"Trigonometry", a work in the collection of the "Gelfand School Outreach Program", is the result of the successful collaboration between two experienced pre-college teachers, one of whom, I.M. Gelfand, is considered the most distinguished living mathematician. Gelfand's impact on generations of young people, some now mathematicians of renown, continues to be remarkable.
All basic topics in Trigonometry are covered with an emphasis on beautiful illustrations and examples that treat elementary trigonometry as an outgrowth of geometry, but stimulate the reader to think of all of mathematics as a unified subject. The definitions of the trigonometric functions are geometrically motivated. Geometric relationships are rewritten in trigonometric form and extended. The text then makes a transition to a study of the algebraic and analytic properties of trigonometric functions, in a way that provides a solid foundation for more advanced mathematical discussions.
Like other I.M. Gel'fand treasures in the program, Algebra, Functions and Graphs, and The Method of Coordinates, Trigonometry is written in an engaging style, and approaches the material in a unique fashion that will motivate students and teachers alike.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Huge Disappointment!!:
I usually buy books that have good feedback because it has served me well in the past, but unfortunately this isn't the case with this book. The author couldn't have picked a more perplexing way to explain this subject. Yes it's filled with problems, but what good are the problems if you don't have the correct answer nor do you have an explanation on how to solve them. Don't let the wonderful reviews fool you. If you still think it's worth a try, then I advise for you to look at a copy before buying.
Trig-Gelfand:
Books
This is a very good Trig book. However, there was no offer of an answer book. I will teach a course using this book. Can you give me a site where I can get an answer book? With the answer book I could give 5 stars.
Trigonometry is all about triangles!:
So I bought this book for some Trig class I signed up for at the last minute. I didn't know what to expect. I skimmed through the book and saw triangles everywhere. I figured that a few triangles should not be so difficult to figure out- the measurements and all. It's a skimpy little book, but there sure is a lot of info crammed in there. I studied hard. I had dreams of triangles floating around, suspended in the air. I could not get triangles off my brain. Day and night- triangles and more triangles. I... more info
Pedestrian perspective on a universal vision:
Don't waste your time. It's books of this sort that bring disinterest and sleep to the eyes of teenaged minds. To think that the work of Euclid (now freely available on Google Books) has degenerated to this third-hand rendition of the foundation of natural existence is awe-inspiring. Like all other books in this class, the discussion never connects the reader to the idea that the symbolization of the relationships of the orientations of the boundaries of certain forms are universal and utterly fundamental.... more info
