Geometry: The Line and the Circle (AMS/MAA Textbooks)

Geometry: The Line and the Circle (AMS/MAA Textbooks)

Geometry: The Line and the Circle is an undergraduate text with a strong narrative that is written at the appropriate level of rigor for an upper-level survey or axiomatic course in geometry. Starting with Euclid's Elements, the book connects topics in Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry in an intentional and meaningful way, with historical context. The line and the circle are the principal characters driving the narrative. In every geometry considered which include spherical, hyperbolic, and taxicab, as well as finite affine and projective geometries these two objects are analyzed and highlighted. Along the way, the reader contemplates fundamental questions such as: What is a straight line? What does parallel mean? What is distance? What is area? There is a strong focus on axiomatic structures throughout the text. While Euclid is a constant inspiration and the Elements is repeatedly revisited with substantial coverage of Books I, II, III, IV, and VI, non-Euclidean geometries are introduced very early to give the reader perspective on questions of axiomatics. Rounding out the thorough coverage of axiomatics are concluding chapters on transformations and constructibility. The book is compulsively readable with great attention paid to the historical narrative and hundreds of attractive problems. A fun and masterful road to learning what geometry is actually about. This is likely an ideal text for use in training secondary level teachers who will teach this glorious subject...From constructions to proofs of results to the larger meaning of these results within the overarching context of Geometry, this text is there to guide students and assist them in constructing their own mastery of the subject. It is a beautiful text with real depth and detail and will be of great value to anyone who wishes to know "Just what is geometry about, after all is said and done?". Highly recommended! --Jeff Ibbotson, MAA Reviews