TheBestLinks.com
TheBestLinks.com
Triangulation, Astrometry, Delaunay triangulation, Euclidean geometry, Geometry ... Print friendly version | Tell a friend
 
Navigation
Search
Toolbox

Triangulation

From TheBestLinks.com

fr:Triangulationnl:Driehoeksmeting


In trigonometry and elementary geometry, triangulation is the process of finding a distance to a point by calculating the length of one side of a triangle, given measurements of angles and sides of the triangle formed by that point and two other reference points.

Some identities often used (valid only in flat or euclidean geometry):

Triangulation is used for many purposes, including surveying, navigation, astrometry, binocular vision and gun direction of weapons.

See: Parallax.


In advanced geometry, in the most general meaning, triangulation is a subdivision of a geometric object into simplices. In particular, in the plane it is a subdivision into triangles, hence the name.

Different branches of geometry use slightly differing definitions of the term.

A triangulation T of <math>\mathbb{R}^{n+1}<math> is a subdivision of <math>\mathbb{R}^{n+1}<math> into (n+1)-dimensional simplices such that:

  1. any two simplices in T intersect in a common face or not at all;
  2. any bounded set in <math>\mathbb{R}^{n+1}<math> intersects only finitely many simplices in T.

A triangulation of a discrete set of points <math>P\in\mathbb{R}^{n+1}<math> is a triangulation of <math>\mathbb{R}^{n+1}<math> such that the set of points that are vertices of the subdividing simplices coincides with <math>P<math>.


In Computational geometry, a triangulation is one of two things:

A triangulation of a polygon P is its partition into triangles. In the strict sense, these triangles may have vertices only in the vertices of P. In non-strict sense, it is allowed to add more points to serve as vertices of triangles.

Also, a triangulation of a set of points P is sometimes taken to be the triangulation of the convex hull of P.

See also: Delaunay triangulation


Topology generalizes this notion in a natural way as follows. A triangulation of a topological space <math>X<math> is a simplicial complex <math>K<math>, homeomorphic to <math>X<math>, together with a homeomorphism <math>h:K\to X<math>.

Triangulation is useful in determining the properties of a topological space.


In the social sciences, triangulation is often used to indicate that more than one method is used in a study with a view to double (or triple) checking results. This is also called "cross examination". The idea is that we can be more confident with a result if different methods lead to the same result.

Related links


Top visited 0 of 0 links

[no links posted yet]

>> place link >>

Discussion

Last posted 0 of 0 messages

[no messages posted yet]

>> post message >>

Watch

You can add this article to your own "watchlist" and receive e-mail notification about all changes in this page.
 
   
Innovate it
This page was last modified 01:44, 1 Oct 2004.
  Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License 1.2.
Powered by MediaWiki