parallel postulate
An axiom in Euclidean geometry: given a straight line L and a point p not on L, there…An axiom in Euclidean geometry: given a straight line L and a point p not on L, there exists exactly one straight line parallel to L that passes through p; a variant of this axiom, such that the number of lines parallel to L that pass through p may be zero or more than one.
Meaning
1 sensesAn axiom in Euclidean geometry: given a straight line L and a point p not on L, there exists exactly one straight line parallel to L that passes through p; a variant of this axiom, such that the number of lines parallel to L that pass through p may be zero or more than one.
Translations
1 languagesOrigin
From the reference to parallel lines in the definition as formulated below, following ScotFrom the reference to parallel lines in the definition as formulated below, following Scottish mathematician John Playfair; this wording leads to a convenient basic categorization of Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries. The original formulation in Euclid's Elements makes no mention of parallels.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: parallel postulates| Singular | parallel postulate |
|---|---|
| Plural | parallel postulates |
regular