Important concepts in geometry

The following are some of the most important concepts in geometry.[6][7]

Axioms

An illustration of Euclid's parallel postulate

See also: Euclidean geometry
Euclid took an abstract approach to geometry in his Elements, one of the most
influential books ever written. Euclid introduced certain axioms, or postulates,
expressing primary or self-evident properties of points, lines, and planes. He
proceeded to rigorously deduce other properties by mathematical reasoning. The
characteristic feature of Euclid's approach to geometry was its rigor, and it has
come to be known as axiomatic or synthetic geometry. At the start of the 19th
century, the discovery of non-Euclidean geometries by Nikolai Ivanovich
Lobachevsky (1792–1856), János Bolyai (1802–1860), Carl Friedrich
Gauss (1777–1855) and others led to a revival of interest in this discipline, and in
the 20th century, David Hilbert (1862–1943) employed axiomatic reasoning in an
attempt to provide a modern foundation of geometry.
Points
Main article: Point (geometry)
Points are considered fundamental objects in Euclidean geometry. They have
been defined in a variety of ways, including Euclid's definition as 'that which has
no part'[31] and through the use of algebra or nested sets.[32] In many areas of
geometry, such as analytic geometry, differential geometry, and topology, all
objects are considered to be built up from points. However, there has been some
study of geometry without reference to points.[33]
Lines
Main article: Line (geometry)
Euclid described a line as "breadthless length" which "lies equally with respect to
the points on itself".[31] In modern mathematics, given the multitude of geometries,
the concept of a line is closely tied to the way the geometry is described. For
instance, in analytic geometry, a line in the plane is often defined as the set of
points whose coordinates satisfy a given linear equation,[34] but in a more abstract
setting, such as incidence geometry, a line may be an independent object,
distinct from the set of points which lie on it.[35] In differential geometry,
a geodesic is a generalization of the notion of a line to curved spaces.[36]
Planes
Main article: Plane (geometry)
A plane is a flat, two-dimensional surface that extends infinitely far.[31] Planes are
used in every area of geometry. For instance, planes can be studied as
a topological surfacewithout reference to distances or angles;[37] it can be studied
as an affine space, where collinearity and ratios can be studied but not distances;
[38]
it can be studied as the complex plane using techniques of complex analysis;
[39]
and so on.