Thales' Theorem, Right Triangles and Napier's Rules 
Thales' Theorem, Right Triangles and Napier's Rules
by UNSW / N.J. Wildberger
Video Lecture 31 of 42
Not yet rated
Views: 1,555
Date Added: January 20, 2015

Lecture Description

This video establishes important results for right triangles in universal hyperbolic geometry--these are triangles where at least two sides are perpendicular. Besides Pythagoras' theorem, there is a simple result called Thales' theorem, giving a formula for a spread as a ratio of two quadrances. Together these allow us to state a very simple form for Napier's rules in this algebraic setting. CONTENT SUMMARY: pg 1: @00:11 Review of the 4 main laws of trigonometry; pg 2: @02:55 right triangles described; singly right, doubly right, triply right pg 3: @06:16 Thales theorem; A kind of 'similarity' for right triangles @09:05 ; In classical hyperbolic geometry this result is obscured @11:48 pg 4: @12:36 Thales theorem relationship to Euclidean RT; the spread as a crucial ratio @15:30 pg 5: @17:41 Quadrea as the single most important number associated to a triangle; reminder on how to obtain an altitude @18:41 ; Quadrea are @22:11 pg 6: @22:42 Napier's rules; suggested exercise @24:38 pg 7: @26:10 proof of Napier's rules; pg 8: @30:02 proof continued; suggested algebra exercise @35:46 pg 9: @36:49 When in doubt create some right triangles; exercise 29.1 @37:37; pg 10: @39:35 exercise 29.2 pg 11: @40:53 exercise 29.3,4 (THANKS to EmptySpaceEnterprise)

Course Index

  1. Introduction to Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
  2. Apollonius and Polarity
  3. Apollonius and Harmonic Conjugates
  4. Pappus' Theorem and the Cross Ratio
  5. First Steps in Hyperbolic Geometry
  6. The Circle and Cartesian Coordinates
  7. Duality, Quadrance and Spread in Cartesian Coordinates
  8. The Circle and Projective Homogeneous Coordinates
  9. The Circle and Projective Homogeneous Coordinates II
  10. Computations with Homogeneous Coordinates
  11. Duality and Perpendicularity
  12. Existence of Orthocenters
  13. Theorems using Perpendicularity
  14. Null Points and Null Lines
  15. Apollonius and Polarity Revisited
  16. Reflections in Hyperbolic Geometry
  17. Reflections and Projective Linear Algebra
  18. Midpoints and Bisectors
  19. Medians, Midlines, Centroids and Circumcenters
  20. Parallels and the Double Triangle
  21. The J function, sl(2) and the Jacobi identity
  22. Pure and Applied Geometry: understanding the continuum
  23. Quadrance and Spread
  24. Pythagoras' Theorem in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
  25. The Triple Quad Formula in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
  26. Visualizing Quadrance with Circles
  27. Geometer's Sketchpad and Circles in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
  28. Trigonometric Laws in Hyperbolic Geometry using Geometer's Sketchpad
  29. The Spread Law in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
  30. The Cross Law in Universal Hyperbolic Geometry
  31. Thales' Theorem, Right Triangles and Napier's Rules
  32. Isosceles Triangles in Hyperbolic Geometry
  33. Menelaus, Ceva and the Laws of Proportion
  34. Trigonometric Dual Laws and the Parallax Formula
  35. Introduction to Spherical and Elliptic Geometries
  36. Introduction to Spherical and Elliptic Geometries II
  37. Areas and Volumes for a Sphere
  38. Classical Spherical Trigonometry
  39. Perpendicularity, Polarity and Duality on a Sphere
  40. Parametrizing and Projecting a Sphere
  41. Rational Trigonometry: An Overview
  42. 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.

Comments

There are no comments. Be the first to post one.
  Post comment as a guest user.
Click to login or register:
Your name:
Your email:
(will not appear)
Your comment:
(max. 1000 characters)
Are you human? (Sorry)