Proving Infinitely Many Points on a Line in Geometry

Click For Summary
A line in metric geometry is defined as a set of points where any two distinct points lie on a unique line, and there exist at least three points that do not all lie on one line. To prove that a line contains infinitely many points, one can use the property that between any two distinct points, a third point can always be found. This reasoning suggests that for any segment with at least two points, there are infinitely many points that can be identified. The discussion emphasizes the importance of defining "metric geometry" and "line" clearly to support the proof. Ultimately, the argument relies on the geometric properties of points and distances rather than real analysis concepts.
Lee33
Messages
156
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Prove that a line in a metric geometry has infinitely many points.2. The attempt at a solution

I can't use any real analysis, like completeness. I can only use geometry to prove this, specifically distances and rulers.

Intituvely I understand why. Any segment with at least two points has infinitely many points, because, intuitively, given any two distinct points, there is a third one, distinct from both of them and so on. But how can I prove this formally?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
What is your definition of a "metric geometry"?
 
And, for that matter, your definition of "line"?
 
Sorry for that:

Metric geometry: An incidence geometry ##\{P, L\}##, where ##P## is the set of points, ##L## set of lines, together with a distance function ##d## satisfies if ever line ##l\in L## has a ruler. In this case we say ##M = \{P,L,d\}## is a metric geometry.

Line: for line I will define it as an incidence geometry. If every two distinct points in ##L## lie on a unique line and there exist three points ##a,b,c\in L## which do not lie all on one line. If ##\{P,L\}## is an incidence geometry and ##p,q\in P##, then the unique line ##l## on which both ##p,q## lie will be written as ##l=\vec{pq}##.
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
907
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K