2
$\begingroup$

Suppose I have a point $x \in \mathbb{R}^n$ on an n-sphere. Suppose I divide the n-sphere into 4 sections (I think this makes sense in $n$ dimensions), how do I know which section $x$ lies on?

  • 6
    No, it doesn't make sense in n dimensions unless n=2. What are the 4 quadrants in 3 dimensions? You can talk of the 8 octants instead, and the 2^n orthants in n dimensions (it's an $(n-1)$-sphere, BTW), and if *that's* what you want, then the answer to your question is simply to look at the signs of the coordinates in x.2010-08-05
  • 1
    @Shreevatsa does it make sense to say "if I split a sphere into 8 equal hemispheres" ?2010-08-05
  • 0
    @Shreevatsa: In 3 dimensions, you have 2 axis aligned planes dividing the sphere into 4 quadrants (one plane divides it into two hemispheres and the other divides each hemisphere).2010-08-05
  • 0
    @Shreevatsa: Also, is (n-1) in LaTeX? If so, how did you format it? I couldn't find any formatting tips regarding LaTeX!2010-08-05
  • 0
    @Jacob: Just use dollar signs, e.g. `$` `(n-1)` `$` -> $(n-1)$.2010-08-05
  • 0
    @KennyTM: Excellent! I thought `$x$` didn't work when it didn't appear on the preview. Thanks!2010-08-05
  • 2
    @Jacob: Actually if you wait for 4 seconds the equations will appear.2010-08-05
  • 0
    @KennyTM: Exactly. This site just became a lot more awesome :)2010-08-05
  • 0
    Whoops I thought of quadrant as octant implicitly.2010-08-05

1 Answers 1

3

This is just a rephrasing of ShreevastasR's answer; no credit to me. It does make sense to divide an $n$-sphere into quadrants, as you explain in $\mathbb{R}^3$: partition by two coordinate planes. But then deciding which quadrant is, as ShreevastasR says, simply looking at the signs of the coordinates of $x$. If $x_1$ and $x_2$ are both positive, you are in the first, $++$, quadrant; if $x_1$ is negative and $x_2$ positive, you are in the second, $-+$, quadrant. And so on. If instead you partition the sphere into $2^n$ orthants, then you consider all the signs of the coordinates of $x$.

  • 0
    My understanding from you question is that you have $x$ in your hands, presumably in coordinate form. So you look at the first coordinate, the second, the third, etc. I guess I don't understand your question!2010-08-05