General properties about the tool's
construction
When
we constructed the macros, our aim was to give the necessary tools to
plot the main objects of the Hyperbolic Geometry to study and
understand better their properties. The Geometer Sketchpad allow to
plot dynamic objects, so this aim could be reached. The problem was
that in the Half-Plane Model the hyperbolic lines are of two different
types (from an euclidean view point), so when we want to construct them
we have to distinguish this two cases.
For example, if we want to plot a hyperbolic triangle, a natural way to
do it, it is plotting one of the segments in a line perpendicular to
the
boundary line since this is the easiest position from an euclidean view
point.
As Sketchpad does not allow to use programming sentences it becomes
difficult to distinguish two cases and it was not possible in a first
version of this tools. Anyway, as we thought it was important to plot
hyperbolic lines perpendicular to the boundary line we modified
the tools using that Sketchpad allows to create a tool saving the
objects that were constructed but that in the concrete disposition in
which we are creating the tool they do not appear. This is exactly what
we needed to plot hyperbolic lines in any case.
We also used the macros from
Scott Stekette, Boolean
Tools, which allows to decided if the values are equal or not.
Let's describe using an example, how we constructed the hyperbolic line:
(1) Draw the boundary line with points A, B.
(2) Consider two points C, D.
(3) Calculate the x
coordinate of the two points.
(4) Use the macro from Scott Stekette that allows
to decide if two values are equal or not to compare the last two
values.
If we obtain 1 it means that the two values are equal, so we will plot
a perpendicular line. If we obtain 0 it means that the two values are
different, so we will plot a circle.
(5) Plot the perpendicular line to the boundary line
containing C, and consider
its intersection with the boundary line.
(6) Plot the euclidean ray starting at point, E, and containing A.
Note that this ray lies in the boundary line.
(7) Measure the AEC
angle. This angle will measure ±90º, but it will be
important to know the exact value.
(8) Rotate the ray plotted at (6) with an angle
(value of step 4).(angle AEC)
and with center at point E.
We will make a rotation of angle 0º if the two points, C i
D, are not in the same
perpendicular line. If the two points are in the same perpendicular
line then we will make a rotation of angle
±90º. The ray we obtain with this rotation is the
hyperbolic line joining the points C,
D.
Up to now, we have plotted the hyperbolic line if it is an euclidean
ray.
(9) Move the points C, D so that they will lie at the same
perpendicular line. Follow all the steps to construct the hyperbolic line in the case it is an euclidean
circle.
Now, we have plotted the hyperbolic in both cases.
Anyway, if you follow these steps you will find that in some cases any
hyperbolic line is plotted. That happens when the two points are almost
in the same perpendicular line. Then, the euclidean radius of the
circle that passes through the two points is "too much" big to be
plotted.
To solve this problem we add the following steps:
(10) Measure the distance between the point E and the center of the circle
what should be the hyperbolic line. This center has been plotted as a
step to construct the hyperbolic line in the case that the two points
do not lie in the same perpendicular line. The point E tends to the intersection point between the
circle that joints the points C, D when these two points tend to the
same perpendicular line.
(11) Use the macros Booleans Tools to decide if this
distance is bigger than 400. If it is, then the circle will be not
plotted.
Now, we use the same idea as before to plot the euclidean ray that
joints the points C and D. This ray approximates the
hyperbolic. To plot this ray:
(12) Measure the angle AED.
(13) Consider the ray with endpoint E containing A. This is the ray plotted in (6).
(14) Rotate this ray with angle (value of step
10).(angle AEC) and center of
rotation E. In this way we
make a rotation of angle 0º if the two points are still C
i
D joined by a circle and a
rotation of angle AED if
nothing had been plotted.
Now, we can create a tool which constructs the hyperbolic line in the
Half-Plane model given any two points.
For
all the other tools (segment, ray, parallel lines, perpendicular
line,...) we have followed similar steps to obtain the object whatever
be the initial position of the defining points.
Hyperbolic geometry
Main
page