Talk:Parallel
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Should this definition say "the same distance", not "the same minimum distance"? I don't know what minimum distance means in this context. Rmhermen 10:00 Aug 28, 2002 (PDT)
I used "same minimum distance" to indicate that the distance to be measured is to the closest point of the other plane or line. This is necessary because every point in one plane or line has a certain distance to every point in the other plane or line. Two other ways of approaching this: 1) same distance to the closest point of the other line or plane 2) same distance as measured along a perpendicular
I thot that "same minimum distance" would be the easiest. If someone else can rephrase this better, please do!
- It might be ood to untangle the mathematical definition from the everyday definition. There's no "in theory" about the never meeting. They never meet. Two lines are parallel if they intersect a 3rd line at angles which are equal. -- Tarquin
