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Difference between revisions of "Double point"

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A kind of [[Singular point|singular point]] of a curve <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d0339501.png" /> at which the first partial derivatives are zero, and at least one second partial derivative of the function <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d0339502.png" /> is non-zero. In studying the structure of the curve near a double point one considers the sign of the expression
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A kind of [[Singular point|singular point]] of a curve $F(x,y)=0$ at which the first partial derivatives are zero, and at least one second partial derivative of the function $F(x,y)$ is non-zero. In studying the structure of the curve near a double point one considers the sign of the expression
  
<table class="eq" style="width:100%;"> <tr><td valign="top" style="width:94%;text-align:center;"><img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d0339503.png" /></td> </tr></table>
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$$\Delta=\left(\frac{\partial^2F}{\partial x^2}\right)_0\left(\frac{\partial^2F}{\partial y^2}\right)_0-\left(\frac{\partial^2F}{\partial x\partial y}\right)_0^2.$$
  
If <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d0339504.png" />, the double point is said to be an isolated point; thus, the coordinate origin of the curve
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If $\Delta>0$, the double point is said to be an isolated point; thus, the coordinate origin of the curve
  
<table class="eq" style="width:100%;"> <tr><td valign="top" style="width:94%;text-align:center;"><img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d0339505.png" /></td> </tr></table>
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$$y^2-x^4+4x^2=0$$
  
is an isolated double point (Fig. a). If <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d0339506.png" />, the double point is said to be a nodal point or a point of self-intersection; e.g. for the curve
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is an isolated double point (Fig. a). If $\Delta<0$, the double point is said to be a nodal point or a point of self-intersection; e.g. for the curve
  
<table class="eq" style="width:100%;"> <tr><td valign="top" style="width:94%;text-align:center;"><img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d0339507.png" /></td> </tr></table>
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$$(x^2+y^2+a^2)^2-4a^2x^2-a^4=0$$
  
 
the coordinate origin is a nodal point (cf. Fig. b).
 
the coordinate origin is a nodal point (cf. Fig. b).
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Figure: d033950b
 
Figure: d033950b
  
If <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d0339508.png" />, the double point is either isolated or else is characterized by the fact that the different branches of the curve have a common tangent at the point; thus, a) at a cusp of the first kind the branches of the curve are situated on different sides of the common tangent and on the same side of their common normal (see, for example, Fig. c: <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d0339509.png" />);
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If $\Delta=0$, the double point is either isolated or else is characterized by the fact that the different branches of the curve have a common tangent at the point; thus, a) at a cusp of the first kind the branches of the curve are situated on different sides of the common tangent and on the same side of their common normal (see, for example, Fig. c: $y^2-x^3=0$);
  
 
<img style="border:1px solid;" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/common_img/d033950c.gif" />
 
<img style="border:1px solid;" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/common_img/d033950c.gif" />
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Figure: d033950e
 
Figure: d033950e
  
b) at a cusp of the second kind the branches of the curve are situated on the same side of the common tangent and on the same side of the common normal (see, for example, Fig. d: <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d03395010.png" />); and c) at a point of osculation the branches of the curve osculate (see, for instance, Fig. e: <img align="absmiddle" border="0" src="https://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/legacyimages/d/d033/d033950/d03395011.png" />).
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b) at a cusp of the second kind the branches of the curve are situated on the same side of the common tangent and on the same side of the common normal (see, for example, Fig. d: $(y-x)^2-x^5=0$); and c) at a point of osculation the branches of the curve osculate (see, for instance, Fig. e: $y^2-x^4=0$).
  
  

Revision as of 08:11, 12 April 2014

A kind of singular point of a curve $F(x,y)=0$ at which the first partial derivatives are zero, and at least one second partial derivative of the function $F(x,y)$ is non-zero. In studying the structure of the curve near a double point one considers the sign of the expression

$$\Delta=\left(\frac{\partial^2F}{\partial x^2}\right)_0\left(\frac{\partial^2F}{\partial y^2}\right)_0-\left(\frac{\partial^2F}{\partial x\partial y}\right)_0^2.$$

If $\Delta>0$, the double point is said to be an isolated point; thus, the coordinate origin of the curve

$$y^2-x^4+4x^2=0$$

is an isolated double point (Fig. a). If $\Delta<0$, the double point is said to be a nodal point or a point of self-intersection; e.g. for the curve

$$(x^2+y^2+a^2)^2-4a^2x^2-a^4=0$$

the coordinate origin is a nodal point (cf. Fig. b).

Figure: d033950a

Figure: d033950b

If $\Delta=0$, the double point is either isolated or else is characterized by the fact that the different branches of the curve have a common tangent at the point; thus, a) at a cusp of the first kind the branches of the curve are situated on different sides of the common tangent and on the same side of their common normal (see, for example, Fig. c: $y^2-x^3=0$);

Figure: d033950c

Figure: d033950d

Figure: d033950e

b) at a cusp of the second kind the branches of the curve are situated on the same side of the common tangent and on the same side of the common normal (see, for example, Fig. d: $(y-x)^2-x^5=0$); and c) at a point of osculation the branches of the curve osculate (see, for instance, Fig. e: $y^2-x^4=0$).


Comments

A double point on an algebraic variety is a point of multiplicity two (cf. Multiplicity of a singular point).

References

[a1] W. Fulton, "Algebraic curves" , Benjamin (1969) pp. 66
How to Cite This Entry:
Double point. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Double_point&oldid=17723
This article was adapted from an original article by A.B. Ivanov (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article