Hezel Ann Lolo
BSED 2.1
Modern Geometry
Learning Task 2.1
Prove that the two versions of Pasch’s axiom are equivalent.
Proof of the equivalence of the two versions of Pasch’s axiom.
Pasch’s Axiom 1: A line containing a vertex of a triangle and a point interior to the
triangle will intersect the opposite side of the triangle.
Proof: Assume line l intersects segment BC
By postulate 1, it asserts “to draw a straight line from any point to any point”. Note
that when a line passes through a vertex and an interior point of the triangle, it will
continue to pass through the line segment opposite of the vertex, hence the line
segment is a line which lies evenly with the points on itself (Definition 4). Let the
line l passes through the vertex A and to the point interior F, to line segment BC
(see figure 1). Then the line l will divide the triangle into two distinct planes. We
will call them H1 and H2. It can be shown that B ϵ H1 and C ϵ H2. Since B and C are
the opposite side of point A. Therefore, line l intersects point segment BC.
H1 F H2
l
B C
Figure 1
Additionally, the vertex of ∆ABC are A, B, and C. Hence the opposite side of B is the
point segment AC therefore, the line l that passes through vertex B will intersect
point segment AC (see figure 2). Lastly, since the opposite side of vertex C is the
point segment AB, then the line l that passes through Vertex C will intersect point
segment AB (see figure 3).
A A
l
l
B C B C
Figure 2 Figure 3
Pasch’s Axiom 2: Let ABC be three points not on the same line and let l be a line in
the line plane containing A, B, C. Then if l passes through a point of the segment AB
and contains a point interior to ∆ABC, it will also pass through a point segment AC
or a point segment BC.
B Proof: Note that l divides plane ABC into 2 distinct planes. We will call
the two planes H1 and H2. If l passes through a point segment AB and
contains a point interior to ∆ABC, it will pass through a point segment
C
A AC or BC depending on where the line goes, therefore, there will be two
Figure 4
cases.
Case 1: Assume l passes through point segment BC.
Since segment AC ϵ H1, points A and C are on the same side of line l. Thus l does
not intersect segment AC. Since C ϵ H1 and B ϵ H2 (see figure 5). Points B and C are
on the opposite side of l. Therefore, line l intersects segment BC.
H2
l
H1
A C
Figure 5
Case 1: Assume l passes through point segment AC.
Since point segment BC ϵ H2, points B and C are on the same side of l (see figure
6). Thus l does not intersect point segment BC. Since C ϵ H2 and A ϵ H1, then A
and C are on opposite side of l. Therefore line l intersects point segment AC.
B
H2
l
A H1 C
Figure 6
-In general, the two versions of Pasch’s axiom are equivalent because their main
objective is to prove that line l intersects a point segment located in the opposite
side of the triangle.
Learning tasK 2.2
Prove case 2 of Theorem 30h on page 54 of our textbook.
Case 2: R’ is on the left side of P. Let PQ and R’S’ be the perpendicular to m at Q
and S’ (12). Let B’ be any point on l to the left of R’. It is sufficient to show that every
line R’U’ lying within ∟B’R’S’ must intersect m (see figure 7). Construct PU’. Clearly
PU’ lies within ∟QPR’ and hence must intersect m at a point M’ (definition of sensed
parallel. Construct QR’. By Pasch’s Axiom for ∆PQR’, PU’ must intersect segment
QR’ in a point N’. In ∆QN’M’, R’U’ intersects segment N’M’. But it does not intersect
segment QN’. Therefore, by Pasch’s Axiom, it must intersect segment QM’ and
hence m.
l B’ R’
P
N’
U’
m
M’ S’ Q
Figure 7
Learning tasK 2.3
Write an argument establishing the following:
1. A line divides the plane in double elliptic geometry but it does not in single
elliptic geometry.
- First of all, in order to obtain a consistent elliptic axiom, there is a need to
negate one of the two assumptions that leads to two types of elliptic
geometry. If the first assumption is maintained and the second is negated,
that is, if it assumed that two distinct points do not necessarily lie on a unique
line, then double elliptic geometry is obtained. This means that a spherical
geometry can be formed. Moreover, a spherical geometry compromises of a
great circle. What does this great circle do? The great circle in the spherical
geometry is the line that divides or cuts the plane. However, why does the
line do not divide the plane in a single elliptic geometry? It is because, the
elliptic geometry is a hemisphere. In other words, a single elliptic geometry
is obtained when the second assumption is maintained and the first
assumption is negated, that is, a line does not separate the plane. A
hemisphere is the half of the sphere bounded by a great circle. The line
described in the single elliptical geometry is the semigreat circle. That is why,
the semigreat circle does not cut the plane because the line is not continuous
and the line has an endpoint which is in the edge of the hemisphere. The line
stops in the edge of the hemisphere, thus it does not cut the plane.
2. Two lines may intersect in more than one point in double elliptic geometry.
Two lines intersect in more than one point in double elliptic geometry because
each pairs of great circles will intersect. For instance, the great circle in vertical
form can be called the longitude, and the great circle in horizontal form can be
called the latitude. So, if we draw both the latitude and the longitude in the
sphere, this two curve lines will intersect the sphere’s surface in two points A and
B (see figure 8).
Figure 8
