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What are some good books to learn spherical trigonometry from basics to the advanced level?
QuantumQuest said:As far as I know, the bibliography on this subject is mostly old. One good book is 'Spherical Trigonometry: "For the Use of Colleges and Schools" ' by I.Todhunter. There is also this one that has entered the public domain as its copyright has expired so it is available by Google.
As an aside, one good book that I've read that is about Spherical Astronomy - including one chapter of Spherical Trigonometry, is W.M.Smart's "Textbook on Spherical Astronomy" in case you're interested for spherical trigonometry in the context of Astronomy.
Spherical trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that deals with the study of triangles and their properties on the surface of a sphere. It is used in navigation, astronomy, and geodesy.
Spherical trigonometry is used in a variety of fields, including navigation for ships and airplanes, surveying and mapping of the Earth's surface, and astronomical calculations for celestial bodies.
Unlike planar trigonometry, which deals with triangles on a flat surface, spherical trigonometry takes into account the curvature of the Earth's surface. This means that the rules and formulas for calculating angles and sides of triangles are different in spherical trigonometry.
Some key concepts in spherical trigonometry include the law of cosines, the law of sines, and the spherical triangle identities. These concepts are used to solve problems involving triangles on the surface of a sphere.
Yes, some recommended books on spherical trigonometry include "Spherical Trigonometry for the Use of Colleges and Schools" by I.N. Vilenkin and A.P. Kiselev, and "Spherical Trigonometry: For the Use of Schools and Colleges" by I. Todhunter. These books provide a comprehensive introduction to the subject with examples and exercises for practice.