# Thread: How to introduce a natural manifold structure into the set of all straight lines?

1. ## How to introduce a natural manifold structure into the set of all straight lines?

I have a set X which is the set of all straight lines in R^2.

These lines are not necessarily through the origin.

I am unsure of how to introduce a natural manifold structure into this set X.

I know i need to write down charts showing the domains and codomains but i don't know what the charts are.

I think defining coordinate charts on X requires considering equations that specify straight lines but im not certain.

Thanks for any help

2. Originally Posted by Siknature
I have a set X which is the set of all straight lines in R^2.

These lines are not necessarily through the origin.

I am unsure of how to introduce a natural manifold structure into this set X.
A line in R^2 has an equation of the form ax + by + c = 0, where a and b must not both be 0.

If a ≠ 0 then we can divide by a and write the equation as x + b'y + c' = 0. The map taking this line to the point (b',c') in R^2 is one chart.

If b ≠ 0 then we can divide by b and write the equation as a'x + y + c' = 0. The map taking this line to the point (a',c') in R^2 is also a chart.

Those two charts together specify the manifold structure.

3. Originally Posted by Opalg
A line in R^2 has an equation of the form ax + by + c = 0, where a and b must not both be 0.

If a ≠ 0 then we can divide by a and write the equation as x + b'y + c' = 0. The map taking this line to the point (b',c') in R^2 is one chart.

If b ≠ 0 then we can divide by b and write the equation as a'x + y + c' = 0. The map taking this line to the point (a',c') in R^2 is also a chart.

Those two charts together specify the manifold structure.

Is it possible to work out the dimension of the manifold from this information?

If so, how would this be done?

4. Originally Posted by Siknature