A rabbit hole between topology and geometry
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Date
2013-09-17
Authors
Glynn, David
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hindawi
Rights
Copyright © 2013 David G. Glynn.
Rights Holder
David G. Glynn.
Abstract
Topology and geometry should be very closely related mathematical subjects dealing with space. However, they deal with different aspects, the first with properties preserved under deformations, and the second with more linear or rigid aspects, properties invariant under translations, rotations, or projections. The present paper shows a way to go between them in an unexpected way that uses graphs on orientable surfaces, which already have widespread applications. In this way infinitely many geometrical properties are found, starting with the most basic such as the bundle and Pappus theorems. An interesting philosophical consequence is that the most general geometry over noncommutative skewfields such as Hamilton's quaternions corresponds to planar graphs, while graphs on surfaces of higher genus are related to geometry over commutative fields such as the real or complex numbers.
Description
Copyright © 2013 David G. Glynn. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords
bundle theorem, Pappus theorem, planar graphs, complex numbers
Citation
David G. Glynn, “A Rabbit Hole between Topology and Geometry,” ISRN Geometry, vol. 2013, Article ID 379074, 9 pages, 2013. doi:10.1155/2013/379074