Math 2.0

Geometry Definition

Desarguesian plane

Builds on Projective planeDesargues's theoremCollinear points

Definition

A projective plane is Desarguesian if the conclusion of Desargues's theorem holds in it. That is, let ABCABC and A′B′C′A'B'C' be triangles with A≠A′A \ne A', B≠B′B \ne B', C≠C′C \ne C' and distinct corresponding sides. If AA′AA', BB′BB', CC′CC' pass through a common point, then AB∩A′B′AB \cap A'B', BC∩B′C′BC \cap B'C', CA∩C′A′CA \cap C'A' are collinear.

Remarks

A projective plane is Desarguesian exactly when it is isomorphic to ℙ2(D)\mathbb{P}^2(D) for some division ring DD, and then DD is determined up to isomorphism.

Example: ℙ2(ℚ)\mathbb{P}^2(\Q) is Desarguesian. Check: it is ℙ2(k)\mathbb{P}^2(k) for the field k=ℚk = \Q, where Desargues's theorem holds.

Non-example: the projective completion of the Moulton plane is not Desarguesian, since it contains two triangles in perspective from a point whose corresponding sides meet in three non-collinear points.

By Wedderburn's little theorem every finite division ring is a field, so the finite Desarguesian planes are the planes ℙ2(𝔽q)\mathbb{P}^2(\F_q), of order qq a prime power. Every Desarguesian plane is a Moufang plane.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 5 pages in order. The foundations come first.

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Each page uses the pages above it. The colour of the bar on a box shows how strong the evidence is, and the box also gives it as text. The list has the same pages.
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  1. Collinear points concept
  2. Projective plane concept
  3. Projective space concept
  4. Desargues's theorem statement
  5. Desarguesian plane definition

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projective_plane
About this page
TagNCZP5MPR9Z
URIm2://NCZP5MPR9Z
Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC51A30, 51A05
DefinesDesarguesian plane
UsesProjective plane, Desargues's theorem, Collinear points

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