Theory NotebookMath for LLMs

Geodesics

Differential Geometry / Geodesics

Notesnotes.md Theory Notebooktheory.ipynb Exercises Notebookexercises.ipynb

Theory Notebook

Theory Notebook

Converted from theory.ipynb for web reading.

Geodesics

Geodesics define geometry-aware motion, interpolation, distance, and convexity on curved spaces used by latent models, embeddings, robotics, and optimization.

This notebook is the executable companion to notes.md. It uses spheres, tangent projections, geodesic interpolation, SPD matrices, and orthogonality constraints as concrete geometry laboratories.

Code cell 2

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib as mpl

try:
    import seaborn as sns
    sns.set_theme(style="whitegrid", palette="colorblind")
    HAS_SNS = True
except ImportError:
    plt.style.use("seaborn-v0_8-whitegrid")
    HAS_SNS = False

mpl.rcParams.update({
    "figure.figsize":    (10, 6),
    "figure.dpi":         120,
    "font.size":           13,
    "axes.titlesize":      15,
    "axes.labelsize":      13,
    "xtick.labelsize":     11,
    "ytick.labelsize":     11,
    "legend.fontsize":     11,
    "legend.framealpha":   0.85,
    "lines.linewidth":      2.0,
    "axes.spines.top":     False,
    "axes.spines.right":   False,
    "savefig.bbox":       "tight",
    "savefig.dpi":         150,
})
np.random.seed(42)
print("Plot setup complete.")

Code cell 3


COLORS = {
    "primary":   "#0077BB",
    "secondary": "#EE7733",
    "tertiary":  "#009988",
    "error":     "#CC3311",
    "neutral":   "#555555",
    "highlight": "#EE3377",
}

def header(title):
    print("\n" + "=" * 72)
    print(title)
    print("=" * 72)

def check_true(condition, name):
    ok = bool(condition)
    print(f"{'PASS' if ok else 'FAIL'} - {name}")
    assert ok, name

def check_close(value, target, tol=1e-8, name="value"):
    ok = abs(float(value) - float(target)) <= tol
    print(f"{'PASS' if ok else 'FAIL'} - {name}: got {float(value):.6f}, expected {float(target):.6f}")
    assert ok, name

def normalize(x):
    x = np.asarray(x, dtype=float)
    n = np.linalg.norm(x)
    if n == 0:
        raise ValueError("cannot normalize zero vector")
    return x / n

def tangent_projection_sphere(x, v):
    x = normalize(x)
    v = np.asarray(v, dtype=float)
    return v - np.dot(x, v) * x

def exp_sphere(x, v):
    x = normalize(x)
    v = tangent_projection_sphere(x, v)
    n = np.linalg.norm(v)
    if n < 1e-12:
        return x.copy()
    return np.cos(n) * x + np.sin(n) * v / n

def retract_sphere(x, v):
    return normalize(np.asarray(x, dtype=float) + np.asarray(v, dtype=float))

def slerp(x, y, t):
    x = normalize(x)
    y = normalize(y)
    dot = np.clip(np.dot(x, y), -1.0, 1.0)
    theta = np.arccos(dot)
    if theta < 1e-12:
        return x.copy()
    return (np.sin((1 - t) * theta) * x + np.sin(t * theta) * y) / np.sin(theta)

def riemannian_gradient_sphere(x, euclidean_grad):
    return tangent_projection_sphere(x, euclidean_grad)

def sphere_descent(target, steps=20, eta=0.3):
    target = normalize(target)
    x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 0.2, 0.1]))
    values = []
    for _ in range(steps):
        values.append(float(-np.dot(target, x)))
        egrad = -target
        rgrad = riemannian_gradient_sphere(x, egrad)
        x = retract_sphere(x, -eta * rgrad)
    values.append(float(-np.dot(target, x)))
    return x, np.array(values)

def stiefel_tangent_projection(Q, Z):
    Q = np.asarray(Q, dtype=float)
    Z = np.asarray(Z, dtype=float)
    sym = 0.5 * (Q.T @ Z + Z.T @ Q)
    return Z - Q @ sym

def qr_retraction(Y):
    Q, R = np.linalg.qr(Y)
    signs = np.sign(np.diag(R))
    signs[signs == 0] = 1.0
    return Q @ np.diag(signs)

def spd_from_eigs(eigs):
    Q = np.array([[np.cos(0.4), -np.sin(0.4)], [np.sin(0.4), np.cos(0.4)]])
    return Q @ np.diag(eigs) @ Q.T

def mat_log_spd(A):
    vals, vecs = np.linalg.eigh(A)
    return vecs @ np.diag(np.log(vals)) @ vecs.T

def mat_invsqrt_spd(A):
    vals, vecs = np.linalg.eigh(A)
    return vecs @ np.diag(1.0 / np.sqrt(vals)) @ vecs.T

def spd_distance(A, B):
    C = mat_invsqrt_spd(A) @ B @ mat_invsqrt_spd(A)
    return float(np.linalg.norm(mat_log_spd(C), ord="fro"))

print("Differential-geometry helpers ready.")

Demo 1: Straightest vs shortest paths

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 5

header("Demo 1 - Straightest vs shortest paths: sphere tangent projection")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 1.0, 1.0]))
v = np.array([2.0, -1.0, 0.5])
tangent = tangent_projection_sphere(x, v)
print("Point on sphere:", np.round(x, 3).tolist())
print("Projected tangent:", np.round(tangent, 3).tolist())
check_close(np.dot(x, tangent), 0.0, tol=1e-10, name="orthogonal to base point")

Demo 2: Great circles on spheres

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 7

header("Demo 2 - Great circles on spheres: local chart for circle")
theta = np.linspace(-1.2, 1.2, 200)
circle = np.column_stack([np.cos(theta), np.sin(theta)])
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 6))
ax.plot(circle[:, 0], circle[:, 1], color=COLORS["primary"], label="chart image")
ax.scatter([1], [0], color=COLORS["highlight"], label="base point")
ax.set_title("Local coordinate patch on the circle")
ax.set_xlabel("$x_1$")
ax.set_ylabel("$x_2$")
ax.axis("equal")
ax.legend()
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()
plt.close(fig)
print("Chart parameter range:", (float(theta.min()), float(theta.max())))
check_true(circle.shape == (200, 2), "chart maps one coordinate to ambient R^2")

Demo 3: Why interpolation in latent space may be curved

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 9

header("Demo 3 - Why interpolation in latent space may be curved: spherical geodesic interpolation")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 0.0, 0.0]))
y = normalize(np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0]))
pts = np.array([slerp(x, y, t) for t in np.linspace(0, 1, 25)])
norms = np.linalg.norm(pts, axis=1)
print("First point:", pts[0].round(3).tolist())
print("Middle point:", pts[len(pts)//2].round(3).tolist())
check_true(np.all(np.abs(norms - 1.0) < 1e-10), "slerp stays on sphere")
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 6))
ax.plot(pts[:, 0], pts[:, 1], color=COLORS["secondary"], marker="o", label="geodesic arc")
ax.set_title("Great-circle interpolation")
ax.set_xlabel("$x_1$")
ax.set_ylabel("$x_2$")
ax.axis("equal")
ax.legend()
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()
plt.close(fig)

Demo 4: Energy minimization and path length

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 11

header("Demo 4 - Energy minimization and path length: Riemannian gradient on sphere")
x = normalize(np.array([0.7, 0.2, 0.6]))
target = normalize(np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0]))
egrad = -target
rgrad = riemannian_gradient_sphere(x, egrad)
print("Euclidean gradient:", np.round(egrad, 3).tolist())
print("Riemannian gradient:", np.round(rgrad, 3).tolist())
check_close(np.dot(x, rgrad), 0.0, tol=1e-10, name="Riemannian gradient is tangent")
print("Interpretation: steepest descent must live in the tangent space.")

Demo 5: Geodesics as geometry-aware motion

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 13

header("Demo 5 - Geodesics as geometry-aware motion: sphere gradient descent")
target = np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0])
x_final, values = sphere_descent(target, steps=25, eta=0.25)
print("Final point:", np.round(x_final, 3).tolist())
print("Initial objective:", round(values[0], 4))
print("Final objective:", round(values[-1], 4))
check_true(values[-1] < values[0], "objective decreases on sphere")
fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.plot(values, color=COLORS["primary"], label="objective")
ax.set_title("Riemannian gradient descent on the sphere")
ax.set_xlabel("Step")
ax.set_ylabel("$-a^T x$")
ax.legend()
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()
plt.close(fig)

Demo 6: Curves $\gamma(t)$ on manifolds

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 15

header("Demo 6 - Curves $\\gamma(t)$ on manifolds: Stiefel tangent projection")
Q = np.eye(3, 2)
Z = np.array([[0.2, 1.0], [1.5, -0.3], [0.7, 0.4]])
Xi = stiefel_tangent_projection(Q, Z)
constraint = Q.T @ Xi + Xi.T @ Q
print("Tangent constraint matrix:", np.round(constraint, 10))
check_true(np.linalg.norm(constraint) < 1e-10, "Stiefel tangent condition holds")
Y = qr_retraction(Q + 0.2 * Xi)
check_true(np.linalg.norm(Y.T @ Y - np.eye(2)) < 1e-10, "QR retraction returns orthonormal columns")
print("Retracted columns are orthonormal.")

Demo 7: Velocity field $\dot{\gamma}(t)\in T_{\gamma(t)}M$

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 17

header("Demo 7 - Velocity field $\\dot{\\gamma}(t)\\in T_{\\gamma(t)}M$: SPD manifold distance")
A = spd_from_eigs([1.0, 3.0])
B = spd_from_eigs([2.0, 5.0])
d_ab = spd_distance(A, B)
d_ba = spd_distance(B, A)
print("Distance A to B:", round(d_ab, 6))
print("Distance B to A:", round(d_ba, 6))
check_close(d_ab, d_ba, tol=1e-10, name="SPD distance symmetry")
check_true(d_ab > 0, "distinct SPD matrices have positive distance")

Demo 8: Geodesic equation $\nabla_{\dot{\gamma}}\dot{\gamma}=0$

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 19

header("Demo 8 - Geodesic equation $\\nabla_{\\dot{\\gamma}}\\dot{\\gamma}=0$: exponential vs retraction")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 0.0, 0.0]))
v = tangent_projection_sphere(x, np.array([0.0, 0.2, 0.1]))
exp_point = exp_sphere(x, v)
ret_point = retract_sphere(x, v)
print("Exponential point:", np.round(exp_point, 5).tolist())
print("Retraction point:", np.round(ret_point, 5).tolist())
check_true(abs(np.linalg.norm(exp_point) - 1.0) < 1e-10, "exponential stays on sphere")
check_true(abs(np.linalg.norm(ret_point) - 1.0) < 1e-10, "retraction stays on sphere")
print("Distance between exp and retraction:", round(float(np.linalg.norm(exp_point - ret_point)), 6))

Demo 9: Exponential map $\operatorname{Exp}_p(\mathbf{v})$

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 21

header("Demo 9 - Exponential map $\\operatorname{Exp}_p(\\mathbf{v})$: sphere tangent projection")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 1.0, 1.0]))
v = np.array([2.0, -1.0, 0.5])
tangent = tangent_projection_sphere(x, v)
print("Point on sphere:", np.round(x, 3).tolist())
print("Projected tangent:", np.round(tangent, 3).tolist())
check_close(np.dot(x, tangent), 0.0, tol=1e-10, name="orthogonal to base point")

Demo 10: Logarithm map and injectivity-radius preview

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 23

header("Demo 10 - Logarithm map and injectivity-radius preview: local chart for circle")
theta = np.linspace(-1.2, 1.2, 200)
circle = np.column_stack([np.cos(theta), np.sin(theta)])
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 6))
ax.plot(circle[:, 0], circle[:, 1], color=COLORS["primary"], label="chart image")
ax.scatter([1], [0], color=COLORS["highlight"], label="base point")
ax.set_title("Local coordinate patch on the circle")
ax.set_xlabel("$x_1$")
ax.set_ylabel("$x_2$")
ax.axis("equal")
ax.legend()
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()
plt.close(fig)
print("Chart parameter range:", (float(theta.min()), float(theta.max())))
check_true(circle.shape == (200, 2), "chart maps one coordinate to ambient R^2")

Demo 11: Christoffel symbols in coordinates

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 25

header("Demo 11 - Christoffel symbols in coordinates: spherical geodesic interpolation")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 0.0, 0.0]))
y = normalize(np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0]))
pts = np.array([slerp(x, y, t) for t in np.linspace(0, 1, 25)])
norms = np.linalg.norm(pts, axis=1)
print("First point:", pts[0].round(3).tolist())
print("Middle point:", pts[len(pts)//2].round(3).tolist())
check_true(np.all(np.abs(norms - 1.0) < 1e-10), "slerp stays on sphere")
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 6))
ax.plot(pts[:, 0], pts[:, 1], color=COLORS["secondary"], marker="o", label="geodesic arc")
ax.set_title("Great-circle interpolation")
ax.set_xlabel("$x_1$")
ax.set_ylabel("$x_2$")
ax.axis("equal")
ax.legend()
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()
plt.close(fig)

Demo 12: Geodesics on the sphere

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 27

header("Demo 12 - Geodesics on the sphere: Riemannian gradient on sphere")
x = normalize(np.array([0.7, 0.2, 0.6]))
target = normalize(np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0]))
egrad = -target
rgrad = riemannian_gradient_sphere(x, egrad)
print("Euclidean gradient:", np.round(egrad, 3).tolist())
print("Riemannian gradient:", np.round(rgrad, 3).tolist())
check_close(np.dot(x, rgrad), 0.0, tol=1e-10, name="Riemannian gradient is tangent")
print("Interpretation: steepest descent must live in the tangent space.")

Demo 13: Geodesic distance and metric completeness

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 29

header("Demo 13 - Geodesic distance and metric completeness: sphere gradient descent")
target = np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0])
x_final, values = sphere_descent(target, steps=25, eta=0.25)
print("Final point:", np.round(x_final, 3).tolist())
print("Initial objective:", round(values[0], 4))
print("Final objective:", round(values[-1], 4))
check_true(values[-1] < values[0], "objective decreases on sphere")
fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.plot(values, color=COLORS["primary"], label="objective")
ax.set_title("Riemannian gradient descent on the sphere")
ax.set_xlabel("Step")
ax.set_ylabel("$-a^T x$")
ax.legend()
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()
plt.close(fig)

Demo 14: Parallel transport preview

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 31

header("Demo 14 - Parallel transport preview: Stiefel tangent projection")
Q = np.eye(3, 2)
Z = np.array([[0.2, 1.0], [1.5, -0.3], [0.7, 0.4]])
Xi = stiefel_tangent_projection(Q, Z)
constraint = Q.T @ Xi + Xi.T @ Q
print("Tangent constraint matrix:", np.round(constraint, 10))
check_true(np.linalg.norm(constraint) < 1e-10, "Stiefel tangent condition holds")
Y = qr_retraction(Q + 0.2 * Xi)
check_true(np.linalg.norm(Y.T @ Y - np.eye(2)) < 1e-10, "QR retraction returns orthonormal columns")
print("Retracted columns are orthonormal.")

Demo 15: Geodesic convexity preview

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 33

header("Demo 15 - Geodesic convexity preview: SPD manifold distance")
A = spd_from_eigs([1.0, 3.0])
B = spd_from_eigs([2.0, 5.0])
d_ab = spd_distance(A, B)
d_ba = spd_distance(B, A)
print("Distance A to B:", round(d_ab, 6))
print("Distance B to A:", round(d_ba, 6))
check_close(d_ab, d_ba, tol=1e-10, name="SPD distance symmetry")
check_true(d_ab > 0, "distinct SPD matrices have positive distance")

Demo 16: Latent interpolation and representation paths

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 35

header("Demo 16 - Latent interpolation and representation paths: exponential vs retraction")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 0.0, 0.0]))
v = tangent_projection_sphere(x, np.array([0.0, 0.2, 0.1]))
exp_point = exp_sphere(x, v)
ret_point = retract_sphere(x, v)
print("Exponential point:", np.round(exp_point, 5).tolist())
print("Retraction point:", np.round(ret_point, 5).tolist())
check_true(abs(np.linalg.norm(exp_point) - 1.0) < 1e-10, "exponential stays on sphere")
check_true(abs(np.linalg.norm(ret_point) - 1.0) < 1e-10, "retraction stays on sphere")
print("Distance between exp and retraction:", round(float(np.linalg.norm(exp_point - ret_point)), 6))

Demo 17: Hyperbolic geodesics for tree-like data

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 37

header("Demo 17 - Hyperbolic geodesics for tree-like data: sphere tangent projection")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 1.0, 1.0]))
v = np.array([2.0, -1.0, 0.5])
tangent = tangent_projection_sphere(x, v)
print("Point on sphere:", np.round(x, 3).tolist())
print("Projected tangent:", np.round(tangent, 3).tolist())
check_close(np.dot(x, tangent), 0.0, tol=1e-10, name="orthogonal to base point")

Demo 18: Shortest paths on learned manifolds

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 39

header("Demo 18 - Shortest paths on learned manifolds: local chart for circle")
theta = np.linspace(-1.2, 1.2, 200)
circle = np.column_stack([np.cos(theta), np.sin(theta)])
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 6))
ax.plot(circle[:, 0], circle[:, 1], color=COLORS["primary"], label="chart image")
ax.scatter([1], [0], color=COLORS["highlight"], label="base point")
ax.set_title("Local coordinate patch on the circle")
ax.set_xlabel("$x_1$")
ax.set_ylabel("$x_2$")
ax.axis("equal")
ax.legend()
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()
plt.close(fig)
print("Chart parameter range:", (float(theta.min()), float(theta.max())))
check_true(circle.shape == (200, 2), "chart maps one coordinate to ambient R^2")

Demo 19: Geodesic loss functions

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 41

header("Demo 19 - Geodesic loss functions: spherical geodesic interpolation")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 0.0, 0.0]))
y = normalize(np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0]))
pts = np.array([slerp(x, y, t) for t in np.linspace(0, 1, 25)])
norms = np.linalg.norm(pts, axis=1)
print("First point:", pts[0].round(3).tolist())
print("Middle point:", pts[len(pts)//2].round(3).tolist())
check_true(np.all(np.abs(norms - 1.0) < 1e-10), "slerp stays on sphere")
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 6))
ax.plot(pts[:, 0], pts[:, 1], color=COLORS["secondary"], marker="o", label="geodesic arc")
ax.set_title("Great-circle interpolation")
ax.set_xlabel("$x_1$")
ax.set_ylabel("$x_2$")
ax.axis("equal")
ax.legend()
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()
plt.close(fig)

Demo 20: Trajectory planning and robotics

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 43

header("Demo 20 - Trajectory planning and robotics: Riemannian gradient on sphere")
x = normalize(np.array([0.7, 0.2, 0.6]))
target = normalize(np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0]))
egrad = -target
rgrad = riemannian_gradient_sphere(x, egrad)
print("Euclidean gradient:", np.round(egrad, 3).tolist())
print("Riemannian gradient:", np.round(rgrad, 3).tolist())
check_close(np.dot(x, rgrad), 0.0, tol=1e-10, name="Riemannian gradient is tangent")
print("Interpretation: steepest descent must live in the tangent space.")

Demo 21: Straightest vs shortest paths

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 45

header("Demo 21 - Straightest vs shortest paths: sphere gradient descent")
target = np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0])
x_final, values = sphere_descent(target, steps=25, eta=0.25)
print("Final point:", np.round(x_final, 3).tolist())
print("Initial objective:", round(values[0], 4))
print("Final objective:", round(values[-1], 4))
check_true(values[-1] < values[0], "objective decreases on sphere")
fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.plot(values, color=COLORS["primary"], label="objective")
ax.set_title("Riemannian gradient descent on the sphere")
ax.set_xlabel("Step")
ax.set_ylabel("$-a^T x$")
ax.legend()
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()
plt.close(fig)

Demo 22: Great circles on spheres

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 47

header("Demo 22 - Great circles on spheres: Stiefel tangent projection")
Q = np.eye(3, 2)
Z = np.array([[0.2, 1.0], [1.5, -0.3], [0.7, 0.4]])
Xi = stiefel_tangent_projection(Q, Z)
constraint = Q.T @ Xi + Xi.T @ Q
print("Tangent constraint matrix:", np.round(constraint, 10))
check_true(np.linalg.norm(constraint) < 1e-10, "Stiefel tangent condition holds")
Y = qr_retraction(Q + 0.2 * Xi)
check_true(np.linalg.norm(Y.T @ Y - np.eye(2)) < 1e-10, "QR retraction returns orthonormal columns")
print("Retracted columns are orthonormal.")

Demo 23: Why interpolation in latent space may be curved

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 49

header("Demo 23 - Why interpolation in latent space may be curved: SPD manifold distance")
A = spd_from_eigs([1.0, 3.0])
B = spd_from_eigs([2.0, 5.0])
d_ab = spd_distance(A, B)
d_ba = spd_distance(B, A)
print("Distance A to B:", round(d_ab, 6))
print("Distance B to A:", round(d_ba, 6))
check_close(d_ab, d_ba, tol=1e-10, name="SPD distance symmetry")
check_true(d_ab > 0, "distinct SPD matrices have positive distance")

Demo 24: Energy minimization and path length

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 51

header("Demo 24 - Energy minimization and path length: exponential vs retraction")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 0.0, 0.0]))
v = tangent_projection_sphere(x, np.array([0.0, 0.2, 0.1]))
exp_point = exp_sphere(x, v)
ret_point = retract_sphere(x, v)
print("Exponential point:", np.round(exp_point, 5).tolist())
print("Retraction point:", np.round(ret_point, 5).tolist())
check_true(abs(np.linalg.norm(exp_point) - 1.0) < 1e-10, "exponential stays on sphere")
check_true(abs(np.linalg.norm(ret_point) - 1.0) < 1e-10, "retraction stays on sphere")
print("Distance between exp and retraction:", round(float(np.linalg.norm(exp_point - ret_point)), 6))

Demo 25: Geodesics as geometry-aware motion

This demo turns the approved TOC concept into a small executable geometric calculation.

Code cell 53

header("Demo 25 - Geodesics as geometry-aware motion: sphere tangent projection")
x = normalize(np.array([1.0, 1.0, 1.0]))
v = np.array([2.0, -1.0, 0.5])
tangent = tangent_projection_sphere(x, v)
print("Point on sphere:", np.round(x, 3).tolist())
print("Projected tangent:", np.round(tangent, 3).tolist())
check_close(np.dot(x, tangent), 0.0, tol=1e-10, name="orthogonal to base point")

Previous lesson Next lesson