Undergrad Difference between the projective space and one its part

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The discussion centers on the differences between projective space and its subset with only positive coordinates, particularly regarding classical invariants and curves. Participants express confusion over terminology, specifically the meaning of "algebraic invariants" and the implications of restricting to positive coordinates. It is clarified that considering only points with positive homogeneous coordinates results in a subset of affine space, leading to potential changes in the behavior of curves. The conversation highlights that while some curves may collapse to constant curves in this restricted context, others may not. Overall, the implications of such restrictions on algebraic properties and invariants remain a key focus of inquiry.
Ssnow
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Hi everybody, I want to ask if there are big differences consider algebraic objects in the projective or in the projective space with only positive coordinates? I know that the question is generic (so permit the discussion ... ). I am interested to know what happen to classical invariants if someone has informations ...
Thank you in advance.
Ssnow
 
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I don't understand what "algebraic invariants" you mean. Or what is meant by "the projective or in the projective". Or by "the question is generic". Or what "classical invariants" you might be referring to.

So I'd need a lot of clarification before understanding your post.
 
ok, consider the projective space with an curve, something change if you limit your attention only to the positive coordinates? (I think yes...)
 
Sorry, Ssnow, I am just as confused as before.
 
Mmmm, think ##\mathbb{P}^{1}## as a sphere I want to know if a curve in ##\mathbb{P}^{1}##, when you restrict the attention only to the positive coordinates , can change totally of something remain invariant prom the previous representation ?
 
Do you mean to take only those points in ##\mathbb{P}^n## with nonzero homogeneous coordinates (with respect to some base)? I don't understand why you say positive, since positivity is not a projective concept.
 
micromass said:
Do you mean to take only those points in Pn\mathbb{P}^n with nonzero homogeneous coordinates (with respect to some base)? I don't understand why you say positive, since positivity is not a projective concept.

points ##[p_{0}:p_{1}]## only with ##p_{0}>0,p_{1}>0##
 
Ssnow said:
points ##[p_{0}:p_{1}]## only with ##p_{0}>0,p_{1}>0##

So that would be a subset of the affine space, namely ##[p_0/p_1: 1] = [a:1]## with ##a>0##. So in this case, we will obtain ##\mathbb{R}^+##.
 
@micromass yes exactly,
ok ##\mathbb{R}^{+}## is not so interesting but I was thinking what happen to a curve in ##\mathbb{P}^{1}## when you restrict the attention only to this subset, I cannot visualizing if a part of it collapse or nothing happens ... ,
 
  • #10
Ssnow said:
@micromass yes exactly,
ok ##\mathbb{R}^{+}## is not so interesting but I was thinking what happen to a curve in ##\mathbb{P}^{1}## when you restrict the attention only to this subset, I cannot visualizing if a part of it collapse or nothing happens ... ,

What do you mean with a curve? Any smooth curve? Or an algebraic curve determined by a polynomial?
You know ##\mathbb{P}^1## is a circle, so there are curves which do not collapse to a point. On the other hand, ##\mathbb{R}^+## is contractible. Any curve can collapse to a constant curve.
 
  • #11
yes sure I was thinking to a generic smooth curve, and I agree on the collapse to the constant curve.

Thanks
 

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