Hyperbolic is the only Hilbert geometry having circumcenter or orthocenter generally (Q5962902): Difference between revisions

The Hilbert geometry is a generalization of hyperbolic geometry. In this paper the authors ask whether some properties of a Hilbert geometry are specific to the hyperbolic geometry. Following \textit{H. Busemann} and \textit{P. J. Kelly} [Projective geometry and projective metrics. New York: Academic Press (1953; Zbl 0052.37305)] the pair \((\mathcal{H}, \partial_\mathcal{H})\) is called a Hilbert geometry if \(\mathcal{H} \subset \mathbb R^n (n \geq 2)\) (\(\mathcal{H}\) an open convex set with boundary \(\partial \mathcal{H}\)) and metric \(\partial_\mathcal{H}: \mathcal{H} \times \mathcal{H} \rightarrow \mathbb R_{0 \leq}\), defined by \(d_\mathcal{H} = \frac{1}{2} |\ln (p,q; x,y)|\) where \((p,q) = xy \cap \partial \mathcal{H}\) for \(x \neq y\) and \(\partial_\mathcal{H}(x,y)= 0\) for \(x=y\) and \((p,q; x,y)\) means the cross ratio. Furthermore, two characterizations of ellipses are proved. Therefore, the authors consider this problem as an ellipsoid characterization problem in Euclidean space. Then they prove with two theorems that the existence of a circumcenter or the existence of an orthocenter in every trigon (triangle) exactly render Hilbert geometry hyperbolic. Proving their main result they use an own lemma [the authors, J. Geom. 106, No. 3, 465--470 (2015; Zbl 1457.53007)].