Geometry Mathematics Dept.

,
Course I – 2 Stage Edu. College for Pure Sciences
Asst. Prof. Dr. Ruma Kareem K. Ajeena University of Babylon

Lecture 3: Fano's and Young's Geometries

3.4. Fano’s Geometry

Ax1. There exists at least one line.
Ax2. Every line of the geometry has exactly 3 points on it.
Ax3. Not all points of the geometry are on the same line.
Ax4. For two distinct points, there exists exactly one line on both of
them.
Ax5. Each two lines have at least one point on both of them.

Theorem 3.4.1. Each two lines have exactly one point in common.
Proof. Assume that two distinct lines l ≠ m have two distinct points in
common P and Q. From Ax4, (C!), since these two points would then be
on two distinct lines.
Theorem 3.4.2. Fano's geometry consists of exactly seven points and
seven lines.

Proof. First, we have to show that there are at least 7 points and seven lines.
Assume that there is an 8th point. By Ax4, it must be on a line with point
1.
By Ax5, this line must meet the line containing points 3,4 and 7. But, the
line cannot meet at one of these points (C! Ax4). So, the point of

9
intersection would have to be a fourth point on the line 347(C! Ax2). Thus,
there are exactly seven points and seven lines.

Young’s Geometry
Ax1. There exists at least one line.
Ax2. Every line of the geometry has exactly 3 points on it.
Ax3. Not all points of the geometry are on the same line.
Ax4. For two distinct points, there exists exactly one line on both of
them.
Ax5. If a point does not lie on a given line, then there exists exactly one
line on that point that does not intersect the given line.

Theorem 1. For every point, there is a line not lies on that point.
Proof. Let P be a point. By Ax1, let l be a line. If P does not lie on l, then,
the proof is done. Now, if P lies on l. By Ax2, there are two other points
P1, P2 on l. By Ax3, there is a point q not on l. By Ax4, there is a line l1 on
P1 and q. By Ax4, P ∉ l1, since if P and P1 are both on l1 then l = l1. Thus,
for a point P, one can find a line l1 such that P∉ l1. ■

Theorem 2. For every point, there are exactly four lines lie on that point.
Proof. First, it should be proved there are at least 4 lines. Let P be a point,
then by Thm1, there exist a line l such that P∉ l. By Ax2, l contains 3 points
P1, P2 and P3. By Ax4, there are three lines l1, l2 and l3 from intersecting P

10
with P1, P2 and P3. By Ax5, there is a line l4 contains P but not any of P1,
P2 and P3 (l4 is parallel to l). Thus, there are at least 4 lines through P.
Second, it should be proved exactly 4. l4 is parallel to l. By Ax5, there is
no fifth line on P that is parallel to l. By Ax4, there is no fifth line on P that
intersect l. Thus, there are exactly four lines through P. ■
Theorem 3. In Young's geometry, each line is parallel to exactly two lines.
Proof. First, it should be proved at least 2 lines. By Ax1, let l be a line. By
Ax2, l contains 3 points P1, P2 and P3. By Thm2, there are three other lines
(l1, l2 and l 3) on P1. By Ax2, l1 contains two other points, q1 and q2. By
Ax5, there are two lines m1, m2 parallel to l (since q1, q2∉ l). Thus, there
are at least 2 lines parallel to l. Second, it should show there are exactly 2
lines. Assume that there is a line m3 parallel to l. By Ax5, l is the unique
parallel to m3 through the point P1. Since P1 is on l1, then l1 must intersect
m3 (Ax4 C!). Thus, there are only two lines parallel to l. ■

Theorem 4. In Young's geometry, there are exactly 12 lines.

Proof. First part 1, there are at least 12 lines. By Ax1 there is a line l, which
is on three points P1, P2 and P3, by Ax3. By Thm2, on each of these points
there are exactly three other lines. No two of these additional lines can be
the same, since none may be on two points of l. So far, we have 10 lines
and there is no other line which intersects l. By Thm3, there are exactly
two lines parallel to l. They become 12. Part 2, there are exactly 12 lines.
By Thm2,3, any 13th line must either intersect or be parallel to l, but this
is impossible. ■

Theorem 5. In Young's geometry, there are exactly 9 points.

Proof. We need first to proof there are at least 9 lines. By Ax1, Ax2 and
Th3, let l1 (on A,B,C), l2 (on D,E,F), and l3 (on G,H,I), be three lines. Also,
it should second, there are exactly 9 points. Let q be a 10th point. By Ax4,
there is a line m on q and A. Since, we already have a line through A
parallel to l2, and a line through A parallel to l3 (in both cases, it's l1), m
must be lies on points of l2 and l3. This implies m has at least four points
(Ax2C!). ■

11