Re: A logical/ humourous concept of 'yati'

Kumar Vadaparty (kumarv@truth.bellcore.com)
Mon, 12 Aug 1996 11:38:01 -0400 (EDT)

>>'How many minimum points do we need to draw a straight line?' It was a
>>general question to the entire class.

>> He said two points can be connected in any manner, so, to
>> draw a straight line, a minimum of three points are required'.

A line provides the shortest path between two points. In
the Eucledian space, this becomes a straight line, and in non-Eucledian
spaces, this can be curved. A popular non-Eucledian space is the surface
of a sphere where the shortest path is a curve (the great circle).

If on the other hand the teacher meant "two points can be connected
through arbitrary paths, but the third point fixes the line to draw",
I contend that you need infinte points for, how do you draw the so-called
straightline between the first two points? You need a "third" point between
the first two points. And, then yet another point between the first and the
new third point, and so on.

If, however, you lineup the three points using a ruler, then you can line
up the first two points with the same ruler!

Kumar.