Elements Other Than Points
The equation of a line in the projective plane may be given as sx + ty + uz = 0 where s, t and u are constants. Each triple (s, t, u) determines a line, the line determined is unchanged if it is multiplied by a nonzero scalar, and at least one of s, t and u must be non-zero. So the triple (s, t, u) may be taken to be homogeneous coordinates of a line in the projective plane, that is line coordinates as opposed to point coordinates. If in sx + ty + uz = 0 the letters s, t and u are taken as variables and x, y and z are taken as constants then equation becomes an equation of a set of lines in the space of all lines in the plane. Geometrically it represents the set of lines that pass though the point (x, y, z) and may be interpreted as the equation of the point in line-coordinates. In the same way, planes in 3-space may be given sets of four homogeneous coordinates, and so on for higher dimensions.
Read more about this topic: Homogeneous Coordinates
Famous quotes containing the word points:
“Type of the wise, who soar, but never roam—
True to the kindred points of Heaven and Home!”
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850)