From Pappus' theorem to the twisted cubic (Q1775138)

In a projective plane \(\pi\) with commutative base field \(F\) we consider the Pappus configuration; we give lines \(x_l\) and \(y_l\) (\(x_l\not=y_l\)) carrying the ordered triples \(x=(X_1,X_2,X_3)\) resp. \(y=(Y_1,Y_2,Y_3)\) of distinct points and construct by Pappus' hexagon theorem three points on a line denoted by \(\ell(x,y)\). Dually we define the operation \(\ell^*\). We choose the permutations \(\sigma=(123)\) and \(\tau=(23)\) of the symmetric group \(S_3\) and for \(v\in\,S_3\) we define: \(v(Y_1,Y_2,Y_3):=(Y_{v^{-1}(1)},Y_{v^{-1}(2)},Y_{v^{-1}(3)})\). The author proves Steiner's theorem which consists of the following three assertions: I. \((\ell(x,y),\ell(x,\sigma\,y),\ell(x,\sigma^2\,y))=:z_{even}\) and \((\ell(x,\tau\,y),\ell(x,\tau\,\sigma\,y),\ell(x,\tau\,\sigma^2\,y))=:z_{odd}\) are triples of concurrent lines. II. \(\ell^*(z_{even},vz_{odd})\) lies on \(x_l\) when \(v\in\,S_3\) is even and on \(y_l\) when \(v\) is odd. III. For even \(v\in\,S_3\) the points \(\ell^*(z_{even},vz_{odd})\) are dependent on the point \(O:=x_l\cap\,y_l\) and the triple \(x\), but independent of the choice of the line \(y_l\) through \(O\) and of the triple \(y\) of points. The proof is done by a projective embedding of \(\pi\) into the space of all non-zero two-by-two matrices modulo scalar multiplication. Furthermore, the proof uses the subsequent ``skew hexagon theorem'': Let \(g\) and \(h\) be skew lines of a projective 3-space PG\((3,F)\) with commutative \(F\) and assume that \(\{V_1,\dots,V_6\}\) is a hexagon of distinct points with \(\{V_1,V_3,V_5\}\subset\,g\) and \(\{V_2,V_4,V_6\}\subset\,h\) and that \(\mathcal P\) is an arbitrary plane transverse to each of the edges of the hexagon, then \(\quad\{(V_1\vee\,V_2)\cap{\mathcal P},(V_3\vee\,V_4)\cap{\mathcal P},(V_5\vee\,V_6)\cap{\mathcal P}\}\) and \(\{(V_4\vee\,V_5)\cap{\mathcal P},(V_6\vee\,V_1)\cap{\mathcal P},(V_2\vee\,V_3)\cap{\mathcal P}\}\) are triangles meeting the requirements of Desargues' theorem with center \(C\), say, and the map \({\mathcal P}\mapsto\,C\) extends to a skew-symmetric polarity of PG\((3,F)\). Denote by \(T(x_l)\) the set of all ordered triples of points on \(x_l\); the author thoroughly investigates the map \({\mathcal S}_O:T(x_l)\rightarrow\,T(x_l)\) with \({\mathcal S}_{O}(x)=(\ell^*(z_{even},z_{odd}),\ell^*(z_{even},\sigma^2z_{odd}),\ell^*(z_{even},\sigma\,z_{odd}))\) (Steiner map) which is related with a rational map of PG\((3,F)\) of degree six which preserves nearly every chord of a twisted cubic. Reviewer's remark: Throughout the article the author assumes char\(F\not\in\{2,3\}\), although char\(F=3\) is needed only sporadically on the final pages. Also char\(F=2\) is not necessary everywhere. In view of later citations and supplements the reviewer would have preferred a more detailed dealing with the characteristic assumptions.