Читать книгу A Theory of the Mechanism of Survival: The Fourth Dimension and Its Applications онлайн

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On other words—In the space we know we find only three dimensions and consequently we can refer to it as "Space of three dimensions" or "Three-dimensional space."

Now the idea of a fourth dimension of space is simply this: That, whereas in three-dimensional space, we can draw, through any point in it, three, and only three, lines mutually at right angles: in four-dimensional space, it would be possible to draw, through any point in it, four, and only four, lines mutually at right angles.

Extending the idea to "Higher space" in general, we may say that,—In space of "n" dimensions we can draw, through any point in it, "n," and only "n," lines mutually at right angles.

Now I admit, that, at first sight, the idea that it might be possible, under any circumstances, to draw more than three such lines through a point, seems utterly staggering and inconceivable. And indeed the more one thinks of it and the more thoroughly one grasps what it means, the more absolutely impossible does it appear.