DIVOne of the most beautiful aspects of geometry. Information on general properties, derived curves, geometric and analytic properties of each curve. 89 illus. /div

"Of chief interest to mathematicians, but physicists and others will be fascinated ... and intrigued by the fruitful use of non-Cartesian methods. Students ... should find the book stimulating." — British Journal of Applied Physics This study of many important curves, their geometrical properties, and their applications features material not customarily treated in texts on synthetic or analytic Euclidean geometry. Its wide coverage, which includes both algebraic and transcendental curves, extends to unusual properties of familiar curves along with the nature of lesser known curves. Informative discussions of the line, circle, parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola presuppose only the most elementary facts. The less common curves — cissoid, strophoid, spirals, the leminscate, cycloid, epicycloid, cardioid, and many others — receive introductions that explain both their basic and advanced properties. Derived curves-the involute, evolute, pedal curve, envelope, and orthogonal trajectories-are also examined, with definitions of their important applications. These range through the fields of optics, electric circuit design, hydraulics, hydrodynamics, classical mechanics, electromagnetism, crystallography, gear design, road engineering, orbits of subatomic particles, and similar areas in physics and engineering. The author represents the points of the curves by complex numbers, rather than the real Cartesian coordinates, an approach that permits simple, direct, and elegant proofs.

Describes the drawing of plane curves, cycloidal curves, spirals, glissettes and others.

A thorough introduction to the theory of algebraic plane curves and their relations to various fields of geometry and analysis. Almost entirely confined to the properties of the general curve, and chiefly employs algebraic procedure. Geometric methods are much employed, however, especially those involving the projective geometry of hyperspace. 1931 edition. 17 illustrations.

Mechanisms for the Generation of Plane Curves focuses on the possibility of generating plane curves through kinematic linkages. The book first offers information on the basic theory of the generation of curves by mechanisms with higher pairs of the fourth class and fundamentals of the theory of the generation of curves using mechanisms with lower pairs of class V. Discussions focus on generation of curves by centrode and trajectory pairs; generation of curves with five-link and six-link kinematic chains; basic theorem for the mechanical generation of algebraic curves; and use of the properties of individual forms of transformation mechanisms. The text then examines mechanical generation of straight lines and circles and mechanical generation of ellipses, hyperbolas, and parabolas. The publication ponders on the mechanical generation of third degree curves and mechanical generation of curves of the fourth degree. Topics include mechanisms for generating curves of the focal type; mechanisms for generating special forms of curves; and mechanisms for the generation of the conchoids of the straight line and the circle. The text is a dependable reference for readers interested in the mechanisms involved in plane curves.

Comprehensive and self-contained exposition of singularities of plane curves, including new, previously unpublished results.

* Employs proven conception of teaching topics in commutative algebra through a focus on their applications to algebraic geometry, a significant departure from other works on plane algebraic curves in which the topological-analytic aspects are stressed *Requires only a basic knowledge of algebra, with all necessary algebraic facts collected into several appendices * Studies algebraic curves over an algebraically closed field K and those of prime characteristic, which can be applied to coding theory and cryptography * Covers filtered algebras, the associated graded rings and Rees rings to deduce basic facts about intersection theory of plane curves, applications of which are standard tools of computer algebra * Examples, exercises, figures and suggestions for further study round out this fairly self-contained textbook

This is an excellent introduction to algebraic geometry, which assumes only standard undergraduate mathematical topics: complex analysis, rings and fields, and topology. Reading this book will help establish the geometric intuition that lies behind the more advanced ideas and techniques used in the study of higher-dimensional varieties.

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