Description
Book SynopsisThis is an account of the history of the development of Euclidean, non-Euclidean and relativistic ideas of the shape of the universe. The material, which has been revised and updated for this edition, includes a chapter on the Arabic contribution to mathematical history.
Trade ReviewReviews of this edition 'a very readable book that is stimulating and thought provoking.' New Scientist
From reviews of the first edition `Jeremy Gray has provided a superb exposition which tells a good story.' Mathematics Teaching
'This promises to become a classic text for those interested in considering changing mathematical perceptions of space. Gray's book is a pleasure to read.' Historia Mathematica
`An admirable exposition for well-educated laymen of the evolution of geometrical thought from before Euclid to black holes.' American Mathematical Monthly
Table of ContentsPART I: Early geometry; Euclidean geometry and the parallel postulate; Investigations by Islamic mathematicians. PART II: Saccheri and his Western Predecessors; J H Lambert's work; Legendre's work; Gauss' contribution; Trigonometry; the first new geometries; the discoveries of Lobachevskii and Bolyai; Curves and surfaces; Riemann on the foundations of geometry; Beltrami's ideas; New models and old arguments; Resume. PART III: Non-Euclidean mechanics; The question of absolute space; Space, time and space-time; Paradoxes of special relativity; Gravitation and non-Euclidean geometry; Speculations; Some last thoughts.
