Configurations of cycles and the Apollonius problem (Q5948878)

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scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1672120
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Configurations of cycles and the Apollonius problem
scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1672120

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    Configurations of cycles and the Apollonius problem (English)
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    12 November 2001
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    The Apollonius problem of finding a cycle \(C\) (i.e., an oriented circle or plane) tangent to cycles \(C_0,\dots,C_n\) in \(n\)-dimensional Euclidean space is solved by using Lie sphere geometry: If \(\Omega\) is the Lie quadric, \(\perp\) its polarity, and \(\gamma\) the mapping of cycles into \(\Omega\), then \(C\gamma\in C_i\gamma^\perp\) [cf. \textit{H. Behnke} et al., Grundzüge der Mathematik IIB, p.\ 200 (1971; Zbl 0207.00202)]. The authors classify the configuration \(C_0\dots,C_n,C\) by means of the position of the line \(\bigcap C_i\gamma^\perp\) relative to \(\Omega\).
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    Apollonius problem
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    Lie sphere geometry
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