Heavenly mathematics the forgotten art of spherical trigonometry

• Main Author: Van Brummelen, Glen
• Format: eBook Book
• Language: English
• Published: Princeton Princeton University Press 2012
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Addition; Analogy; Antipodal point; Approximation; Armillary sphere; Astronomer; Astronomical unit; Astronomy; Azimuth; Calculation; Calendar year; Celestial equator; Celestial navigation; Celestial sphere; Circle of latitude; Clockwise; Declination; Diagram; Diagram (category theory); Diameter; Earth; Equation; Equatorial coordinate system; Euclid's Elements; Euler's formula; Geographic coordinate system; Geometry; Great circle; History & Philosophy; Hypotenuse; Inference; Inverse trigonometric functions; Iteration; Line segment; Logarithm; Longitude; Lunar distance (astronomy); MATHEMATICS; MATHEMATICS / Geometry / General; MATHEMATICS / History & Philosophy; MATHEMATICS / Trigonometry; Mean anomaly; Measurement; Menelaus' theorem; Navigation; Non-Euclidean geometry; PBM; PBMB; PBX; Planetarium software; Polyhedron; Position of the Sun; Pythagorean theorem; Quantity; Rectangle; Regular polyhedron; Result; Right angle; Right ascension; Right triangle; SCIENCE; SCIENCE / Astronomy; Scientist; Semicircle; Significant figures; Spherical astronomy; Spherical trigonometry; Stellarium; Stereographic projection; Subtraction; Summation; Tetrahedron; Textbook; Theorem; TRANSPORTATION; TRANSPORTATION / Navigation; Transportation Studies; Trigonometric functions; Trigonometric tables; Trigonometry; TRLN; True anomaly; Writing; Year; Mean anomaly; Position of the Sun; Rectangle; True anomaly; Equatorial coordinate system; Significant figures; Result; Calendar year; Antipodal point; Euler's formula; Calculation; Trigonometry; Addition; Great circle; Circle of latitude; Approximation; Astronomer; Scientist; Pythagorean theorem; Inference; Longitude; Regular polyhedron; Non-Euclidean geometry; Hypotenuse; Textbook; Declination; Summation; Celestial navigation; Measurement; Armillary sphere; Astronomical unit; Line segment; Right ascension; Diagram (category theory); Euclid's Elements; Mathematics; Iteration; Stellarium; Earth; Lunar distance (astronomy); Trigonometric tables; Azimuth; Clockwise; Semicircle; Spherical trigonometry; Logarithm; Theorem; Analogy; Trigonometric functions; Diameter; Inverse trigonometric functions; Tetrahedron; Planetarium software; Menelaus' theorem; Quantity; Right triangle; Equation; Celestial equator; Celestial sphere; Diagram; Geometry; Polyhedron; Subtraction; Right angle; Year; Geographic coordinate system; Spherical astronomy; Writing; Stereographic projection; Astronomy
• ISBN: 0691148929; 9780691175997; 0691175993; 9780691148922; 1400844800; 9781400844807
• DOI: 10.1515/9781400844807

Spherical trigonometry was at the heart of astronomy and ocean-going navigation for two millennia. The discipline was a mainstay of mathematics education for centuries, and it was a standard subject in high schools until the 1950s. Today, however, it is rarely taught.Heavenly Mathematicstraces the rich history of this forgotten art, revealing how the cultures of classical Greece, medieval Islam, and the modern West used spherical trigonometry to chart the heavens and the Earth. 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 for its elegant proofs and often surprising conclusions. Heavenly Mathematicsis illustrated throughout with stunning historical images and informative drawings and diagrams that have been used to teach the subject in the past. This unique compendium also features easy-to-use appendixes as well as exercises at the end of each chapter that originally appeared in textbooks from the eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries.