Spread
Spread gives one measure to the 'separation' of two lines (replacing 'angle'): a dimensionless number in the range '0' (parallel) to '1' (perpendicular), which can have several interpretations.
- Trigonometric: as the sine-ratio for the quadrances in a right triangle (and therefore equivalent to the square of the sine of the angle).
- Vector: as a rational function of the slopes (or directions) of two lines where they meet.
- Cartesian: as a rational function of the three co-ordinates used to describe these two vectors.
- Linear algebra: as a normalized rational function of the square of the determinant of two vectors (from three points) divided by the product of their quadrances.
Read more about this topic: Rational Trigonometry
Famous quotes containing the word spread:
“A little quaker, the whole body of him trembling,
His absurd whiskers sticking out like a cartoon-mouse,
His feet like small leaves,
Little lizard-feet,
Whitish and spread wide when he tried to struggle away,”
—Theodore Roethke (1908–1963)
“Isolate city spread alongside water,
Posted with white towers, she keeps her face
Half-turned to Europe, lonely northern daughter,
Holding through centuries her separate place.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)
“For a parent, it’s hard to recognize the significance of your work when you’re immersed in the mundane details. Few of us, as we run the bath water or spread the peanut butter on the bread, proclaim proudly, “I’m making my contribution to the future of the planet.” But with the exception of global hunger, few jobs in the world of paychecks and promotions compare in significance to the job of parent.”
—Joyce Maynard (20th century)