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Revision difference : polygon
Version 38 Version 37
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\section{Definitions} \section{Definitions}
We follow Forder \cite{forder} for most of this entry. We follow Forder \cite{forder} for most of this entry.
The term polygon can be defined if one has a definition of an interval. For this The term polygon can be defined if one has a definition of an interval. For this
entry we use betweenness geometry. A betweenness geometry entry we use betweenness geometry. A betweenness geometry
is just one for which there is a set of points and a betweenness relation $B$ defined. is just one for which there is a set of points and a betweenness relation $B$ defined.
Rather than write $(a,b,c) \in B$ we write a*b*c. Rather than write $(a,b,c) \in B$ we write a*b*c.
\begin{enumerate} \begin{enumerate}
\item If $a$ and $b$ are distinct points, the \emph{line $ab$} is the set of \item If $a$ and $b$ are distinct points, the \emph{line $ab$} is the set of
all points $p$ such that $p*a*b$ or $a*p*b$ or $a*b*p$. It can be shown all points $p$ such that $p*a*b$ or $a*p*b$ or $a*b*p$. It can be shown
that the line $ab$ and the line $ba$ are the same set of points. that the line $ab$ and the line $ba$ are the same set of points.
\item If $o$ and $a$ are distinct points, a \emph{ray $[oa$} is the set of all points $p$ such that \item If $o$ and $a$ are distinct points, a \emph{ray $[oa$} is the set of all points $p$ such that
$p=o$ or $o*p*a$ or $o*a*p$. $p=o$ or $o*p*a$ or $o*a*p$.
\item If $a$ and $b$ are distinct points, the \emph{open interval} is the set of points \item If $a$ and $b$ are distinct points, the \emph{open interval} is the set of points
$p$ such that $a*p*b$. It is denoted by $(a,b).$ $p$ such that $a*p*b$. It is denoted by $(a,b).$
\item If $a$ and $b$ are distinct points, the \emph{closed interval} is \item If $a$ and $b$ are distinct points, the \emph{closed interval} is
$(a,b) \cup \{a\} \cup \{b\}$, and denoted by $[a,b].$ $(a,b) \cup \{a\} \cup \{b\}$, and denoted by $[a,b].$
\item The \emph{way $a_1a_2\ldots a_n$} is the finite set of points $\{a_1, \ldots , a_n\}$ \item The \emph{way $a_1a_2\ldots a_n$} is the finite set of points $\{a_1, \ldots , a_n\}$
along with the open intervals $(a_1, a_2), (a_2,a_3), \ldots, (a_{n-1}, a_n)$. along with the open intervals $(a_1, a_2), (a_2,a_3), \ldots, (a_{n-1}, a_n)$.
The points $a_1, \ldots, a_n$ are called the \emph{vertices} of the way, and the The points $a_1, \ldots, a_n$ are called the \emph{vertices} of the way, and the
open intervals are called the \emph{sides} of the way. open intervals are called the \emph{sides} of the way.
A way is also called a \emph{broken line}. A way is also called a \emph{broken line}.
The closed intervals $[a_1,a_2], \ldots, [a_{n-1},a_n]$ are called the \emph{side-intervals} of The closed intervals $[a_1,a_2], \ldots, [a_{n-1},a_n]$ are called the \emph{side-intervals} of
the way. The lines $a_1a_2, \ldots , a_{n-1}a_n$ are called the \emph{side-lines} the way. The lines $a_1a_2, \ldots , a_{n-1}a_n$ are called the \emph{side-lines}
of the way. of the way.
The way $a_1a_2\ldots a_n$ is said to \emph{join} $a_1$ to $a_n$. The way $a_1a_2\ldots a_n$ is said to \emph{join} $a_1$ to $a_n$.
It is assumed that $a_{i-1}, a_i, a_{i+1}$ are not collinear. It is assumed that $a_{i-1}, a_i, a_{i+1}$ are not collinear.
\item A way is said to be \emph{simple} if it does not meet itself. To be precise, \item A way is said to be \emph{simple} if it does not meet itself. To be precise,
(i) no two side-intervals meet in any point which is not a vertex, and (ii) no three side-intervals (i) no two side-intervals meet in any point which is not a vertex, and (ii) no three side-intervals
meet in any point. meet in any point.
\item A \emph{polygon} is a way $a_1 a_2 \ldots a_n$ for which $a_1 = a_n$. Notice that there is \item A \emph{polygon} is a way $a_1 a_2 \ldots a_n$ for which $a_1 = a_n$. Notice that there is
no assumption that the points are coplanar. no assumption that the points are coplanar.
\item A \emph{simple polygon} is polygon for which the way is simple. \item A \emph{simple polygon} is polygon for which the way is simple.
\item A \emph{region} is a set of points not all collinear, any two of which can be joined by points of a way using \item A \emph{region} is a set of points not all collinear, any two of which can be joined by points of a way using
only points of the region. only points of the region.
\item A region $R$ is \emph{convex} if for each pair of points $a,b \in R$ the open interval $(a,b)$ is \item A region $R$ is \emph{convex} if for each pair of points $a,b \in R$ the open interval $(a,b)$ is
contained in $R.$ contained in $R.$
\item Let $X$ and $Y$ be two sets of points. If there is a set of points $S$ such that every way \item Let $X$ and $Y$ be two sets of points. If there is a set of points $S$ such that every way
joining a point of $X$ to a point of $Y$ meets $S$ then $S$ is said to \emph{separate} joining a point of $X$ to a point of $Y$ meets $S$ then $S$ is said to \emph{separate}
$X$ from $Y$. $X$ from $Y$.
\item If $a_1 a_2 \ldots a_n$ is a polygon, then the \emph{angles of the polygon} are \item If $a_1 a_2 \ldots a_n$ is a polygon, then the \emph{angles of the polygon} are
$\angle a_na_1a_2, \angle a_1a_2a_3$, and so on. $\angle a_na_1a_2, \angle a_1a_2a_3$, and so on.
\end{enumerate} \end{enumerate}
Now assume that all points of the geometry are in one plane. Let $P$ be a polygon. ($P$ is called Now assume that all points of the geometry are in one plane. Let $P$ be a polygon. ($P$ is called
a \emph{plane polygon}.) a \emph{plane polygon}.)
\begin{enumerate} \begin{enumerate}
\item A ray or line which does not go through a vertex of $P$ will be called \emph{suitable}. \item A ray or line which does not go through a vertex of $P$ will be called \emph{suitable}.
\item An \emph{inside point} $a$ of $P$ is one for which a suitable ray from $a$ \item An \emph{inside point} $a$ of $P$ is one for which a suitable ray from $a$
meets $P$ an odd number of times. Points that are not on or inside $P$ are said to be \emph{outside} meets $P$ an odd number of times. Points that are not on or inside $P$ are said to be \emph{outside}
$P$. $P$.
\item Let $\{P_i\}$ be a set of polygons. We say that $\{P_i\}$ \emph{dissect} $P$ if the following \item Let $\{P_i\}$ be a set of polygons. We say that $\{P_i\}$ \emph{dissect} $P$ if the following
three conditions are satisfied: (i) $P_i$ and $P_j$ do not have a common inside point for $i \not = j$, three conditions are satisfied: (i) $P_i$ and $P_j$ do not have a common inside point for $i \not = j$,
(ii) each inside point of $P$ is inside or on some $P_i$ and (iii) each inside point of $P_i$ is (ii) each inside point of $P$ is inside or on some $P_i$ and (iii) each inside point of $P_i$ is
inside $P$. inside $P$.
\item A \emph{convex polygon} is one whose inside points are all on the same side of any side-line \item A \emph{convex polygon} is one whose inside points are all on the same side of any side-line
of the polygon. of the polygon.
\end{enumerate} \end{enumerate}
\section{Theorems} \section{Theorems}
Assume that all points are in one plane. Let $P$ be a polygon. Assume that all points are in one plane. Let $P$ be a polygon.
\begin{enumerate} \begin{enumerate}
\item It can be shown that $P$ separates the other points of the plane into at least two regions and that \item It can be shown that $P$ separates the other points of the plane into at least two regions and that
if $P$ is simple there are exactly two regions. Moise proves this directly in \cite{moise}, pp. 16-18. if $P$ is simple there are exactly two regions. Moise proves this directly in \cite{moise}, pp. 16-18.
\item It can be shown that $P$ can be dissected into triangles $\{T_i\}$ such that \item It can be shown that $P$ can be dissected into triangles $\{T_i\}$ such that
every vertex of a $T_i$ is a vertex of $P$. every vertex of a $T_i$ is a vertex of $P$.
\item The following theorem of Euler can be shown: Suppose $P$ is dissected into $f>1$ polygons \item The following theorem of Euler can be shown: Suppose $P$ is dissected into $f>1$ polygons
and that the total number of vertices of these polygons is $v$, and the number of open intervals and that the total number of vertices of these polygons is $v$, and the number of open intervals
which are sides is $e$. Then which are sides is $e$. Then
$$ $$
v-e+f = 1 v-e+f = 1
$$. $$.
\end{enumerate} \end{enumerate}
A plane simple polygon with $n$ sides is called an $n$-gon, although for small $n$ A plane simple polygon with $n$ sides is called an $n$-gon, although for small $n$
there are more traditional names: there are more traditional names:
\begin{center} \begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{||c|c||} \hline \begin{tabular}{||c|c||} \hline
Number of sides& Name of the polygon \\ \hline Number of sides& Name of the polygon \\ \hline
3 & triangle \\ 3 & triangle \\
4 & quadrilateral \\ 4 & quadrilateral \\
5 & pentagon\\ 5 & pentagon\\
6 & hexagon \\ 6 & hexagon \\
7 & heptagon\\ 7 & heptagon\\
8 & octagon\\ 8 & octagon\\
10 & decagon\\ 10 & decagon\\
\hline
\end{tabular} \end{tabular}
\end{center} \end{center}
A plane simple polygon is also called a \emph{Jordan polygon}. A plane simple polygon is also called a \emph{Jordan polygon}.
\begin{thebibliography}{9} \begin{thebibliography}{9}
\bibitem{borsuk-szmielew} \bibitem{borsuk-szmielew}
K. Borsuk and W. Szmielew, \emph{Foundations of Geometry}, K. Borsuk and W. Szmielew, \emph{Foundations of Geometry},
North-Holland Publishing Company, 1960. North-Holland Publishing Company, 1960.
\bibitem{forder} \bibitem{forder}
H.G. Forder, \emph{The Foundations of Euclidean Geometry}, H.G. Forder, \emph{The Foundations of Euclidean Geometry},
Dover Publications, 1958. Dover Publications, 1958.
\bibitem{moise} \bibitem{moise}
E.E. Moise, \emph{Geometric Topology in Dimensions 2 and 3}, E.E. Moise, \emph{Geometric Topology in Dimensions 2 and 3},
Springer-Verlag, 1977. Springer-Verlag, 1977.
\end{thebibliography} \end{thebibliography}
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