What means ''direction'' in hyperbolic geometry?












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We can define the concept of ''direction'' as the equivalence class of parallel lines, but this is a good definition only if the Euclide parallels axiom is assumed, so that there is only one parallel line to a given line from a given point.



Is it possible to define an analogous concept if this axiom is not assumed and we have different ''parallel'' lines to a given line? In other words, the concept of ''direction'' is given only in Euclidean geometry or is it defined also in other geometries?










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$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    See parallel transport for a discussion on this problem.
    $endgroup$
    – Arthur
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:40






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    The concept can be defined microlocally, at a given point, since the tangent space is Euclidean. That is, given a point and any two curves through a point, we can (if the curves are differentiable and non-stationary at the point) say whether or not they have the same direction at that point. (Indeed, one can define a direction through a given point as an equivalence class of differentiable curves.) This is useful for some purposes, but of course only for some!
    $endgroup$
    – Toby Bartels
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:44










  • $begingroup$
    @Arthur: this means that, in a manifold, a ''direction'' can be defined only locally ? Via an affine connection in the tangent bundle?
    $endgroup$
    – Emilio Novati
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:50






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Yes. Or, more specifically, as Toby Bartels says, microlocally (so locally that the geometry is, for all intents and purposes, Euclidean).
    $endgroup$
    – Arthur
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:58
















1












$begingroup$


We can define the concept of ''direction'' as the equivalence class of parallel lines, but this is a good definition only if the Euclide parallels axiom is assumed, so that there is only one parallel line to a given line from a given point.



Is it possible to define an analogous concept if this axiom is not assumed and we have different ''parallel'' lines to a given line? In other words, the concept of ''direction'' is given only in Euclidean geometry or is it defined also in other geometries?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    See parallel transport for a discussion on this problem.
    $endgroup$
    – Arthur
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:40






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    The concept can be defined microlocally, at a given point, since the tangent space is Euclidean. That is, given a point and any two curves through a point, we can (if the curves are differentiable and non-stationary at the point) say whether or not they have the same direction at that point. (Indeed, one can define a direction through a given point as an equivalence class of differentiable curves.) This is useful for some purposes, but of course only for some!
    $endgroup$
    – Toby Bartels
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:44










  • $begingroup$
    @Arthur: this means that, in a manifold, a ''direction'' can be defined only locally ? Via an affine connection in the tangent bundle?
    $endgroup$
    – Emilio Novati
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:50






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Yes. Or, more specifically, as Toby Bartels says, microlocally (so locally that the geometry is, for all intents and purposes, Euclidean).
    $endgroup$
    – Arthur
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:58














1












1








1





$begingroup$


We can define the concept of ''direction'' as the equivalence class of parallel lines, but this is a good definition only if the Euclide parallels axiom is assumed, so that there is only one parallel line to a given line from a given point.



Is it possible to define an analogous concept if this axiom is not assumed and we have different ''parallel'' lines to a given line? In other words, the concept of ''direction'' is given only in Euclidean geometry or is it defined also in other geometries?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




We can define the concept of ''direction'' as the equivalence class of parallel lines, but this is a good definition only if the Euclide parallels axiom is assumed, so that there is only one parallel line to a given line from a given point.



Is it possible to define an analogous concept if this axiom is not assumed and we have different ''parallel'' lines to a given line? In other words, the concept of ''direction'' is given only in Euclidean geometry or is it defined also in other geometries?







geometry hyperbolic-geometry affine-geometry axiomatic-geometry






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Dec 19 '18 at 22:18







Emilio Novati

















asked Dec 18 '18 at 21:35









Emilio NovatiEmilio Novati

52.1k43474




52.1k43474








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    See parallel transport for a discussion on this problem.
    $endgroup$
    – Arthur
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:40






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    The concept can be defined microlocally, at a given point, since the tangent space is Euclidean. That is, given a point and any two curves through a point, we can (if the curves are differentiable and non-stationary at the point) say whether or not they have the same direction at that point. (Indeed, one can define a direction through a given point as an equivalence class of differentiable curves.) This is useful for some purposes, but of course only for some!
    $endgroup$
    – Toby Bartels
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:44










  • $begingroup$
    @Arthur: this means that, in a manifold, a ''direction'' can be defined only locally ? Via an affine connection in the tangent bundle?
    $endgroup$
    – Emilio Novati
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:50






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Yes. Or, more specifically, as Toby Bartels says, microlocally (so locally that the geometry is, for all intents and purposes, Euclidean).
    $endgroup$
    – Arthur
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:58














  • 2




    $begingroup$
    See parallel transport for a discussion on this problem.
    $endgroup$
    – Arthur
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:40






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    The concept can be defined microlocally, at a given point, since the tangent space is Euclidean. That is, given a point and any two curves through a point, we can (if the curves are differentiable and non-stationary at the point) say whether or not they have the same direction at that point. (Indeed, one can define a direction through a given point as an equivalence class of differentiable curves.) This is useful for some purposes, but of course only for some!
    $endgroup$
    – Toby Bartels
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:44










  • $begingroup$
    @Arthur: this means that, in a manifold, a ''direction'' can be defined only locally ? Via an affine connection in the tangent bundle?
    $endgroup$
    – Emilio Novati
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:50






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Yes. Or, more specifically, as Toby Bartels says, microlocally (so locally that the geometry is, for all intents and purposes, Euclidean).
    $endgroup$
    – Arthur
    Dec 18 '18 at 21:58








2




2




$begingroup$
See parallel transport for a discussion on this problem.
$endgroup$
– Arthur
Dec 18 '18 at 21:40




$begingroup$
See parallel transport for a discussion on this problem.
$endgroup$
– Arthur
Dec 18 '18 at 21:40




2




2




$begingroup$
The concept can be defined microlocally, at a given point, since the tangent space is Euclidean. That is, given a point and any two curves through a point, we can (if the curves are differentiable and non-stationary at the point) say whether or not they have the same direction at that point. (Indeed, one can define a direction through a given point as an equivalence class of differentiable curves.) This is useful for some purposes, but of course only for some!
$endgroup$
– Toby Bartels
Dec 18 '18 at 21:44




$begingroup$
The concept can be defined microlocally, at a given point, since the tangent space is Euclidean. That is, given a point and any two curves through a point, we can (if the curves are differentiable and non-stationary at the point) say whether or not they have the same direction at that point. (Indeed, one can define a direction through a given point as an equivalence class of differentiable curves.) This is useful for some purposes, but of course only for some!
$endgroup$
– Toby Bartels
Dec 18 '18 at 21:44












$begingroup$
@Arthur: this means that, in a manifold, a ''direction'' can be defined only locally ? Via an affine connection in the tangent bundle?
$endgroup$
– Emilio Novati
Dec 18 '18 at 21:50




$begingroup$
@Arthur: this means that, in a manifold, a ''direction'' can be defined only locally ? Via an affine connection in the tangent bundle?
$endgroup$
– Emilio Novati
Dec 18 '18 at 21:50




1




1




$begingroup$
Yes. Or, more specifically, as Toby Bartels says, microlocally (so locally that the geometry is, for all intents and purposes, Euclidean).
$endgroup$
– Arthur
Dec 18 '18 at 21:58




$begingroup$
Yes. Or, more specifically, as Toby Bartels says, microlocally (so locally that the geometry is, for all intents and purposes, Euclidean).
$endgroup$
– Arthur
Dec 18 '18 at 21:58










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$begingroup$

This is one possible translation of the concept. Depending of the way you view the Euclidean concept, it translates to the hyperbolic world in different ways or not at all.



The direction of an unoriented line (i.e. only up to $180°$, not $360°$) in Euclidean geometry can be associated with the set of parallels in that direction (as you already wrote), or equivalently in projective geometry with the point at infinity where all these parallels meet. Translating this to hyperbolic geometry a direction would be an ideal point (a point on the “boundary” of the model), or equivalently the set of limit-parallel geodesics incident with that.



Actually you can define a natural orientation on these in hyperbolic geometry, towards or away from the ideal point. Note that this same kind of orientation definition doesn't work in Euclidean geometry. But the original question here looks non-oriented.






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    $begingroup$

    This is one possible translation of the concept. Depending of the way you view the Euclidean concept, it translates to the hyperbolic world in different ways or not at all.



    The direction of an unoriented line (i.e. only up to $180°$, not $360°$) in Euclidean geometry can be associated with the set of parallels in that direction (as you already wrote), or equivalently in projective geometry with the point at infinity where all these parallels meet. Translating this to hyperbolic geometry a direction would be an ideal point (a point on the “boundary” of the model), or equivalently the set of limit-parallel geodesics incident with that.



    Actually you can define a natural orientation on these in hyperbolic geometry, towards or away from the ideal point. Note that this same kind of orientation definition doesn't work in Euclidean geometry. But the original question here looks non-oriented.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      1












      $begingroup$

      This is one possible translation of the concept. Depending of the way you view the Euclidean concept, it translates to the hyperbolic world in different ways or not at all.



      The direction of an unoriented line (i.e. only up to $180°$, not $360°$) in Euclidean geometry can be associated with the set of parallels in that direction (as you already wrote), or equivalently in projective geometry with the point at infinity where all these parallels meet. Translating this to hyperbolic geometry a direction would be an ideal point (a point on the “boundary” of the model), or equivalently the set of limit-parallel geodesics incident with that.



      Actually you can define a natural orientation on these in hyperbolic geometry, towards or away from the ideal point. Note that this same kind of orientation definition doesn't work in Euclidean geometry. But the original question here looks non-oriented.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        1












        1








        1





        $begingroup$

        This is one possible translation of the concept. Depending of the way you view the Euclidean concept, it translates to the hyperbolic world in different ways or not at all.



        The direction of an unoriented line (i.e. only up to $180°$, not $360°$) in Euclidean geometry can be associated with the set of parallels in that direction (as you already wrote), or equivalently in projective geometry with the point at infinity where all these parallels meet. Translating this to hyperbolic geometry a direction would be an ideal point (a point on the “boundary” of the model), or equivalently the set of limit-parallel geodesics incident with that.



        Actually you can define a natural orientation on these in hyperbolic geometry, towards or away from the ideal point. Note that this same kind of orientation definition doesn't work in Euclidean geometry. But the original question here looks non-oriented.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        This is one possible translation of the concept. Depending of the way you view the Euclidean concept, it translates to the hyperbolic world in different ways or not at all.



        The direction of an unoriented line (i.e. only up to $180°$, not $360°$) in Euclidean geometry can be associated with the set of parallels in that direction (as you already wrote), or equivalently in projective geometry with the point at infinity where all these parallels meet. Translating this to hyperbolic geometry a direction would be an ideal point (a point on the “boundary” of the model), or equivalently the set of limit-parallel geodesics incident with that.



        Actually you can define a natural orientation on these in hyperbolic geometry, towards or away from the ideal point. Note that this same kind of orientation definition doesn't work in Euclidean geometry. But the original question here looks non-oriented.







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Dec 19 '18 at 22:08









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