Efficient exact geometric computation made easy

Abstract

The combination of the CGAL framework for geometric computation with the number type leda_real of LEDA provides an easy to use and efficient basis for exact geometric computations. CGAL offers two geometry kernels, one based on the representation by Cartesian coordinates and one based on the representation by homogeneous coordinates. Both kernels are parameterized with the number type used to store coordinates and to do calculations. For computations that require algebraic numbers, the number type leda_real can be used. It provides exact computation with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, k-th root operations and comparisons.