Definition:Point at Infinity

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Definition

Let $\LL_1$ and $\LL_2$ be straight lines embedded in a cartesian plane $\CC$, given by the equations:

\(\ds \LL_1: \ \ \) \(\ds l_1 x + m_1 y + n_1\) \(=\) \(\ds 0\)
\(\ds \LL_2: \ \ \) \(\ds l_2 x + m_2 y + n_2\) \(=\) \(\ds 0\)

Let $l_1 m_2 = l_2 m_1$, thus by Condition for Straight Lines in Plane to be Parallel making $\LL_1$ and $\LL_2$ parallel.

In this case the point of intersection of $\LL_1$ and $\LL_2$ does not exist.


However, it is convenient to define a point at infinity at which such a pair of parallel lines hypothetically "intersect".


Homogeneous Cartesian Coordinates

The point at infinity is expressed in homogeneous Cartesian coordinates by an ordered triple in the form:

$\tuple {X, Y, Z}$

where:

$Z = 0$
$X$ and $Y$ are arbitrary.


Also see

  • Results about the point at infinity can be found here.


Sources