Fenchel's theorem
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Type | Theorem |
---|---|
Field | Differential geometry |
Statement | A smooth closed space curve has total absolute curvature , with equality if and only if it is a convex plane curve |
First stated by | Werner Fenchel |
First proof in | 1929 |
In differential geometry, Fenchel's theorem is an inequality on the total absolute curvature of a closed smooth space curve, stating that it is always at least . Equivalently, the average curvature is at least , where is the length of the curve. The only curves of this type whose total absolute curvature equals and whose average curvature equals are the plane convex curves. The theorem is named after Werner Fenchel, who published it in 1929.
The Fenchel theorem is enhanced by the Fáry–Milnor theorem, which says that if a closed smooth simple space curve is nontrivially knotted, then the total absolute curvature is greater than 4π.
References
- do Carmo, Manfredo P. (2016). Differential geometry of curves & surfaces (Revised & updated second edition of 1976 original ed.). Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-0-486-80699-0. MR 3837152. Zbl 1352.53002.
- Fenchel, Werner (1929). "Über Krümmung und Windung geschlossener Raumkurven". Mathematische Annalen (in German). 101 (1): 238–252. doi:10.1007/bf01454836. JFM 55.0394.06. MR 1512528. S2CID 119908321.
- Fenchel, Werner (1951). "On the differential geometry of closed space curves". Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society. 57 (1): 44–54. doi:10.1090/S0002-9904-1951-09440-9. MR 0040040. Zbl 0042.40006.; see especially equation 13, page 49
- O'Neill, Barrett (2006). Elementary differential geometry (Revised second edition of 1966 original ed.). Amsterdam: Academic Press. doi:10.1016/C2009-0-05241-6. ISBN 978-0-12-088735-4. MR 2351345. Zbl 1208.53003.
- Spivak, Michael (1999). A comprehensive introduction to differential geometry. Vol. III (Third edition of 1975 original ed.). Wilmington, DE: Publish or Perish, Inc. ISBN 0-914098-72-1. MR 0532832. Zbl 1213.53001.