Veblen–Young theorem
Encyclopedia
In mathematics, the Veblen–Young theorem, proved by , states that a projective space
Projective space
In mathematics a projective space is a set of elements similar to the set P of lines through the origin of a vector space V. The cases when V=R2 or V=R3 are the projective line and the projective plane, respectively....

 of dimension at least 3 can be constructed as the projective space associated to a vector space over a division ring
Division ring
In abstract algebra, a division ring, also called a skew field, is a ring in which division is possible. Specifically, it is a non-trivial ring in which every non-zero element a has a multiplicative inverse, i.e., an element x with...

.

Non-Desarguesian plane
Non-Desarguesian plane
In mathematics, a non-Desarguesian plane, named after Gérard Desargues, is a projective plane that does not satisfy Desargues's theorem, or in other words a plane that is not a Desarguesian plane...

s give examples of 2-dimensional projective spaces that do not arise from vector spaces over division rings, showing that the restriction to dimension at least 3 is necessary.

Jacques Tits
Jacques Tits
Jacques Tits is a Belgian and French mathematician who works on group theory and geometry and who introduced Tits buildings, the Tits alternative, and the Tits group.- Career :Tits received his doctorate in mathematics at the age of 20...

 generalized the Veblen–Young theorem to Tits buildings, showing that those of rank at least 3 arise from algebraic group
Algebraic group
In algebraic geometry, an algebraic group is a group that is an algebraic variety, such that the multiplication and inverse are given by regular functions on the variety...

s.

generalized the Veblen–Young theorem to continuous geometry
Continuous geometry
In mathematics, continuous geometry is an analogue of complex projective geometry introduced by , where instead of the dimension of a subspace being in a discrete set 0, 1, ..., n, it can be an element of the unit interval [0,1]...

, showing that a complemented modular lattice of order at least 4 is isomorphic to the principal right ideals of a von Neumann regular ring
Von Neumann regular ring
In mathematics, a von Neumann regular ring is a ring R such that for every a in R there exists an x in R withOne may think of x as a "weak inverse" of a...

.

Statement

A projective space S can be defined abstractly as a set P (the set of points), together with a set L of subsets of P (the set of lines), satisfying these axioms :
  • Each two distinct points p and q are in exactly one line.
  • Veblen's axiom: If a, b, c, d are distinct points and the lines through ab and cd meet, then so do the lines through ac and bd.
  • Any line has at least 3 points on it.


The Veblen–Young theorem states that if the dimension of a projective space is at least 3 (meaning that there are two non-intersecting lines) then the projective space is isomorphic with the projective space of lines in a vector space over some division ring
Division ring
In abstract algebra, a division ring, also called a skew field, is a ring in which division is possible. Specifically, it is a non-trivial ring in which every non-zero element a has a multiplicative inverse, i.e., an element x with...

K.
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