Transformation Geometry

Transformation geometry is a relatively recent expression of the successful venture of bringing together geometry and algebra. The name describes an approach as much as the content. Our subject is Euclidean geometry. Essential to the study of the plane or any mathematical system is an under standing of the transformations on that system that preserve designated features of the system. Our study of the automorphisms of the plane and of space is based on only the most elementary high-school geometry. In particular, group theory is not a prerequisite here. On the contrary, this modern approach to Euclidean geometry gives the concrete examples that are necessary to appreciate an introduction to group theory. Therefore, a course based on this text is an excellent prerequisite to the standard course in abstract algebra taken by every undergraduate mathematics major. An advantage of having nb college mathematics prerequisite to our study is that the text is then useful for graduate mathematics courses designed for secondary teachers. Many of the students in these classes either have never taken linear algebra or else have taken it too long ago to recall even the basic ideas. It turns out that very little is lost here by not assuming linear algebra. A preliminary version of the text was written for and used in two courses-one was a graduate course for teachers and the other a sophomore course designed for the prospective teacher and the general mathematics major taking one course in geometry.

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Autorentext

From the reviews: "Much of Martin's charming and accessible text could be used with bright school students. ... The book is rounded off by a section called 'The back of the book' which includes solutions and discussion of many exercises. George E. Martin is a remarkable writer who brings combinatorics alive. He has written a splendid introduction that requires very few prerequisites, yet soon delivers the reader into some highly effective methods of counting. The book is highly recommended." (S. C. Russen, The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 88 (551), 2004) "This truly is an undergraduate mathematics text; parts of it could be the text for a high school combinatorics course. The author has made a successful effort to illuminate and teach the elementary parts of combinatorics. He uses examples and problems to teach; there are 245 problems in Chapter 1! ... If I were not retired and had been asked to teach an undergraduate course in combinatorics, I would have liked to use this book." (W. Moser, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2002 g) "This book is a nice textbook on enumerative combinatorics to undergraduates. It introduces the most important ideas ... . A lot of 'easy' applications are given and homework is listed (with hints). The book also touches some elementary graph enumeration problems. The text is clear and easy to follow. It is even suitable to learn it alone, which is also aided by nice exam problems." (Péter L. Erdös, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 968, 2001) "The teaching of topics in discrete mathematics is becoming increasingly popular and this text contains chapters on a number of pertinent areas for exposure at an elementary level. ... The author uses non-worked discovery-type examples to lead into observations about the material. ... There are many interesting exercises for the student to attempt. These are spread throughout the various chapters and are effective in developing interest in the topics. The book contains a'Back of the Book' section rather than an Answers section." (M. J. Williams, The Australian Mathematical Society Gazette, Vol. 29 (1), 2002)

Inhalt
1 Introduction.- 1.1 Transformations and Collineations.- 1.2 Geometric Notation.- 1.3 Exercises.- 2 Properties of Transformations.- 2.1 Groups of Transformations.- 2.2 Involutions.- 2.3 Exercises.- 3 Translations and Halfturns.- 3.1 Translations.- 3.2 Halfturns.- 3.3 Exercises.- 4 Reflections.- 4.1 Equations for a Reflection.- 4.2 Properties of a Reflection.- 4.3 Exercises.- 5 Congruence.- 5.1 Isometries as Products of Reflections.- 5.2 Paper Folding Experiments and Rotations.- 5.3 Exercises.- 6 The Product of Two Reflections.- 6.1 Translations and Rotations.- 6.2 Fixed Points and Involutions.- 6.3 Exercises.- 7 Even Isometries.- 7.1 Parity.- 7.2 The Dihedral Groups.- 7.3 Exercises.- 8 Classification of Plane Isometries.- 8.1 Glide Reflections.- 8.2 Leonardo's Theorem.- 8.3 Exercises.- 9 Equations for Isometries.- 9.1 Equations.- 9.2 Supplementary Exercises (Chapter 18).- 9.3 Exercises.- 10 The Seven Frieze Groups.- 10.1 Frieze Groups.- 10.2 Frieze Patterns.- 10.3 Exercises.- 11 The Seventeen Wallpaper Groups.- 11.1 The Crystallographic Restriction.- 11.2 Wallpaper Groups and Patterns.- 11.3 Exercises.- 12 Tessellations.- 12.1 Tiles.- 12.2 Reptiles.- 12.3 Exercises.- 13 Similarities on the Plane.- 13.1 Classification of Similarities.- 13.2 Equations for Similarities.- 13.3 Exercises.- 14 Classical Theorems.- 14.1 Menelaus, Ceva, Desargues, Pappus, Pascal.- 14.2 Euler, Brianchon, Poncelet, Feuerbach.- 14.3 Exercises.- 15 Affine Transformations.- 15.1 Collineations.- 15.2 Linear Transformations.- 15.3 Exercises.- 16 Transformations on Three-space.- 16.1 Isometries on Space.- 16.2 Similarities on Space.- 16.3 Exercises.- 17 Space and Symmetry.- 17.1 The Platonic Solids.- 17.2 Finite Symmetry Groups on Space.- 17.3 Exercises.- Hints and Answers.- Notation Index.