Heavenly Mathematics: The Forgotten Art of Spherical Trigonometry

Description

Heavenly Mathematics traces the rich history of spherical trigonometry, revealing how the cultures of classical Greece, medieval Islam, and the modern West used this forgotten art to chart the heavens and the Earth. Once at the heart of astronomy and ocean-going navigation for two millennia, the discipline was also a mainstay of mathematics education for centuries and taught widely until the 1950s. Glen Van Brummelen explores this exquisite branch of mathematics and its role in ancient astronomy, geography, and cartography; Islamic religious rituals; celestial navigation; polyhedra; stereographic projection; and more. He conveys the sheer beauty of spherical trigonometry, providing readers with a new appreciation of its elegant proofs and often surprising conclusions. Heavenly Mathematics is illustrated throughout with stunning historical images and informative drawings and diagrams. This unique compendium also features easy-to-use appendixes as well as exercises that originally appeared in textbooks from the eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries.

Glen Van Brummelen is coordinator of mathematics and the physical sciences at Quest University Canada and president of the Canadian Society for History and Philosophy of Mathematics. His books include "The Mathematics of the Heavens and the Earth: The Early History of Trigonometry" (Princeton) and "Mathematics and the Historian's Craft".

"The present book is very well written; it leaves a clear impression that the author intended to endear--not merely present and teach--spherical trigonometry to the reader. Although not a history book, there are separate chapters shedding light on the approaches to the subject in the ancient, medieval, and modern times. There are also chapters on spherical geometry, polyhedra, stereographic projection and the art of navigation. The book is thoroughly illustrated and is a pleasant read. Chapters end with exercises; the appendices contain a long list of available and not so available textbooks and recommendations for further reading organized by individual chapters. The book made a valuable addition to my library. I freely recommend it to math teachers and curious high schoolers."--Alexander Bogomolny, CTK Insights "A no-nonsense introduction to spherical trigonometry."--Book News, Inc. "A beautiful popular book."--ThatsMaths.com "Full of academic, textbook content, the book is a delight to math students. So if you are game for a journey into the world of spherical trigonometry, pick up the book. Van Brummelen gives exercises at the end of the chapters that can be fun."--R. Balashankar, Organiser "Heavenly Mathematics is a truly enjoyable description of the somewhat forgotten science of spherical trigonometry... Van Brummelen's book invites readers to consider trigonometry in more than two dimensions, making it a useful supplement to a college geometry or trigonometry class."--Choice "Heavenly Mathematics proves the value of bringing a fascinating piece of mathematical history within the grasp of the general reader."--Florin Diacu, Literary Review of Canada "Glen van Brummelen has written a wonderful introduction to the forgotten subject of spherical trigonometry that draws on the history of the subject to illuminate the mathematics itself and at the same time gives readers a real sense of what research in the history of early mathematics is all about. He has succeeded in writing a book that is not intended for historians of science, but which historians of science will find little to complain about and indeed will surely enjoy reading. The book itself is handsomely produced with dozens of attractive illustrations and sold at an affordable price. If spherical trigonometry is ever to become a widely known subject again, this book will surely have played a major role in rescuing it from obscurity."--John M. Steele, Metascience