SW VandeCarr
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Can a triangle be smoothly transformed to a circle?
The discussion centers on the transformation of a triangle into a circle and the implications of singular points in this context. Two key theorems are referenced: Hironaka's theorem, which states that every analytic space admits a resolution of singularities, and Castelnuovo-Enriques theorem, which asserts that every singular surface has a unique minimal resolution of singularities. The participant suggests that singular points cannot be eliminated through smooth transformations but can only be minimized, raising questions about the applicability of these theorems to practical transformations.
PREREQUISITESMathematicians, particularly those specializing in algebraic geometry and topology, as well as students and researchers interested in the study of singularities and transformations in analytic spaces.
SW VandeCarr said:Can a triangle be smoothly transformed to a circle?
SW VandeCarr said:Either this question is too easy, too dumb or too hard. I'd just like an answer. I've found two two possibly relevant theorems:
Hironaka: Every analytic space Y admits a resolution of singularities: there is a smooth manifold X and a proper map f:X->Y such that f is an isomorphism except over singular points.
Castelnuovo, Enriques: Every singular surface has a unique minimal resolution of singularities.
What exactly is a "minimal resolution"? It suggests to me that the singular points of a triangle cannot be "eliminated" by a smooth transformation, but only arbitrarily "minimized". Is this correct?