A generalization of Pythagoras on a surface

Anastasios Zachos

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arXiv · 2004.05250

A generalization of Pythagoras on a surface

Anastasios Zachos

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Abstract

We analyze Toponogov's sine theorem for an infinitesimal geodesic triangle ABC on a C^2 regular surface M, which is given in his book [6, Problem 3.7.2] and we provide a generalization of the law of cosines for ABC on M. By replacing in the law of cosines B=\frac{\pi}{2} on M, we derive the generalized theorem of Pythagoras on a surface: AC^2 = AB^2 + BC^2 + f(\angle A,\frac{\pi}{2},AB,BC)o(AC^2) or AC^2 = AB^2 + BC^2 + (\angle A + \angle C-\frac{\pi}{2})^2 where f(\angle A,\angle B,AB,BC) is a rational function w.r. to cosA; cosB, sinA, sinB, AB and BC.

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Anastasios Zachos. 2020-04-10. A generalization of Pythagoras on a surface. https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.05250

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