Pole (geometry)

Pole (geometry)

In geometry, the terms pole and polar are used to describe a point and a line that have a unique reciprocal relationship with respect to a given conic section. If the point lies on the conic section, its polar is the tangent line to the conic section at that point.

For a given circle, reciprocation in a circle means to transform each point in the plane into its polar line and each line in the plane into its pole.

Read more about Pole (geometry):  Special Case of Circles, Reciprocation and Projective Duality, General Conic Sections, Properties, Applications, See Also, Bibliography

Famous quotes containing the word pole:

    Not because Socrates has said it, but because it is really in my nature, and perhaps a little more than it should be, I look upon all humans as my fellow-citizens, and would embrace a Pole as I would a Frenchman, subordinating this national tie to the common and universal one.
    Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)