What are the best books to explore hyperbolic trigonometry?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for books that explore hyperbolic trigonometry, with participants considering the depth of knowledge required and the relevance of hyperbolic geometry. The scope includes theoretical insights, connections to complex analysis, and potential alternatives like spherical trigonometry.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks recommendations for books to further explore hyperbolic functions beyond their use in integration.
  • Another suggests "Van Brummelen - Introduction to Non-Euclidean Geometry" but expresses a personal disinterest in the subject.
  • A different participant questions whether the original poster (OP) is interested in hyperbolic geometry or just the hyperbolic functions like cosh and sinh.
  • Recommendations include "Brannan - Geometry" for its self-contained chapter on hyperbolic geometry.
  • "Visual Complex Analysis" by Needham is mentioned for its exploration of connections between traditional and hyperbolic trigonometric functions using complex numbers.
  • There is a discussion about the superficial similarities between the identities of hyperbolic and traditional trigonometric functions and their usefulness for integration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the OP's intent, with some believing the focus is on hyperbolic functions while others think it may extend to hyperbolic geometry. No consensus is reached regarding the best approach or resources for the OP's inquiry.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the OP's understanding of hyperbolic functions may depend on prior knowledge of related mathematical concepts, and there is uncertainty about the depth of exploration the OP desires.

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My calc. 2 book more or less only mentioned the hyperbolic functions to make integration easier, so, now that I have some free time, I'd like to explore the area further. Could someone recommend a good book on the subject or do I need to take more math first?

A quick google search revealed "Hyperbolic Functions: With Configuration Theorems and Equivalent and Equidecomposable Figures," which sounds about what I'm looking for, but I can't find a preview of the book.
 
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verty said:
This one would work: Van Brummelen - Introduction to Non-Euclidean Geometry. But I don't like this subject myself and wouldn't bother (I find it uninteresting, is all).

Why not learn spherical trig instead? Van Brummelen - Heavenly Matter, The Forgotten Art of Spherical Trigonometry.

Is that really what the OP wants? It was my impression he was only interested in learning a bit more about the cosh and sinh functions. I don't think it was his purpose to really do trigonometry on the hyperbolic plane. Nevertheless, if it was his purpose to learn this anyway, then I recommend Brannan: http://www.cambridge.org/be/academic/subjects/mathematics/geometry-and-topology/geometry-2nd-edition The chapter on hyperbolic geometry is mostly self-contained.

The book "Visual complex analysis" by Needhamhttp://[URL='https://www.amazon.com...omplex-Analysis-Tristan-Needham/dp/0198534469[/URL] gives the deep connections between the usual trig functions and the hyperbolic trig functions by using complex numbers.
 
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micromass said:
Is that really what the OP wants? It was my impression he was only interested in learning a bit more about the cosh and sinh functions. I don't think it was his purpose to really do trigonometry on the hyperbolic plane. Nevertheless, if it was his purpose to learn this anyway, then I recommend Brannan: http://www.cambridge.org/be/academic/subjects/mathematics/geometry-and-topology/geometry-2nd-edition The chapter on hyperbolic geometry is mostly self-contained.

When he said "the area", I thought he meant hyperbolic geometry. I thought it piqued his interest that there might be a hyperbolic geometry and he wanted to know more about that. Because when I first saw sinh and cosh, what sprang to mind is, wow, there must be hyperbolic triangles, I want to know more. I did warn him off it as well, pointing out that I didn't think it was worth looking into.

The book "Visual complex analysis" by Needhamhttp://[URL='https://www.amazon.com...omplex-Analysis-Tristan-Needham/dp/0198534469[/URL] gives the deep connections between the usual trig functions and the hyperbolic trig functions by using complex numbers.

Hmm, I thought the connection was the formula cosh^2 - sinh^2 = 1 which is superficially very similar to cos^2 + sin^2 = 1 (this is honestly hand on my heart what I concluded when I first researched them some years ago), and that they are therefore useful for integration for the same reasons that the trig functions are useful. And perhaps this connection is enough for him in this direction as well, if he doesn't want to learn a whole lot of extra stuff.
 
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