"Spherical trigonometry was at the heart of astronomy and ocean-going navigation for two millennia. The discipline was a mainstay of mathematics education for centuries, and it was a standard subject in high schools until the 1950s. Today, however, it is rarely taught. Heavenly Mathematics traces the rich history of this forgotten art, revealing how the cultures of classical Greece, medieval Islam, and the modern West used spherical trigonometry to chart the heavens and the Earth."--Jacket.

This classic text encompasses the most important aspects of plane and spherical trigonometry in a question-and-answer format. Its 913 specially selected questions appear with detailed answers that help readers refresh their trigonometry skills or clear up difficulties in particular areas. Questions and answers in the first part discuss plane trigonometry, proceeding to examinations of special problems in navigation, surveying, elasticity, architecture, and various fields of engineering. The final section explores spherical trigonometry and the solution of spherical triangles, with applications to terrestrial and astronomical problems. Readers can test their progress with 1,738 problems, many of which feature solutions. 1946 edition. 494 figures.