Definition:Between (Geometry)
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Definition
Betweenness is one of the undefined terms in Tarski's Geometry.
Intuitively, a point $b$ is between two others $a$ and $c$ if it lies on the line segment $a c$.
However as line segment has not yet been defined, we are not allowed to call upon it at this stage.
We offer an ostensive definition:
In the picture, point $b$ is between the two points $a, c$, and we write:
- $\mathsf{B}abc$
However, point $d$ is not between the two points $a$ and $c$, and we write:
- $\neg \left({\mathsf B a d c}\right)$
In Euclidean 2-Space
Define the following coordinates in the $xy$-plane:
| \(\ds a\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \left({x_1, x_2}\right)\) | ||||||||||||
| \(\ds b\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \left({y_1, y_2}\right)\) | ||||||||||||
| \(\ds c\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \left({z_1, z_2}\right)\) |
where $a, b, c \in \R^2$.
Let:
| \(\ds \Delta x_1\) | \(=\) | \(\ds x_3 - x_2\) | ||||||||||||
| \(\ds \Delta x_2\) | \(=\) | \(\ds x_2 - x_1\) | ||||||||||||
| \(\ds \Delta y_1\) | \(=\) | \(\ds y_2 - y_1\) | ||||||||||||
| \(\ds \Delta y_2\) | \(=\) | \(\ds y_3 - y_2\) |
Then:
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- $\mathsf{B}abc \dashv \vdash \left({\Delta x_1 \Delta y_1 = \Delta x_2 \Delta y_2}\right) \land$
- $\left({0 \le \Delta x_1 \Delta y_1 \land 0 \le \Delta x_2 \Delta y_2}\right)$
As a justification of this definition, consider the case where $\Delta x_1, \Delta x_2 \ne 0$.
| \(\ds \Delta x_1 \Delta y_1\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \Delta x_2 \Delta y_2\) | ||||||||||||
| \(\ds \implies \ \ \) | \(\ds \frac {\Delta y_1}{\Delta x_2}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \frac {\Delta y_2}{\Delta x_1}\) |
Hence, the right triangles with hypotenuses $ab$ and $bc$ are similar.
Furthermore, the hypotenuses are parallel, because they have the same slope.
They are similarly oriented because $\Delta x$ is by construction parallel to the $x$-axis, $\Delta y$ to the $y$-axis.
They are touching because there are only three points under consideration.
Lastly, the inequalities assure that vertex $b$ lies between the two triangles, because otherwise the inequalities wouldn't hold.
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Work In Progress: I didn't mean prove it here, I meant raise a page where the definition is shown to be justified. (discuss) You can help $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ by completing it. When this has been done, the template should be removed from the code. |
In Euclidean $n$-Space
In the Euclidean $n$-dimensional case, consider three points $A$,$B$ and $C$. We say that $B$ is between $A$ and $C$ if:
- $\norm{\vec{AB}} < \norm{\vec{AC}}$
and:
- $\vec{AB} \cdot\vec{AC} = \norm {\vec{AB}} * \norm{\vec{AC}}$
For intuition behind definition see Definition:Between (Geometry)/N-dimensional Euclidean space Intuition
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Work In Progress: This is a personal suggestion of a definition by an author. This may not be an official definition, but the intuition behind the definition is justified. (discuss) You can help $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ by completing it. When this has been done, the template should be removed from the code. |
Sources
- June 1999: Alfred Tarski and Steven Givant: Tarski's System of Geometry (Bull. Symb. Log. Vol. 5, no. 2: pp. 175 – 214) : p. $201$