0

I wonder why a triangulation of an n-dimensional point set is called triangulation and not something like "simplicication". Formally, the name of "triangles" is only used for 3-simplices and actually triangle itself is rarely used.

Is there any other formal term other than "triangulation"?

Thank you.

Javi
  • 129
  • 1
    The term simplicialization seems to be occasionally used. – Cheerful Parsnip Oct 16 '14 at 22:40
  • 1
    Since it's even used for non-simple shapes (Think of NURBS or T-spline surfaces), I hardly believe in any other term. Plus, "simpliciation" is a whole lot harder to pronounce and write than "triangulation". Also note that n-simplices also consist of triangles as their 2D-faces, so the term is not wrong for $n>1$ – AlexR Oct 16 '14 at 22:40
  • @GrumpyParsnip Do you have any reference? I'd be interested because I have only seen triangulation in literature and papers alike. – AlexR Oct 16 '14 at 22:41
  • @AlexR after looking for "simplicialization" in Google some papers appear. – Javi Oct 16 '14 at 22:55
  • @GrumpyParsnip if you post it as an answer I will be happy to accept it. Thanks! – Javi Oct 16 '14 at 22:55
  • @JaviV I could only find this topology related one and this plus a book "Progress in Pattern Recognition, ...". Seems rarely used. About $400$ results vs. $1,700,000$ for "triangulation" – AlexR Oct 16 '14 at 22:58
  • 1
    @AlexR there are very hidden ones: http://arxiv.org/pdf/1110.0405.pdf http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166218X04003658 – Javi Oct 16 '14 at 23:05
  • @JaviV Thanks for the references, you may want to add them to the answer to back it up ;) – AlexR Oct 16 '14 at 23:06

1 Answers1

2

The term simplicialization seems to be occasionally used.

Cheerful Parsnip
  • 27,278
  • For instance:
    http://arxiv.org/pdf/1110.0405.pdf

    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166218X04003658

     – Javi Oct 16 '14 at 23:06