Let the ratio of the length of segment AB to the length of segment BC be k;
that is, k = AB/BC. If the length of BC is m, the length of AB must therefore he km.
Furthermore, let the length of CD be s. Hence, BD = BC + CD = m + s, AD = AB + BC + CD =
km + m + s, AC = AB + BC = km + m, and the anharmonic ratio is:
BD BC ; m+s m
A * AB E uis owls (17)
Dividing the numerator and denominator of the first factor by s, and the numerator and
denominator of the inverted second factor by m, yields:
m
= +
|l Et a ao
AM 3
S
As point D is moved along line ABCD to point N at infinity, s approaches infinity, and =
and seus approach zero. Hence, for point N at infinity:
A-k-t1 (19)
The image of point N is, of course, the vanishing point, n, of the line. It therefore
follows from equations (16) and (19) that:
k+1 = =) be (20)
an ac
Figure 5 shows the image, abc, of line ABC ín the photograph coordinate system,
Xy. Given the ratio k = AB/BC, it is required to locate the vanishing point, n, on the
line image abc produced.
The projection, a'b'c'n', of line abcn onto the x-axis has the same anharmonic
ratio, A = k + 1, as abcn. Hence, from equation (20),
ts! Y! M x. 7
pra see 55 = n 2 C X5 (21)
a'n a'c x - x -x
n a C a
y i
ius ee me am em pcr mem wer mmi e aem n
Yn-—-——-——— =
Pd
-
la 1b’ Ic’ jn' x
Xa Xp Xc Xn
Figure 5
ZB