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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

62.0. "Opposite of a Sphere" by TURTLE::GILBERT () Sun Apr 29 1984 17:42

What is the opposite of a sphere?

Please include a rationalization of how or why your choice is an opposite.
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62.1METOO::YARBROUGHMon Apr 30 1984 15:5813
Since my dictionary defines a sphere as,
"A three-dimensional surface, all points of which are equidistant from a
fixed point", the opposite of a sphere must be:
1) not 3-d
2) not a surface
3) not empty, but with a finite number of points at different distances
from a fixed point.

I suggest "two points in different E-spaces" as the opposite of a sphere.
(Only if they are in different spaces can no n-dimensional sphere be found
that passes through all of them!)

Lynn Yarbrough
62.2TURTLE::GILBERTMon Apr 30 1984 21:534
Any plane figure.

Of all objects placed on an inclined plane, the sphere minimizes the slope
required for it to start it rolling.  A plane figure maximizes the slope.
62.3TURTLE::WIECHMANNTue May 01 1984 16:163
Also, a sphere maximizes the ratio of volume to surface area.
Wouldn't a plane figure minimize the ratio of volume to surface area?
62.4AURORA::HALLYBWed May 02 1984 17:515
I take the point-set-theoretical approach:  a non-sphere of radius r
is the set of all (x,y,z) satisfying:

	 2   2   2     2
	x + y + z  \= r
62.5TURTLE::GILBERTFri May 04 1984 14:274
Another sphere!

If the "opposite" is a reflection in a plane, we get another sphere.
If the "opposite" is a reflection through a point, we get another sphere.
62.6Postnikov spacesBERN01::ADDORTue Apr 07 1987 11:0810
    What do you mean by "the opposite"? Is the dual the same as the
    opposite? Then it is clear what "the opposite" of a sphere is.
    
    It is well known that a CW-space is built by spheres and attaching
    mappings. The dual of a CW-space is a Postnikov tower which is built
    by Postnikov spaces and Postnikov invariants (the dual of the attaching
    maps). Thus, the opposite of a sphere is a Postnikov space!
    
    Regards, Peter 
    
62.7What about the fish?BUFFER::SWARTZIn the Castle Aaaaaaaaaaaa...Thu Jun 08 1989 16:236
    Has noone considered a topological view to this question?  In other
    words, what do you get when you turn the surface of a sphere *inside-out*,
    topographically.  I think this has been something of a curiosity for
    quite some time.
    
    -- kms
62.8What's a Postnikov space?AITG::DERAMODaniel V. {AITG,ZFC}:: D'EramoThu Jun 08 1989 19:066
	re .6

	What are CW-spaces, Postnikov towers, Postnikov spaces,
	Postnikov invariants, attaching maps, and duals? :-)

	Dan
62.9And what does "perestroika" have to do with PostnikovPOOL::HALLYBThe Smart Money was on GoliathSat Jun 10 1989 22:211
    
62.10ARTMIS::MILLSHIs there any Tea on this spaceship?Thu Aug 03 1989 12:265
	Re .8:

	I don't know, but they sound good!
				HRM
62.11Hyperbolic planeNOEDGE::HERMANFranklin B. Herman DTN 291-0170 PDM1-1/J9Wed Sep 12 1990 17:3112
	From the differential geometric point of view, the spheres can 
    be chararactized as the complete surfaces having constant positive 
    curvature.

    So my choice of "opposite" would be the complete surfaces of constant 
    negative curvature. These are precisely the hyperbolic planes/disks of 
    non-Euclidean Bolyai-Lobachevskian geometry.


    -Franklin