Degenerations of Pascal lines

DOI10.1007/S13366-022-00655-XMaRDI QIDQ6174575zbMATH OpenWikidataFDO

Authors

Publication date 17 August 2023

Published in Beiträge zur Algebra und Geometrie (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/2202.12975

zbMATH Keywords

hexagrammum mysticumPascal linesPascal's theorem

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Projective techniques in algebraic geometry (14N05) Questions of classical algebraic geometry (51N35)

Abstract: Let $mathcalK$ denote a nonsingular conic in the complex projective plane. Pascal's theorem says that, given six distinct points $A,B,C,D,E,F$ on $mathcalK$, the three intersection points $AEcapBF,ADcapCF,BDcapCE$ are collinear. The line containing them is called the Pascal line of the sextuple. However, this construction may fail when some of the six points come together. In this paper, we find the indeterminacy locus where the Pascal line is not well-defined and then use blow-ups along polydiagonals to define it. We analyse the geometry of Pascals in these degenerate cases. Finally we offer some remarks about the indeterminacy of other geometric elements in Pascal's hexagrammum mysticum.

Review text

The paper addresses issues of degeneration of the Pascal line when some of the six points on a conic coincide. When two of them coincide, the situation is evident as one of the lines defining the Pascal line becomes the tangent to the conic, but when three of them overlap, the problem is more complex. The authors find the indeterminacy locus where the Pascal line is not well-defined and then use blow-ups along polydiagonals to define it. While statements are clear to non-experts, the proofs assume knowledge of algebraic geometry. The authors tackled some questions about the indeterminacy of other geometric elements in Pascal's hexagrammum mysticum that concern the Steiner and the Kirkman points. Some open questions on degenerations for the Octagrammum Mysticum case are raised.

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Cited in

(9)

• The conjugacy locus of Cayley-Salmon lines
• On the reconstruction problem for Pascal lines
• Construction of a nine-point quadric surface
• Obtaining a 3D extension of Pascal theorem for non-degenerated quadrics and its complete configuration with the aid of a computer algebra system
• From Pascal's theorem to d-constructible curves
• Wallace-Simson theorem on four lines parallel to a plane
• Ten Points on a Cubic
• Twins of conic hexagons
• From Pascal's theorem to the geometry of Ziegler's line arrangements

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