The simplest axiom system for plane hyperbolic geometry (Q1770595)

The author provides a quantifier-free axiom system \(\Pi\) for plane hyperbolic geometry in a one-sorted first-order language, with individuals standing for points. \(\Pi\) contains no relation symbol, but several ternary operation symbols. All axioms, with one exception, a purely existential 2-variable axiom, are universal at most 4-variable sentences. Since there is no axiom system for hyperbolic planes consisting of only prenex 3-variable axioms, the author calls \(\Pi\) the simplest axiom system for these geometries. The intended interpretation of the ternary operations in \(\Pi\) implies the validity of congruence properties and other geometric properties. As an example we note: The intuitive meaning of \(T(a\;b\;c)\) is the point \(d\) on the ray opposite to ray \(\vec{ac}\) with \(ad\equiv ab\), provided that \(a\neq c\) or \(a=b\), and arbitrary otherwise. Before formulating the axioms of \(\Pi\), the author introduces another axiom system \(\Sigma\) which is basic for \(\Pi\) and which is discussed in detail. \(\Sigma\) is expressed in Tarski's one-sorted first-order language with individual variables to be interpreted as points, and with two relation symbols, read as ``between'' and ``congruent''. By using results of Sörensen and Bachmann, it is shown that every model of \(\Sigma\) or \(\Pi\) is isomorphic to the 2-dimensional Klein model over a Euclidean ordered field. By changing one of the axioms of \(\Pi\), one obtains an axiom system for plane Euclidean geometry, expressed in the same language, all of whose axioms are at most 4-variable universal sentences.