P3D Re: Technical question: Missing dimension

[Bruce Springsteen <bsspringsteen@xxxxxxxxx>]

Gabriel (Nobody's Fool) Jacob puzzles:
> >If two 2-D pictures equals 3-D, or 2D+2D=3D, how come it's not 4D?
> >Where did the other dimension disappear to? Another dimension?
> >Bruce, anyone? ;-)

I'll bite.  The answer is
xD + xD = (x+1)D

Case 1:  Ever read "Flatland"?  In a 2-dimensional world, a 2D photographer
views a 2D object with two eyes having 1-dimensional retinas.  One of those
eyes can only give his brain information about dimension (X) from a single
vantage point.  But the different (X) information received by two eyes at
different (X) positions lets his brain mysteriously combine the differences
and perceive (Z).  Brain now has internal "model" of two dimensions.  He
scoffs at the "unrealistic" work of conventional 1D photographers.
1D + 1D = 2D

Case 2:  In our 3-dimensional world the 3D photographer equipped with 2D
retinas in two eyes adds the (Y) dimension to each eye, but the (Y)
information in each eye is the same because the two eyes are still only
displaced in (X).  Net brain gain, 1 dimension.  2D + 2D = 3D

Case 3:  4-dimensional stereographer living in a 4D world (called
hyperspace) has a 3-dimensional retina in each eye, so each eye can add
information about one more dimension (W), but each eye has the same (W)
data because the two eyes are still only displaced in (X), as in cases 1
and 2.  Net brain gain, 1 more dimension.  3D + 3D = 4D

And so on.
Now if you start adding EYES along with dimensions, that's a different
story! 2D + 2D + 2D = ?  Who can answer THAT one.  Gabriel?  George? 
Larry?

Bruce (Dr. Tesseract) Springsteen




_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com


------------------------------