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Conference rusure::math

Title:Mathematics at DEC
Moderator:RUSURE::EDP
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2083
Total number of notes:14613

735.0. "Squares: necc.&suff. conditions" by RDVAX::PERRONE () Fri Jul 17 1987 19:49

    Suppose you are given four points in three dimensional space.
    What are necessary and sufficient conditions for the points
    to lie on the vertices of some square?
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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735.1Vectorize it!ANGORA::JANZENTom LMO2/O23 296-5421Fri Jul 17 1987 20:1611
four points A,B,C,D
        __ __ __
vectors BA,BC,AD
 __   __    __     __
|BA X BC|= |BA| * |BC| 
    __   __   __
and AD = BA + BC

unfortunately, you have to choose the point orders correctly, or try all
orders until it passes.
Tom
735.2proof for vectorization?RDVAX::PERRONEMon Jul 20 1987 13:304
    It seems to me that one would need three equations to verify that
    four points comprise the vertices of a square.
    
    Can someone give a proof for the answer in note 735.1?
735.325 proof anywayANGORA::JANZENTom LMO2/O23 296-5421Mon Jul 20 1987 16:0327
>four points A,B,C,D
 
          A__________ B
           |        |
           |        |
           |        |
           |        |
          D----------C
>        __ __ __
>vectors BA,BC,AD
> __   __    __     __
>|BA X BC|= |BA| * |BC|
> __   __   
>|BA X BC|= magnitude of the cross product 
	  = area of parallelogram bounded by BA, BC, and two
	  other equal & parallel line segments.
 __     __
|BA| * |BC| = scalar product of two adjacent sides.  In order for the 
product of two sides to equal the area of the parallelogram, it must be a
square.  So points A,B, and C are on a square.
But we don't know yet if point D on this square.
>    __   __   __
>and AD = BA + BC
If it's a square, and the point D is found by adding two of the right 
sides, then all four points on on the square.

Tom not a proof but more explication
735.4Add another conditionANGORA::JANZENTom LMO2/O23 296-5421Mon Jul 20 1987 16:044
oh I'm wrong.  It could be a rectangle.
add
|BA|=|BC|
Tom
735.5three conditionsRDVAX::PERRONEMon Jul 20 1987 20:3913
    I don't quite believe the condition that
     __     __     __
    |AD| = |AB| + |BC|
    
    however what about these three conditions:
     __ __     __   __
    |BAxBC| = |BA|*|BC|    
     __ __     __   __
    |ABxAD| = |AB|*|AD|
     __     __
    |AB| = |AD|
    
    Can anyone prove that these describe a square?
735.6corrected corrected correctionANGORA::JANZENTom LMO2/O23 296-5421Mon Jul 20 1987 20:5911
                           -< |I| |goofed| |again| >-
>                             -< three conditions >-
>
>    I don't quite believe the condition that
>     __     __     __
>    |AD| = |AB| + |BC|
                       __   __   __
oh. well,uh, how about BD = BA + BC

which is what I meant but got carried away with bars and made a mistake too.
Tom
735.7CLT::GILBERTBuilderMon Jul 20 1987 22:4115
How about the following?

          A+--------+B
           |        |
           |        |
           |        |
           |        |
          D+--------+C

__   __
AB = DC		(opposite sides parallel and of equal length)
__   __
AD = BC		(opposite sides parallel and of equal length)
__   __
AB . BC = 0	(dot product; adjacent sides are perpendicular)
735.8Proof not presentedSEMI::NGTue Jul 21 1987 05:0978
    Re .7:
    
    A rectangle will satisfy those conditions too.
    
    Add |AB| = |AD|.
    
    I think that should be enough.
    
    Re .0:
    Could you tell us something that motivates this problem?
    
    Re (general):
    
    Let's talk about the definition of a square (probably in Euclid's
    Elements. Just kidding, I haven't read that book. I don't know where
    in my head I got the definition.)

    I think a 4-sided planar object is a square iff it has 4 equal sides
    and 2 of the sides are perpendicular. (or equivalently, 3 equal sides
    and the 2 angles formed are 90 degrees.) I am sure there are other
    equivalent definitions, and some definitions may be better than
    others in this case.
    
    A+-------+B
     |       |
     |       |
     |       |
    D+-------+C
    
    One set of conditions may be:
    	|AB| = |BC|
    	|BC| = |CD|   4 sides equal
    	|CD| = |DA|
    and AB . BC = 0   1 right angle
    
    or 
    	|AB| = |BC|
    	|BC| = |CD|      3 equal sides
    and AB . BC = BC . CD = 0    2 right angles

    There are other ways to prove equal sides or right angles like
    vector equality or Pa..s Theorem (Sorry, I forgot how to spell it;
    that one says z[squared] = x[squared] + y[squared]. I'm ashamed.)
    
    Now, how do we prove that 4 points are planar?
    One condition may be vector AB is in the same direction as DC, or
    similiarly, BC in the same direction of AD.
    
    Therefore, the least constraints for 4 points ABCD to form a square
    in 3-D:
    		AB = DC (vector equality)
    	      |BC| = |AD|
    	      |AB| = |BC|
    and	   AB . BC = 0
    
    This may not be the most efficient way to compute it, by the way.
    For example, changing the second constraint to vector equality still
    works, and it is more efficient since it is easier to test vector
    equality than scalar equality if the points coordinates are specified.
    (Calculating distance involves at least square if not square root.)
    I think changing the second constraint to vector equality still
    makes the 2 cases equivalent.
    
    Re .1:
    I think using cross-product works too as that is used to show
    orthogality. (Can't seem to spell words right.) However, that operation
    will require more additions and mults.

    Re .0, .2, .4:
    This is not a proof. (at least not in any formal sense. Hope this
    is good enough. I don't know how to rigorize it. Not a mathematician.)
    
    To everyone:
    If Micheal still want a rigorous proof, please help me to do so.
    I don't think that is within my ability.

    David Ng
    
735.9One solution.CHOVAX::YOUNGBack from the Shadows Again,Tue Jul 21 1987 12:569
    Four points in space form the corners of a square IFF:
    
    	Any 2 of the 6 line segments satisfy the following conditions:
    
    		1)  They bisect each other
    		2)  They are of equal length
    		3)  They are perpendicular
    
    --  Barry
735.10Only three equations?RDVAX::PERRONETue Jul 21 1987 14:2920
    re .9
    
    These conditions seem to be the most intuitive/elegant; however
    computationally bisection is not trivia to verify.            
    
    I can think of two ways of doing it:
                                         __                 __
    First we could find the midpoints of AC (call it E) and BD (F)
    and equate E and F.  This seems like one equation but its actually
    three (one for each component).
                                                           __     __
    Alternatively, we could find the intersection point of AC and BD
    (call it G) and the equate line segments:
                 __     __      __     __
    		|AG| = |GC|    |BG| = |GD| 
    
    Either way this gives more than three equations (i.e. there is some
    redundancy somewhere).
    
    So, can it be done with only three equations?