Lecture Description
This is probably the most important video in this series; it introduces Rational Trigonometry from first principles using a vector approach. The main notions of quadrance and spread replace distance and angle, and are introduced purely algebraically. The scalar/inner/dot product plays an important role, and allows us to introduce perpendicularity algebraically, and to introduce the spread between two vectors. The main laws are Pythagoras' theorem, the Triple quad formula, the Cross law, the Spread law and the Triple spread formula. The proofs of the main laws are given as Exercises, but I give some hints. Please spend time to write out solutions carefully!For more information on this purely algebraic approach to trigonometry and geometry at an elementary level, see my YouTube playlist WildTrig, and my book 'Divine Proportions: Rational Trigonometry to Universal Geometry'.
Course Index
- Introduction to Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
- Apollonius and Polarity
- Apollonius and Harmonic Conjugates
- Pappus' Theorem and the Cross Ratio
- First Steps in Hyperbolic Geometry
- The Circle and Cartesian Coordinates
- Duality, Quadrance and Spread in Cartesian Coordinates
- The Circle and Projective Homogeneous Coordinates
- The Circle and Projective Homogeneous Coordinates II
- Computations with Homogeneous Coordinates
- Duality and Perpendicularity
- Existence of Orthocenters
- Theorems using Perpendicularity
- Null Points and Null Lines
- Apollonius and Polarity Revisited
- Reflections in Hyperbolic Geometry
- Reflections and Projective Linear Algebra
- Midpoints and Bisectors
- Medians, Midlines, Centroids and Circumcenters
- Parallels and the Double Triangle
- The J function, sl(2) and the Jacobi identity
- Pure and Applied Geometry: understanding the continuum
- Quadrance and Spread
- Pythagoras' Theorem in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
- The Triple Quad Formula in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
- Visualizing Quadrance with Circles
- Geometer's Sketchpad and Circles in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
- Trigonometric Laws in Hyperbolic Geometry using Geometer's Sketchpad
- The Spread Law in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
- The Cross Law in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
- Thales' Theorem, Right Triangles and Napier's Rules
- Isosceles Triangles in Hyperbolic Geometry
- Menelaus, Ceva and the Laws of Proportion
- Trigonometric Dual Laws and the Parallax Formula
- Introduction to Spherical and Elliptic Geometries
- Introduction to Spherical and Elliptic Geometries II
- Areas and Volumes for a Sphere
- Classical Spherical Trigonometry
- Perpendicularity, Polarity and Duality on a Sphere
- Parametrizing and Projecting a Sphere
- Rational Trigonometry: An Overview
- Rational Trigonometry in Three Dimensions
Course Description
This is a complete and relatively elementary course explaining a new, simpler and more elegant theory of non-Euclidean geometry; in particular hyperbolic geometry. It is a purely algebraic approach which avoids transcendental functions like log, sin, tanh etc, relying instead on high school algebra and quadratic equations. The theory is more general, extending beyond the null circle, and connects naturally to Einstein's special theory of relativity. This course is meant for mathematics majors, bright high school students, high school teachers, engineers, scientists, and others with an interest in mathematics and some basic algebraic skills. NJ Wildberger is also the developer of Rational Trigonometry: a new and better way of learning and using trigonometry. Look up for his course in order to familiarize with this new development. He also has recorded very organized and detailed lecture series on Algebraic Topology, History of Mathematic, Linear Algebra, and more.