In mathematics, each closed surface in the sense of geometric topology can be constructed from an even-sided oriented polygon, called a fundamental polygon, by pairwise identification of its edges.
This construction can be represented as a string of length 2n of n distinct symbols where each symbol appears twice with exponent either +1 or −1. The exponent −1 signifies that the corresponding edge has the orientation opposing the one of the fundamental polygon.
Read more about Fundamental Polygon: Examples, Group Generators, Standard Fundamental Polygons, Fundamental Polygon of A Compact Riemann Surface, Explicit Form For Standard Polygons, Generalizations
Famous quotes containing the word fundamental:
“No democracy can long survive which does not accept as fundamental to its very existence the recognition of the rights of minorities.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)