Cross ratio
double ratio, anharmonic ratio, of four points , , , on a straight line
A number denoted by the symbol and equal to
Here, the ratio is considered to be positive if the directions of the segments and coincide, and is considered to be negative if these directions are opposite. The cross ratio depends on the numbering of the points, which may or may not be the same as the order of their appearance on the straight line. As well as the cross ratio of four points, one may consider the cross ratio of four straight lines passing through a point. This ratio, which is denoted by the symbol , is equal to
and the angle between the straight lines and is considered together with its sign. If the points , , , lie on the straight lines , , , , one has
If the points , , , and , , , are obtained by the intersection of the same quadruple of straight lines , , , , then
The cross ratio is an invariant of projective transformations. A cross ratio equal to is known as a harmonic ratio (cf. Harmonic quadruple of points).
Comments
References
[a1] | H.S.M. Coxeter, "Projective geometry" , Univ. Toronto Press (1974) |
Cross ratio. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Cross_ratio&oldid=14582