The Roman surface (so called because Jakob Steiner was thinking of Danielle Roman) is a self-intersecting mapping of the real projective plane into three-dimensional space, with an unusually high degree of symmetry. The mapping is an immersion on the complement of six points of its domain. The projective plane is non-orientable with an Euler characteristic of 1 and non-orientable genus of 1. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Jakob Steiner (18 March 1796 – April 1, 1863) was a Swiss mathematician. ... The fundamental polygon of the projective plane. ... Sphere symmetry group o. ... In mathematics, an immersion is a differentiable map between differentiable manifolds whose derivative is everywhere injective. ... The torus is an orientable surface. ... It has been suggested that Vertex/Face/Edge relation in a convex polyhedron be merged into this article or section. ... In mathematics, the genus has few different meanings Topology The genus of a connected, oriented surface is an integer representing the maximum number of cuttings along closed simple curves without rendering the resultant manifold disconnected. ...

The simplest construction is as the image of a sphere centered at the origin under the map f(x,y,z) = (yz,xz,xy). This gives us an implicit formula of A sphere is a perfectly symmetrical geometrical object. ... In mathematics and in the sciences, a formula (plural: formulae, formulæ or formulas) is a concise way of expressing information symbolically (as in a mathematical or chemical formula), or a general relationship between quantities. ...

x²y² + y²z² + z²x² − r²xyz = 0.

Also, taking a parametrization of the sphere in terms of longitude (θ) and latitude (φ), we get parametric equations for the Roman surface as follows: Longitude, sometimes denoted by the Greek letter λ (lambda),[1][2] describes the location of a place on Earth east or west of a north-south line called the Prime Meridian. ... Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi, , gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the equator. ...

x = r² cos θ cos φ sin φ

y = r² sin θ cos φ sin φ

z = r² cos θ sin θ cos² φ

The origin is a triple point, and each of the xy-, yz-, and xz-planes are tangential to the surface there. The other places of self-intersection are double points, defining segments along each axis which terminate in pinch points. The entire surface has tetrahedral symmetry. It is a particular type (called type 1) of Steiner surface. It contains four pinch-points or cross-caps. A tetrahedron (plural: tetrahedra) is a polyhedron composed of four triangular faces, three of which meet at each vertex. ... The symmetry group of an object (e. ... The Steiner surfaces are self-intersecting embeddings of the real projective plane into three-dimensional space. ... In mathematics, a cross-cap is a two-dimensional surface that is topologically equivalent to a Möbius strip. ...

Derivation of implicit formula

For simplicity we consider only the case r = 1. Given the sphere defined by the points (x, y, z) such that

x² + y² + z² = 1,

we apply to these points the transformation T defined by

T(x,y,z) = (yz,zx,xy) = (U,V,W), say.

But then we have

U²V² + V²W² + W²U² = z²x²y⁴ + x²y²z⁴ + y²z²x⁴ = (x² + y² + z²)(x²y²z²) = (1)(x²y²z²) = (xy)(yz)(zx) = UVW

and so

U²V² + V²W² + W²U² − UVW = 0

as desired.

Conversely, suppose we are given (U,V,W) satisfying

(*) U²V² + V²W² + W²U² − UVW = 0.

We prove that there exists (x,y,z) such that

(**) x² + y² + z² = 1

for which

U = xy,V = yz,W = zx,

with one exception: In case 3.b. below, we show this cannot be proved.

1. In the case where none of U, V, W is 0, we can set

.

(Note that (*) guarantees that either all three of U, V, W are positive, or else exactly two are negative. So these square roots are of positive numbers.)

It is easy to use (*) to confirm that (**) holds for x, y, z defined this way.

2. Suppose that W is 0. From (*) this implies

U²V² = 0

and hence at least one of U, V must be 0 also. This shows that is it impossible for exactly one of U, V, W to be 0.

3. Suppose that exactly two of U, V, W are 0. Without loss of generality we assume Without loss of generality or simply WLOG is a frequently used expression in mathematics. ...

(***).

It follows that

z = 0

(since

implies that

x = y = 0

and hence U = 0, contradicting (***).)

a. In the subcase where

,

if we determine x and y by

and

,

this ensures that (*) holds. It is easy to verify that

x²y² = U², and hence choosing the signs of x and y appropriately

will guarantee

xy = U.

Since also

yz = 0 = V and zx = 0 = W,

this shows that this subcase leads to the desired converse.

b. In this remaining subcase of the case 3., we have

| U | > 1 / 2.

Since

x² + y² = 1,

it is easy to check that

,

and thus in this case, where

| U | > 1 / 2,V = W = 0

there is no (x,y,z) satisfying

U = xy,V = yz,W = zx.

Hence the solutions (U, 0, 0) of the equation (*) with

| U | > 1 / 2

and likewise, (0, V, 0) with

| V | > 1 / 2

and (0, 0,W) with

| W | > 1 / 2

(each of which is a noncompact portion of a coordinate axis, in two pieces) do not correspond to any point on the Roman surface.

4. If (U, V, W) is the point (0, 0, 0), then if any two of x, y, z are zero and the third one has absolute value 1, clearly

(xy,yz,zx) = (0,0,0) = (U,V,W)

as desired.

This covers all possible cases.

Derivation of parametric equations

Let a sphere have radius r, longitude φ, and latitude θ. Then its parametric equations are

Then, applying transformation T to all the points on this sphere yields

which are the points on the Roman surface. Let φ range from 0 to 2π, and let θ range from 0 to π/2.

Relation to the real projective plane

The sphere, before being transformed, is not homeomorphic to the real projective plane, RP². But the sphere centered at the origin has this property, that if point (x,y,z) belongs to the sphere, then so does the antipodal point (-x,-y,-z) and these two points are different: they lie on opposite sides of the center of the sphere. In the mathematical field of topology a homeomorphism or topological isomorphism (from the Greek words homeos = identical and morphe = shape) is a special isomorphism between topological spaces which respects topological properties. ...

The transformation T converts both of these antipodal points into the same point,

If this were true for only one or small subset of points of the sphere, then these points would just be double points. But since it is true of all points, then it is possible to consider the Roman surface to be homeomorphic to a "sphere modulo antipodes", S² / (x~-x), i.e. a sphere whose antipodal points are equivalent. The real projective plane is known to be homeomorphic to a sphere modulo antipodes, therefore the Roman surface is homeomorphic to RP².

Structure of the Roman surface

The Roman surface has four bulbous "lobes", each one on a different corner of a tetrahedron.

A Roman surface can be constructed by splicing together three hyperbolic paraboloids and then smoothing out the edges as necessary so that it will fit a desired shape (e.g. parametrization). Paraboloid of revolution Hyperbolic paraboloid In mathematics, a paraboloid is a quadric, a type of surface in three dimensions, described by the equation: (elliptic paraboloid), or (hyperbolic paraboloid). ...

Let there be these three hyperbolic paraboloids:

• x = y z,
• y = z x,
• z = x y.

These three hyperbolic paraboloids intersect externally along the six edges of a tetrahedron and internally along the three axes. The internal intersections are loci of double points. The three loci of double points: x = 0, y = 0, and z = 0, intersect at a triple point at the origin. In mathematics, the origin of a coordinate system is the point where the axes of the system intersect. ...

For example, given x = y z and y = z x, the second paraboloid is equivalent to x = y / z. Then

and either y = 0 or z² = 1 so that . Their two external intersections are

• x = y, z = 1;
• x = -y, z = -1.

Likewise, the other external intersections are

• x = z, y = 1;
• x = -z, y = -1;
• y = z, x = 1;
• y = -z, x = -1.

Let us see the pieces being put together. Join the paraboloids y = x z and x = y z. The result is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

The paraboloid y = x z is shown in blue and orange. The paraboloid x = y z is shown in cyan and purple. In the image the paraboloids are seen to intersect along the z = 0 axis. If the paraboloids are extended, they should also be seen to intersect along the lines Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

• z = 1, y = x;
• z = -1, y = -x.

The two paraboloids together look like a pair of orchids joined back-to-back. Orchid re-directs here; for alternate uses see Orchid (disambiguation) Genera Over 800 See List of Orchidaceae genera. ...

Now run the third hyperbolic paraboloid, z = x y, through them. The result is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2.

On the West-Southwest and East-Northeast directions in Figure 2 there are a pair of openings. These openings are lobes and need to be closed up. When the openings are closed up, the result is the Roman surface shown in Figure 3. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Figure 3. Roman surface.

A pair of lobes can be seen in the West and East directions of Figure 3. Another pair of lobes are hidden underneath the third (z = x y) paraboloid and lie in the North and South directions. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

If the three intersecting hyperbolic paraboloids are drawn far enough that they intersect along the edges of a tetrahedron, then the result is as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4.

One of the lobes is seen frontally -- head on -- in Figure 4. The lobe can be seen to be one of the four corners of the tetrahedron. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

If the continuous surface in Figure 4 has its sharp edges rounded out -- smoothed out -- then the result is the Roman surface in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Roman surface.

One of the lobes of the Roman surface is seen frontally in Figure 5, and its bulbous -- balloon-like -- shape is evident. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The light bulb is one of the most significant inventions in the history of the human race, illuminating the darkness of the evening and bringing light indoors at all times in order focus on the task at hand. ...

If the surface in Figure 5 is turned around 180 degrees and then turned upside down, the result is as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Roman surface.

Figure 6 shows three lobes seen sideways. Between each pair of lobes there is a locus of double points corresponding to a coordinate axis. The three loci intersect at a triple point at the origin. The fourth lobe is hidden and points in the direction directly opposite from the viewer. The Roman surface shown at the top of this article also has three lobes in sideways view. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

One-sidedness

The Roman surface is non-orientable, i.e. one-sided. This is not quite obvious. To see this, look again at Figure 3. This article or section should be merged with Orientable manifold. ...

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Imagine an ant on top of the "third" hyperbolic paraboloid, z = x y. Let this ant move North. As it moves, it will pass through the other two paraboloids, like a ghost passing through a wall. These other paraboloids only seem like obstacles due to the self-intersecting nature of the immersion. Let the ant ignore all double and triple points and pass right through them. So the ant moves to the North and falls of the edge of the world, so to speak. It now finds itself on the northern lobe, hidden underneath the third paraboloid of Figure 3. The ant is standing upside-down, on the "outside" of the Roman surface.

Let the ant move towards the Southwest. It will climb a slope (upside-down) until it finds itself "inside" the Western lobe. Now let the ant move in a Southeastern direction along the inside of the Western lobe towards the z = 0 axis, always above the x-y plane. As soon as it passes through the z = 0 axis the ant will be on the "outside" of the Eastern lobe, standing rightside-up.

Then let it move Northwards, over "the hill", then towards the Northwest so that it starts sliding down towards the x = 0 axis. As soon as the ant crosses this axis it will find itself "inside" the Northern lobe, standing right side up. Now let the ant walk towards the North. It will climb up the wall, then along the "roof" of the Northern lobe. The ant is back on the third hyperbolic paraboloid, but this time under it and standing upside-down. (Compare with Klein bottle.) The Klein bottle immersed in three-dimensional space. ...

Double, triple, and pinching points

The Roman surface has four "lobes". The boundaries of each lobe are a set of three lines of double points. Between each pair of lobes there is a line of double points. The surface has a total of three lines of double points, which lie (in the parametrization given earlier) on the coordinate axes. The three lines of double points intersect at a triple point while lies on the origin. The triple point cuts the lines of double points into a pair of half-lines, and each half-line lies between a pair of lobes. One might expect from the preceding statements that there could be up to eight lobes, one in each octant of space which has been divided by the coordinate planes. But the lobes occupy alternating octants: four octants are empty and four are occupied by lobes.

If the Roman surface were to be inscribed inside the tetrahedron with least possible volume, one would find that each edge of the tetrahedron is tangent to the Roman surface at a point, and that each of these six points happens to be a Whitney singularity. These singularities, or pinching points, all lie at the edges of the three lines of double points, and they are defined by this property: that there is no plane tangent to surface at the singularity. In mathematics, a singularity is in general a point at which a given mathematical object is not defined, or a point of an exceptional set where it fails to be well-behaved in some particular way, such as differentiability. ... The tangent space of a manifold is a concept which facilitates the generalization of vectors from affine spaces to general manifolds, since in the latter case one cannot simply subtract two points to obtain a vector pointing from one to the other. ...

See also

• Boy's surface - an immersion of the projective plane without cross-caps.
• Tetrahemihexahedron - a polyhedron very similar the Roman surface.

In geometry, Boys surface is an immersion of the real projective plane in 3-dimensional space found by Werner Boy in 1901. ... In mathematics, an embedding (or imbedding) is one instance of some mathematical object contained within another instance, such as a group that is a subgroup. ... In geometry, the tetrahemihexahedron is a concave uniform polyhedron, indexed as U4. ... A polyhedron (plural polyhedra or polyhedrons) is a geometric object with flat faces and straight edges. ...

External links

• Ashay Dharwadker, Heptahedron and Roman Surface, Electronic Geometry Models, 2004.