply, such as “ committee member” and '‘committee.” Following Hilbert we divide the axioms into groups.

THE AXIOMS Group I

AXIOMS OF INCIDENCE OR CONNECTION I. I. Any two distinct points uniquely determine a straight line.

We imagine a collection of individuals who have a craze for organisation and form themselves into committees. The committees are so arranged that every person is on a committee along with each of the others, but no two individuals are to be found together on more than one committee.

I. 2. If A, B are distinct points there is at least one point not on the straight line AB.

This is an “ existence-postulate.”

I. 3. Any three non-collinear points determine a plane.

[4] GEOMETRY OF N DIMENSIONS [i. 5

I. 4. If two distinct points B both belong to a plane a, every point of the straight line AB belongs to a.

From I. I it follows that two distinct straight lines have either one or no point in common. From I. 4 it follows that a straight line and a plane have either no point or one point in common, or else the straight line lies entirely in the plane ; from 1. 3 and 4 two distinct planes have either no point, one point, or a whole straight line in common.

I. 5. If Ay B, C are non-collinear points there is at least one point not on the plane ABC.

I. 2 and 5 are existence-postulates ; 2 implies two-dimensional geometry, and 5 three-dimensional.

The next of Hilbert’s axioms is that if two planes have one point A in common they have a second point B in common, and therefore by I. 4 they have the whole straight line AB in common. If this is assumed it limits space to three dimensions.

5. Projective Geometry. There is a difficulty in determining all the elements of space by means of the existence postulates and other axioms, for while Axiom I. i postulates that any two points determine a line, there is no axiom which secures that any two lines in a plane will determine a point. In fact, in euclidean geometry this is not true since parallel lines have no point in common. For the present therefore we shall confine ourselves to a simpler and more symmetrical type of geometry, projective geometry ^ for which we add the following axiom :

L i'. Any two distinct straight lines in a plane uniquely determine a point.

6. Construction of Three-dimensional Space. We may proceed now to obtain all the elements, points, lines, etc., of space with the help of the existence postulates and other axioms. Starting with two points A, B we determine the line AB, and on this we shall suppose all the points determined. Taking a third point C, not on AB, a plane ABC is determined. In this plane there are determined : first, the three points A, B, C, then the three lines BC, CA, AB and all their points ; then all lines determined by two points one on each of two of these lines, and since every line in the plane meets these three lines all the lines of the plane are thus determined ; finally any point

[5] FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS

I- 7]

of the plane is determined by the intersection of two lines which have already been determined, e.g. if P is any point of the plane, the line PA cuts BC in a point L and PB cuts CA in a point M ; there are therefore two points, L on BC and M on CA, such that LA and MB determine P.

We next take a point D not in the plane ABC, and determine planes, lines and points as follows : first, the planes DBC, DCA, DAB and all the lines and points in these planes ; then the lines determined by joining D to the points of ABC, and all the points on these lines, and all the lines and planes determined by any two or any three of the points thus determined. Jf now P is any point we cannot be sure that it is one of the points thus determined unless the line DP meets the plane ABC. P'or this we could assume as an axiom : every line meets every plane in a point,’' which is true for projective geometry of three dimensions ; but a weaker axiom, which is true also in euclidean geometry, is sufficient, viz. Hilbert’s axiom :

I. 6. If two planes have a point A in commo 7 t^ they have a second point B in common.

Then if P is any point, the planes PAD and ABC, which have the point A common, have another point, say Q, common, and the lines AQ and DP which lie in the same plane determine a point R which lies in the line DP and also in the plane ABC. Hence DP meets the plane ABC, and therefore all points are obtained by this process.

If / is any line (Fig. i), determined by the two points P, Q, the planes PQD and ABD, having D in common, intersect in a line which cuts PQ in N, say, and AB in E ; then PQ and CE lie in the same plane and therefore meet in a point Z. Hence every line cuts the plane ABC.

7. If a is any plane (Fig. 2), determined by the three points P, Q, R, and O is a point not in this plane, the lines OP, OQ, OR cut ABC in P', Q', R'. QR and Q'R', being in the same plane, intersect in a point X. Similarly RP and R'P' intersect in Y, and PQ and P'Q' in Z. Hence every plane cuts the plane ABC.

The points X, Y, Z all lie in both of the planes PQR and P'Q'R' and are therefore collinear. This theorem is known as DesargueP Theoremy PQR and P'Q'R' being two triangles in

[6]GEOMETRY OF N DIMENSIONS [l. 8

perspective. (It is interesting to note in passing that the corresponding theorem for two triangles in perspective in the same plane cannot be proved without the assumption of three dimensions or some special axiom in addition to those which we have assumed)

We can now prove that any two planes intersect in a line. Let a and a' be any two planes. We have seen that every plane cuts ABC in a straight line. Let a and a cut ABC in the lines / and I, These lines intersect in a point P which is therefore common to the two planes, and therefore the two planes, having a point in common, intersect in a straight line.

Next, every line cuts every plane in a point. For if is any

plane through the given line /, this plane cuts the given plane a in a line m, and the two lines I and lying in the same plane, intersect in a point, which is common to I and a.

Lastly, any three planes have a point in common. For the planes a, )3 intersect in a line /, and / cuts y in a point ; this point is common to the three planes.

8. Extension to Four Dimensions. All the points, lines and planes determined from four given non-coplanar points form a three-dimensional region, which is ordinary projective space of three dimensions. We proceed to postulate the existence of at least one point E not in this region. The three-dimensional region is not now the whole of space, but

I. 9] FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS 7

will be called a hyperplane lying in hyperspace. A hyperplane is thus determined by four points. We may determine similarly the hyperplanes ABCE, ABDE, etc., and the planes, lines and points in them, and further the hyperplanes, planes, and lines determined by four, three, or two points not all lying in one of these hyperplanes. The hyperplanes ABCE and ABDE have the three points A, B, E in common and therefore the plane ABE. We may show that any two hyperplanes in this region have a plane in common. For example, if a and a are two hyperplanes determined by four points P, Q, R, S and P'l Q', S' lying on EA, EB, EC, ED respectively, PQ and P'Q', being in the plane EAB, cut in a point Z, similarly QR and Q'R' cut in a point X, and RP and RT' in a point Y ; PS and P'S' cut in U, QS and Q'S' in V, RS and R'S' in W. The six points X, Y, Z, U, V,

W are thus all common to a and a'. These six points form the vertices of a complete quadrilateral (Fig. 3) whose sides are XYZ, the intersection of the planes PQR and P'Q'R', XVW, the intersection of QRS and Q'R'S', etc. The six points are thus coplanar, and this plane is common to the two hyperplanes a and a'.

Thus in this region, space of four dimensions, two hyperplanes intersect in a plane. Similarly three hyperplanes intersect in a line, four hyperplanes in a point, while five hyperplanes do not in general have any point in common. A hyperplane cuts a plane (intersection of two hyperplanes) in a line, and a line in a point. Two planes, each the intersection of two hyperplanes, have in general only one point in common, a plane and a line in general have no point in common.

A hyperplane is determined by four points, a point and a plane, or by two skew lines.

9. Degrees of Freedom : Dimensions. A point in a line is said to have one degree of freedom, in a plane two, in a hyperplane three, and in the hyperspacial region four. The point being taken as the element, a line is said to be of one

TY

8 GEOMETRY OF N DIMENSIONS [i. lo

dimension, a plane two, a hyperplane three, and the hyperspacial region four. For a point to be in a given hyperplane one condition is required, or one degree of constraint, thus reducing the number of degrees of freedom from four to three. For a point to lie in a plane two conditions are required ; if it is to lie simultaneously in two planes four conditions are required and it is completely determined.

10. Extension to n Dimensions. We may now extend these ideas straightaway to n dimensions, and at the same time acquire both greater generality and greater succinctness in expression. The series point, line, plane, hyperplane (or as it is more explicitly termed three-jiat\ . . ., ;^-flat are regions determined by one, two, three, four, . . ., + 1 points, and having zero, one, two, three, . . ., « dimensions, i.e. an r-flat is determined hy r + 1 points, and every /-flat (/ n dimensions, contains all the points. A /-flat, or hyperplane of / dimensions will be denoted by S^. A flat space is also called a linear space>

11. Independent Points. If / + 1 points uniquely determine a p-flat they must not be contained in the same (p-1)-flat. Also no r of them (r /) must be contained in the same {r - 2)-flat, for this {r - 2)-flat, which is determined by r - 1 points, together with the remaining / + 1 - r points, would determine a (/ - 1)-flat. We shall call a system of / -f i points, no r of which lie in the same {r - 2)-flat, a system of linearly independent points. Any / + 1 points of a /-flat, if they are linearly independent, can be chosen to determine the /-flat.

12. Consider a /-flat and a ^-flat, which are determined respectively by / + 1 and ^ + 1 points. If they have no point in common we have / + ^ + 2 independent points which determine a (/ + ^ -f i)-flat. Hence a p~jlat and a q-flat taken arbitrarily lie in the same (/ + ^ + lyjlat. li p + q + 1 is greater than n the two flats will have a region in common. Let this region be of dimensions r. In this region we may take r + 1 independent points ; to determine the /-flat we require / - r additional points, and to determine the ^-flat q - r additional points, i.e. altogether

I. 15]

FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS

9

(r + 1) + (/ - ^) + (5^ - r) = / + ^ - r + 1, and these determine R (p + g - r)-flat. Hence

A p’jlat and a q-Jlat which have in common an r-jlat are both contained in a {^p q - ryjlat ; if they have no point in common they are both contained in a (p + q + 1 yflat.

A p-Jiat and a q-flat, which are both contained in a?i n-flat, have in common {p + q - nfflat^ provided / + ^ ^ i.

If/ + q 13. Degrees of Freedom of Linear Spaces. A /-flat requires / + 1 points to determine it, and each point requires n conditions to determine it in space of n dimensions. But we have in the choice of each point / degrees of freedom. Hence the number of conditions required to determine the /-flat in space of n dimensions is (/ + 1){n -/), i.e. the number of degrees of freedom of a p-flat in an n-flat is (p + 1)(n - /). This is called the constant-number of the /-flat.

This result may be proved otherwise, thus. Take any / + 1 fixed {n - /)-flats. The /-flat cuts each of these in a point, and these / + 1 points determine the /-flat. Each point has n - p degrees of freedom in its {n - /)-flat. Hence the total number of degrees of freedom of the /-flat is (/ + 1)(/^ ~ /).

If the /-flat has r points fixed, / -f i - r points are still required to determine it, hence the number of degrees of freedom of the /-flat is {n - /)(/ ~ r 4- i); hence also the number of degrees of freedom of a p-flat lying in a given n-flat afid passing through a given r-flat is (n - /)(/ - r).

14. The degree of incidence of a /-flat and a ^-flat can be represented by a fraction. Let / > ^. Complete incidence, when the /-flat contains the ^-flat, can be represented by i ; skewness, when they have no point in common, by o. If they have in common an r-flat, the degree of incidence can be represented by the fraction (r + 1) / (^^ + O*

15. Duality or Reciprocity. A /-flat and an (« - / ~ i)- flat in Sn have the same constant-number (/ + 1 )(^ ~ /). A (i, i) correspondence between points and {n - 1)-flats can be established in various ways, so that to the line joining two points P, Q corresponds the (n - 2)-flat of intersection of the two corresponding (n - 1)-flats. If three points are collinear their

10

GEOMETRY OF N DIMENSIONS [i. i6

corresponding (n - 1)-flats pass through the same - 2 )-flat To a - 1)-flat, which is determined by / given points, corresponds the (n - /)-flat common to the (n - 1 )-flats which correspond to the p points.

16. Number of Conditions Required for a given Degree of Incidence. In S^ a /-flat has {n - /)(/ + 1) degrees of freedom, but if it passes through a given r-flat it has only {n - /)(/ - r) degrees of freedom. Hence the number of conditions that a p-flat in should pass through a given r~flat {n >/ > r) is {n - f){r + 1).

If the r-flat is free to move in a given ^-flat, it has {r + 1)(^ - 0 degrees of freedom. Hence the nu^nber of conditions that a pfat and a q-flat in should, intersect in an rfat is (r + 1)(n - p - q r). This implies that p + q n + r. lip + q^n + r they intersect in a region of dimensions p q - n, which is greater than r.

17. Incidence of a Linear Space with two or more Linear Spaces. Enumerative Geometry. In S3 a line has 4 degrees of freedom (constant-number 4), and the number of conditions that it should intersect another line is i. Hence a line which cuts a fixed line has 3 degrees of freedom, and the whole system of lines all cutting a fixed line forms a three-dimensional assemblage which is a particular case of a congruence ; the system of lines cutting two fixed lines forms a two-dimensional assemblage, a particular case of a complex ; and the system of lines cutting three fixed lines forms a one-dimensional assemblage, a line-series. A line which is required to cut four given lines is deprived of all freedom. The line is not, however, uniquely determined. An important problem, which belongs to a branch of mathematics called enumerative geometry^ is to determine the number of linear spaces which satisfy given conditions, in number equal tp the constant-number of the linear space. This problem can sometimes be solved directly by simple geometrical considerations. As an example let us find the number of lines in S5 (constant-number 8) which pass through a given point O (4 conditions) and cut two given planes a, b (2 conditions for each intersection). The required line must lie in each of the 3-flats {Od) and (O^), hence it is uniquely determined as the intersection of these two 3-flats.

I. 19]

FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS

II

18. Principle of Specialisation. The determination of the number of lines which cut four lines in S3 is not so simple, and we apply a very useful principle, called by Schubert the “conservation of number'' (Erhaltung der Anzahl), or “principle of specialisation." The principle is that the number of elements determined will be the same if the determining figures are specialised, provided the number does not thereby become infinite. In simple cases it is equivalent to the statement in algebra that the number of roots of an algebraic equation is not altered if the coefficients are specialised in any way, unless, indeed, the equation becomes an identity.

As an example of the application of this principle let us complete the problem to determine how many lines in Sg cut four given lines. Let the four lines intersect in pairs : a and b in P, c and d in Q. A line which cuts both a and b must either pass through P or lie in the plane {ab ^ ; and as P must not lie in the plane {cd\ nor Q in the plane {ah), for in either of these cases there would be an unlimited number of lines cutting all four lines, the required line must either pass through both P and Q, or lie in both of the planes {ab) and {cd). Hence there are two lines satisfying the given conditions.

19. The general enumerative problem relating to linear spaces is : to find the number of /-flats which have incidence of specified degrees with a given set of linear spaces, the number of assigned conditions being equal to the constant-number of the /-flat.

Let {n \ p, q \ r) represent the condition that a /-flat and a ^-flat in should intersect in an r-flat. If P and Q represent any conditions, the product PQ is taken to mean that both conditions must be simultaneously satisfied ; the sum P + Q that one or other of the conditions is satisfied. Thus (3 : 2, o : o)(3 : 2, I : i) means the condition that a plane in S3 should contain a given point and a given line; (3:1, 1:0/ means the condition that a line in Sg should cut four given lines.

The number of simple conditions involved in (n :p, q : r) may be denoted by C{n py q \ r), and we have proved that C{n :py q:r) ^ {r + 1){n - p -- q r).

The constant-number of a /-flat in Sn is equal to C(« :/,/ :/) - (/ + 1){n - /).

12

GEOMETRY OF N DIMENSIONS [i. 20

We may also represent the number of elements determined by a given condition by prefixing N to the symbol of the condition. Thus N(3 : I, i :o)^ = 2.

20. Duality in Enumerative Geometry. The duality between the /-flat and the {n - p - 1)-flat extends to enumerative problems. Not only are the constant-numbers equal, viz. (/ + 1){n ~ /), but we have also, as is easily verified,

Q>{n :/,$': ^) == ^{n \ n - p - l, n ~ q - \ : n - p - q -h r - l) ;

and the number of /-flats determined by (/ 4- i )(n - /) simple conditions is equal to the number of (n - p - 1)-flats determined by the corresponding reciprocal conditions. Thus in S4 there are two lines which lie in a given 3-flat and cut four given planes, for the planes cut the 3-flat in lines. The reciprocal statement is : there are two planes which pass through a given point and cut four given lines ; i.e.

N(4 : I, 3 : i)(4 : i, 2 : o)^ - N(4 : 2, o : o)(4 : 2, i : o)l

21 . In two dimensions the only conditions are

C(2 : 0, 0 : 0) = 2 = C(2 : I, I : l),

C(2 : O, I : O) = I = C(2 ; I, o : o),

i.e. a point coincident with a given point, a line coincident with a given line ; and a point incident with a given line, a line incident with a given point. The constant-number K of a point or a line is 2, and we have only two enumerative results with their duals, viz. : —

N(2 : o, 0 : o) = I, ie. one point is coincident with a given point,

N(2 : 0, I : o)^= I, ie, one point is incident with two given lines,

N(2 : I, 1 : i) = ly z,e. one line is coincident with a given line,

N(2 : I, 0 : o)^ == I, I.e. one line is incident withitwo given points.

The results may be exhibited more compactly in tabular form. For a specified linear space let q^ denote that it cuts a given ^-flat in an r-flat. Then for Sg all the results are represented in the following table. Point and plane, being reciprocals, are grouped together.

I. 22 ]

FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS

C is the number of simple conditions, N is the number of elements determined. In each row the sum of the numbers, each multiplied by the corresponding value of C, is equal to the constant-number of the element K.

22. Incident Spaces in Four Dimensions. In general many of the combinations are either trivial, or belong to a space of lower dimensions, e.g. in the statement, that one line passes through a given point and intersects three given lines, is the reciprocal of the statement that one plane lies in a given 3 -flat and cuts three given lines (the plane is in fact determined by the three points in which the given lines cut the 3 -flat).

The following is the complete table of results for S^, most of which the reader will have no difficulty in verifying. Results marked “trivial” are the fundamental determinations of an element or its reciprocal, e.g. a plane determined by three points. “ S 3 ” indicates that the result belongs to space of three dimensions.

...

(Created August 30, 2024)