Episodes in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Euclidean Geometry (Anneli Lax New Mathematical Library) [Paperback]

Ross Honsberger (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0883856395 | ISBN-13: 978-0883856390 | Publication Date: September 5, 1996

Professor Honsberger has succeeded in 'finding' and 'extricating' unexpected and little known properties of such fundamental figures as triangles, results that deserve to be better known. He has laid the foundations for his proofs with almost entirely synthetic methods easily accessible to students of Euclidean geometry early on. While in most of his other books Honsberger presents each of his gems, morsels, and plums, as self contained tidbits, in this volume he connects chapters with some deductive treads. He includes exercises and gives their solutions at the end of the book. In addition to appealing to lovers of synthetic geometry, this book will stimulate also those who, in this era of revitalizing geometry, will want to try their hands at deriving the results by analytic methods. Many of the incidence properties call to mind the duality principle; other results tempt the reader to prove them by vector methods, or by projective transformations, or complex numbers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: The Mathematical Association of America (September 5, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883856395
• ISBN-13: 978-0883856390
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,327,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great geometry book for Olympiad training!, July 13, 1999

By 

Bobby Poon ([e-mail]) (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Episodes in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Euclidean Geometry (Anneli Lax New Mathematical Library) (Paperback)

Ross Honsberger presents the articles of modern euclidean geometric properties in a way that is easy to follow and understand. The method of proofs and development of ideas illustrate different solving strategies which is valuable for self-studying young students. With the help of simple diagrams, I found no difficulties in understanding the articles. Problems are well-graded with solutions are well-presented at the back. A MUST-READ book for students participating maths contest!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A honeypot of sweet problems in geometry, February 22, 2000

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Episodes in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Euclidean Geometry (Anneli Lax New Mathematical Library) (Paperback)

Geometry is such a sweet science and this book is a honeypot. Ross Honsberger is one of the best in creating crafty, delightful problems. In reading this book, you will be amazed at how hard the problems appear when stated and how simple and elegant the proofs are.
Some topics are relatively obscure. I am sure that Honsberger is quite correct in stating that few modern mathematicians have heard of the symmedian point of a triangle. I certainly had not. However, the level of the material is such that even teachers of high school geometry will be able to find some suitable exercises. College instructors will find it essential. Problems are given at the end of each chapter and detailed solutions are included in an appendix.
It is hard to read this book and not understand why the Greeks were so captivated by geometry. Properly presented, as is done here, it is addictive.

Published in Smarandache Notions Journal, reprinted with permission.