Point at Infinity

The point at infinity, also called ideal point, of the real number line is a point which, when added to the number line yields a closed curve called the real projective line, . The real projective line is not equivalent to the extended real number line, which has two different points at infinity.

The point at infinity can also be added to the complex plane, thereby turning it into a closed surface (i.e., complex algebraic curve) known as the complex projective line, also called the Riemann sphere.

The concept of infinity point admits several generalizations for various multi-dimensional constructions.

Read more about Point At Infinity:  Projective Geometry, Hyperbolic Geometry, Other Generalisations

Famous quotes containing the words point and/or infinity:

    At this age [9–12], in contrast to adolescence, girls still want to know their parents and hear what they think. You are the influential ones if you want to be. Girls, now, want to hear your point of view and find out how you got to be what you are and what you are doing. They like their fathers and mothers to be interested in what they’re doing and planning. They like to know what you think of their thoughts.
    Stella Chess (20th century)

    As we begin to comprehend that the earth itself is a kind of manned spaceship hurtling through the infinity of space—it will seem increasingly absurd that we have not better organized the life of the human family.
    Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978)