4.II.12A

Geometry | Part IB, 2007

Write down the Riemannian metric for the upper half-plane model H\mathbf{H} of the hyperbolic plane. Describe, without proof, the group of isometries of H\mathbf{H} and the hyperbolic lines (i.e. the geodesics) on H\mathbf{H}.

Show that for any two hyperbolic lines 1,2\ell_{1}, \ell_{2}, there is an isometry of H\mathbf{H} which maps 1\ell_{1} onto 2\ell_{2}.

Suppose that gg is a composition of two reflections in hyperbolic lines which are ultraparallel (i.e. do not meet either in the hyperbolic plane or at its boundary). Show that gg cannot be an element of finite order in the group of isometries of H\mathbf{H}.

[Existence of a common perpendicular to two ultraparallel hyperbolic lines may be assumed. You might like to choose carefully which hyperbolic line to consider as a common perpendicular.]

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