Classical Geometry

Euclidean, Transformational, Inversive, and Projective

I. E. Leonard, J. E. Lewis, A. C. F. Liu, G. W. Tokarsky

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781118679142
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Mathematics
• Subtopic: Geometry
• Index: Mathematics

Features the classical themes of geometry with plentiful applications in mathematics, education, engineering, and science

Accessible and reader-friendly, Classical Geometry: Euclidean, Transformational, Inversive, and Projective introduces readers to a valuable discipline that is crucial to understanding bothspatial relationships and logical reasoning. Focusing on the development of geometric intuitionwhile avoiding the axiomatic method, a problem solving approach is encouraged throughout.

The book is strategically divided into three sections: Part One focuses on Euclidean geometry, which provides the foundation for the rest of the material covered throughout; Part Two discusses Euclidean transformations of the plane, as well as groups and their use in studying transformations; and Part Three covers inversive and projective geometry as natural extensions of Euclidean geometry. In addition to featuring real-world applications throughout, Classical Geometry: Euclidean, Transformational, Inversive, and Projective includes:

• Multiple entertaining and elegant geometry problems at the end of each section for every level of study
• Fully worked examples with exercises to facilitate comprehension and retention
• Unique topical coverage, such as the theorems of Ceva and Menalaus and their applications
• An approach that prepares readers for the art of logical reasoning, modeling, and proofs

The book is an excellent textbook for courses in introductory geometry, elementary geometry, modern geometry, and history of mathematics at the undergraduate level for mathematics majors, as well as for engineering and secondary education majors. The book is also ideal for anyone who would like to learn the various applications of elementary geometry.

PART I

EUCLIDEAN GEOMETRY

CHAPTER 1

CONGRUENCY

1.1 Introduction

Assumed Knowledge

This text assumes a bit of knowledge on the part of the reader. For example, it assumes that you know that the sum of the angles of a triangle in the plane is 180° (x + y + z = 180° in the figure below), and that in a right triangle with hypotenuse c and sides a and b, the Pythagorean relation holds: c² = a² + b².

We use the word line to mean straight line, and we assume that you know that two lines either do not intersect, intersect at exactly one point, or completely coincide. Two lines that do not intersect are said to be parallel.

We also assume certain knowledge about parallel lines, namely, that you have seen some form of the parallel axiom:

Given a line l and a point P in the plane, there is exactly one line through P parallel to l.

The preceding version of the parallel axiom is often called Playfair’s Axiom. You may even know something equivalent to it that is close to the original version of the parallel postulate:

Given two lines l and m, and a third line t cutting both l and m and forming angles ϕ and θ on the same side of t, if ϕ + θ < 180°, then l and m meet at a point on the same side oft as the angles.

The subject of this part of the text is Euclidean geometry, and the above-mentioned parallel postulate characterizes Euclidean geometry. Although the postulate may seem to be obvious, there are perfectly good geometries in which it does not hold.

We also assume that you know certain facts about areas. A parallelogram is a quadrilateral (figure with four sides) such that the opposite sides are parallel.

The area of a parallelogram with base b and height h is b · h, and the area of a triangle with base b and height h is b · h/2.

Notation and Terminology

Throughout this text, we use uppercase Latin letters to denote points and lowercase Latin letters to denote lines and rays. Given two points A and B, there is one and only one line through A and B. A ray is a half-line, and the notation

denotes the ray starting at A and passing through B. It consists of the points A and B, all points between A and B, and all points X on the line such that B is between A and X.

Given rays

and

, we denote by ∠BAC the angle formed by the two rays (the shaded region in the following figure). When no confusion can arise, we sometimes use ∠A instead of ∠BAC. We also use lowercase letters, either Greek or Latin, to denote angles.

When two rays form an angle other than 180°, there are actually two angles to talk about: the smaller angle (sometimes called the interior angle) and the larger an...