Ptolemy circles and Ptolemy segments (Q438608)

A classical theorem of Ptolemy states that four points \(x_1\), \(x_2\), \(x_3\) and \(x_4\) in Euclidean space always fulfill the inequality \[ d(x_1, x_3)\cdot d(x_2, x_4) \leq d(x_1, x_2)\cdot d(x_3, x_4) + d(x_1, x_4)\cdot d(x_2, x_3). \; \; \; (1) \] Here, \(d(x,y)\) denotes the distance of two points \(x\) and \(y\). Moreover, if the four points are distinct, then equality in this equation occurs if and only if the points lie on a circle. The paper deals with ``Ptolemy metric spaces'' which are metric spaces where (1) holds for any quadruple of points. A ``Ptolemy circle'' in such a space is a subset \(C\) which is homeomorphic to \(S^1\) and where for each quadruple of distinct points on \(C\) one has equality in (1). A ``Ptolemy segment'' \(I\) is a subset of a Ptolemy metric space homeomorphic to a closed interval and again equality holds in (1) for an arbitrary quadruple of points in \(I\). A Möbius classification of Ptolemy circles is given: Given two Ptolemy circles \(C\) and \(C'\) and distinct points \(x_1, x_2, x_3\) and \(x_1', x_2', x_3'\) on \(C\) and \(C'\), respectively, there exists a unique Möbius homeomorphism \(\phi: C \longrightarrow C'\) with \(\phi(x_i) = x_i'\). The authors also prove an analogous classification for Ptolemy segments. Moreover, they classify Ptolemy circles and segments with respect to isometries. Finally, they provide an example of a metric sphere which is Möbius equivalent but not homothetic to the standard sphere with its chordal metric.