GOOD: This book is in good condition, showing only a few signs of use and wear (slight bends). The pages are free of writing.
Product Details
Polyhedra: "One of the most charming chapters of geometry." (from the title page)
"This is an unusual book, one hard to classify, but certainly valuable and a labor of love." — Notices of the American Mathematical Society (as quoted on the back cover)
Continued from the back cover: "This book comprehensively documents the many and varied ways that polyhedra have come to the fore throughout the development of mathematics. Peter Cromwell strikes a balance between covering the historical development of the theory surrounding polyhedra, and presenting a rigorous treatment of the mathematics involved. It is attractively illustrated with dozens of diagrams to cast light on ideas that might otherwise prove difficult to grasp. Historians of mathematics as well as those more interested in the mathematics itself, will find this unique book richly rewarding."
In the middle of the book there are color plates showing photographs of polyhedra in art, nature, and science. There is a generous supply of black-and-white illustrations throughout.
Chapters
Introduction
Indivisible, Inexpressible and Unavoidable
Rules and Regularity
Decline and Rebirth of Polyhedral Geometry
Fantasy, Harmony and Uniformity
Surfaces, Solids and Spheres
Equality, Rigidity and Flexibility
Stars, Stellations and Skeletons
Symmetry, Shape and Structure
Counting, Colouring and Computing
Combination, Transformation and Decoration
The book concludes with two appendices, "Sources of Quotations," "Bibliography," "Name Index," and "Subject Index."
