Circular Points
The homogeneous form for the equation of a circle is x2 + y2 + 2axz + 2byz + cz2. The intersection of this curve with the line at infinity can be found by setting z = 0. This produces the equation x2 + y2 = 0 which has two solutions in the complex projective plane, (1, i, 0) and (1, −i, 0). These points are called the circular points at infinity and can be regarded as the common points of intersection of all circles. This can be generalized to curves of higher order as circular algebraic curves. A commonly known type of homogeneous coordinates are trilinear coordinates.
Read more about this topic: Homogeneous Coordinates
Famous quotes containing the words circular and/or points:
“If one doubts whether Grecian valor and patriotism are not a fiction of the poets, he may go to Athens and see still upon the walls of the temple of Minerva the circular marks made by the shields taken from the enemy in the Persian war, which were suspended there. We have not far to seek for living and unquestionable evidence. The very dust takes shape and confirms some story which we had read.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)