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Conservation of Number Principle

A generalization of Poncelet's Permanence of Mathematical Relations Principle made by H. Schubert in 1874-79. The conservation of number principle asserts that the number of solutions of any determinate algebraic problem in any number of parameters under variation of the parameters is invariant in such a manner that no solutions become Infinite. Schubert called the application of this technique the Calculus of Enumerative Geometry.

See also Duality Principle, Hilbert's Problems, Permanence of Mathematical Relations Principle


References

Bell, E. T. The Development of Mathematics, 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, p. 340, 1945.




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-26