Which Books Are Best for Learning Spherical Trigonometry?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on recommendations for books that cover spherical trigonometry, ranging from basic to advanced levels. Participants share their experiences with various texts and provide insights into the availability of resources.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests 'Spherical Trigonometry: "For the Use of Colleges and Schools"' by I. Todhunter as a notable resource, emphasizing its availability in the public domain.
  • Another participant mentions W.M. Smart's "Textbook on Spherical Astronomy," which includes a chapter on spherical trigonometry, suggesting it for those interested in the subject within an astronomical context.
  • A third participant recommends "Heavenly Mathematics: The Forgotten Art of Spherical Trigonometry" by Glen Van Brummelen, describing it as a blend of historical narrative and mathematical instruction.
  • A brief mention of A. A. Klaf's work published by Dover is also included, although no details are provided.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple book recommendations without clear consensus on a single best resource. The discussion remains open with various viewpoints on the suitability of different texts.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the bibliography on spherical trigonometry is mostly old, which may limit the availability of contemporary resources.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in learning spherical trigonometry, particularly those looking for historical perspectives or applications in astronomy, may find this discussion valuable.

Wrichik Basu
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What are some good books to learn spherical trigonometry from basics to the advanced level?
 
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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.
 
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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.

Gutenberg project has TeXed up version of I.Todhunter's book http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1977...n_id=dac72e51d0dc3808c216536dba2bbb5626215aa7.
 
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I've read Heavenly Mathematics: The Forgotten Art of Spherical Trigonometry by Glen Van Brummelen. I found it to be good. It's a blend of history text and mathematics instruction.
 
Thanks everyone for the recommendations. I'll surely check then out.
 
A. A. Klaf, Dover.
 

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