Definition:Euclidean Space

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Definition

Let $S$ be one of the standard number fields $\Q$, $\R$, $\C$.

Let $S^n$ be a cartesian space for $n \in \N_{\ge 1}$.

Let $d: S^n \times S^n \to \R$ be the usual (Euclidean) metric on $S^n$.

Then $\tuple {S^n, d}$ is a Euclidean space.

Special Cases

Real Vector Space

Let $\R^n$ be an $n$-dimensional real vector space.

Let the Euclidean metric $d$ be applied to $\R^n$.

Then $\left({\R^n, d}\right)$ is a Euclidean $n$-space.

Rational Euclidean Space

Let $\Q^n$ be an $n$-dimensional vector space of rational numbers.

Let the Euclidean Metric $d$ be applied to $\Q^n$.

Then $\left({\Q^n, d}\right)$ is a Euclidean $n$-space.

Complex Euclidean Space

Let $\C$ be the complex plane.

Let $d$ be the Euclidean metric on $\C$.

Then $\left({\C, d}\right)$ is a Euclidean space.

Euclidean Topology

Let $S$ be one of the standard number fields $\Q$, $\R$, $\C$.

Let $S^n$ be a cartesian space for $n \in \N_{\ge 1}$.

Let $M = \left({S^n, d}\right)$ be a Euclidean space.

The topology $\tau_d$ induced by the Euclidean metric $d$ is called the Euclidean topology.

Definition

For any real number $a$ let:

$L_a = \left\{{ \left({x, y}\right) \in \R^2: x = a }\right\}$

Furthermore, define:

$L_A = \left\{{L_a: a \in \R }\right\}$

For any two real numbers $m$ and $b$ let:

$L_{m,b} = \left\{{ \left({x, y}\right) \in \R^2: y = m x + b }\right\}$

Furthermore, define:

$L_{M,B} = \left\{{ L_{m,b}: m,b \in \R }\right\}$

Finally let:

$L_E = L_A \cup L_{M,B}$

The abstract geometry $\left({\R^2, L_E}\right)$ is called the Euclidean plane.

Also known as

Some authors use the term Cartesian plane instead of Euclidean plane.

Also see

• Results about Euclidean spaces can be found here.

Source of Name

This entry was named for Euclid.

Historical Note

Euclid himself did not in fact conceive of the Euclidean metric and its associated Euclidean Space and Euclidean norm.

They bear that name because the geometric space which it gives rise to is Euclidean in the sense that it is consistent with Euclid's fifth postulate.