An Elementary Course in Synthetic Projective GeometryLehmer, Derrick Norman
Science
An Elementary Course in Synthetic Projective Geometry
Lehmer, Derrick Norman
Geometry, Projective
*186. Recent developments.* It would be only confusing to the student to
attempt to trace here the later developments of the science of protective
geometry. It is concerned for the most part with curves and surfaces of a
higher degree than the second. Purely synthetic methods have been used
with marked success in the study of the straight line in space. The
struggle between analysis and pure geometry has long since come to an end.
Each has its distinct advantages, and the mathematician who cultivates one
at the expense of the other will never attain the results that he would
attain if both methods were equally ready to his hand. Pure geometry has
to its credit some of the finest discoveries in mathematics, and need not
apologize for having been born. The day of its usefulness has not passed
with the invention of abridged notation and of short methods in analysis.
While we may be certain that any geometrical problem may always be stated
in analytic form, it does not follow that that statement will be simple or
easily interpreted. For many mathematicians the geometric intuitions are
weak, and for such the method will have little attraction. On the other
hand, there will always be those for whom the subject will have a peculiar
glamor—who will follow with delight the curious and unexpected relations
between the forms of space. There is a corresponding pleasure, doubtless,
for the analyst in tracing the marvelous connections between the various
fields in which he wanders, and it is as absurd to shut one’s eyes to the
beauties in one as it is to ignore those in the other. "Let us cultivate
geometry, then," says Darboux,(23) "without wishing in all points to equal
it to its rival. Besides, if we were tempted to neglect it, it would not
be long in finding in the applications of mathematics, as once it has
already done, the means of renewing its life and of developing itself
anew. It is like the Giant Antaeus, who renewed, his strength by touching
the earth."
INDEX
(The numbers refer to the paragraphs)
Abel (1802-1829), 179
Analogy, 24
Analytic geometry, 21, 118, 119, 120, 146, 176, 180
Anharmonic ratio, 46, 161, 184, 185
Apollonius (second half of third century B.C.), 70
Archimedes (287-212 B.C.), 176
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), 169
Asymptotes, 111, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 148
Axes of a conic, 148
Axial pencil, 7, 8, 23, 50, 54
Axis of perspectivity, 8, 47
Bacon (1561-1626), 162
Bisection, 41, 109
Brianchon (1785-1864), 84, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 95, 105, 113, 174, 184
Calculus, 176
Carnot (1796-1832), 179
Cauchy (1789-1857), 179, 181
Cavalieri (1598-1647), 162
Center of a conic, 107, 112, 148
Center of involution, 141, 142
Center of perspectivity, 8
Central conic, 120
Chasles (1793-1880), 168, 179, 180, 184
Circle, 21, 73, 80, 145, 146, 147
Circular involution, 147, 149, 150, 151
Circular points, 146
Class of a curve, 183
Classification of conics, 110
Collineation, 175
Concentric pencils, 50
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