Mathematical Object

Dehn Invariant

Geometry

In geometry, the Dehn invariant is a quantity associated with a polyhedron that helps determine whether it can be cut into pieces and reassembled into a different polyhedron, and whether the polyhedron or its pieces can tile space. Two polyhedra can be dissected into pieces that reassemble into either one exactly when both their volumes and their Dehn invariants are equal. A Dehn invariant of zero is a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for a polyhedron to be able to fill space on its own, and a polyhedron can be cut up and reassembled into a space-filling polyhedron precisely when its Dehn invariant is zero.

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Classification
Object Kind
Mathematical Property 1
Origin Year
1900 1
Dehn Invariant
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Source Dehn Invariant (Wikipedia)

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Source Dehn Invariant (Wikipedia)

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Source MacTutor History of Mathematics, University of St Andrews: Max Wilhelm Dehn
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1. Dehn Invariant (Wikipedia)
  • Lead section
    In geometry, the Dehn invariant is a value used to determine whether one polyhedron can be cut into pieces and reassembled ("dissected") into another, and whether a polyhedron or its dissections can tile space.
  • Lead
    Hilbert's student Max Dehn, in his 1900 habilitation thesis, invented the Dehn invariant in order to solve this problem.
  • In Branch: Geometry, Lead sentence
    In geometry, the Dehn invariant is a value used to determine whether one polyhedron can be cut into pieces and reassembled ("disse
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MacTutor History of Mathematics, University of St Andrews: Max Wilhelm Dehn
MacTutor History of Mathematics, University of St AndrewsPrincipal Result Of: Max Dehn, Biography text
Quote, Principal Result Of: Max Dehn, Biography text
Dehn showed that the answer to this question is "no", constructing a counterexample using what is today called the 'Dehn invariant'.
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