The Method of Coordinates (Dover Books on MaTHEMA 1.4tics) - Softcover

Burtt, E.A.; GELFAND, GELFAND

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0486425657 ISBN 13: 9780486425658

Publisher: Dover Publications Inc, 2003

Synopsis

Two-part treatment begins with discussions of coordinates of points on a line, coordinates of points in a plane, and coordinates of points in space. Part two examines geometry as an aid to calculation and peculiarities of four-dimensional space. Abundance of ingenious problems ― includes solutions, answers, and hints. 1967 edition.

About this title

Review

"All through both volumes [‘Functions & Graphs’ and ‘The Methods of Coordinates’], one finds a careful description of the step-by-step thinking process that leads up to the correct definition of a concept or to an argument that clinches in the proof of a theorem. We are ... very fortunate that an account of this caliber has finally made it to printed pages... Anyone who has taken this guided tour will never be intimidated ever again... High school students (or teachers) reading through these two books would learn an enormous amount of good mathematics. More importantly, they would also get a glimpse of how mathematics is done."

--- H. Wu, The Mathematical Intelligencer

"This book is a concise and compact treatment of the essential ideas of coordinate geometry.  The authors demonstrate powerfully how geomtric ides may be communicated and studied effectively without the aid of pictures.  Graphics are of course of vital importance int he methods of Euclidean geometry. However, the methods of coordinate geometry are able to transform pure geometric ideas into algebraic manipulations where the meaning is very clear once the formalism is learnt. In particular the book demonstrates the value of conveying information in the form of images embedded in formulas.  This is very useful in the transmission of information by electronic means. . . This book is a valuable tool for teaching the redimentary concepts of analytical geometry.  It contains a number of excellent examples and exercises which go further than a mere introductory programme.  the exercises, while not numerous, are very thought-provoking and are bound to pose a serious challenge to the interested student."

---The Mathematical Gazette

Synopsis

This introductory text explores the translation of geometric concepts into the language of numbers in order to define the position of a point in space (the orbit of a satellite, for example). The two-part treatment begins with discussions of the coordinates of points on a line, coordinates of point

About this edition

• Publisher: Dover Publications Inc
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0486425657
• ISBN 13: 9780486425658
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 80