This book is a text for junior, senior, or first-year graduate courses traditionally titled Foundations of Geometry and/or Non Euclidean Geometry. The first 29 chapters are for a semester or year course on the foundations of geometry. The remaining chap ters may then be used for either a regular course or independent study courses. Another possibility, which is also especially suited for in-service teachers of high school geometry, is to survey the the fundamentals of absolute geometry (Chapters 1 -20) very quickly and begin earnest study with the theory of parallels and isometries (Chapters 21 -30). The text is self-contained, except that the elementary calculus is assumed for some parts of the material on advanced hyperbolic geometry (Chapters 31 -34). There are over 650 exercises, 30 of which are 10-part true-or-false questions. A rigorous ruler-and-protractor axiomatic development of the Euclidean and hyperbolic planes, including the classification of the isometries of these planes, is balanced by the discussion about this development. Models, such as Taxicab Geometry, are used exten sively to illustrate theory. Historical aspects and alternatives to the selected axioms are prominent. The classical axiom systems of Euclid and Hilbert are discussed, as are axiom systems for three and four-dimensional absolute geometry and Pieri's system based on rigid motions. The text is divided into three parts. The Introduction (Chapters 1 -4) is to be read as quickly as possible and then used for ref erence if necessary.

This early work by David Hilbert was originally published in the early 20th century and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. David Hilbert was born on the 23rd January 1862, in a Province of Prussia. Hilbert is recognised as one of the most influential and universal mathematicians of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He discovered and developed a broad range of fundamental ideas in many areas, including invariant theory and the axiomatization of geometry. He also formulated the theory of Hilbert spaces, one of the foundations of functional analysis.

The book grew from my lecture notes. It is designed for a semester-long course in Foundations of Geometry and meant to be rigorous, conservative, elementary and minimalistic.

Explains geometric theories and shows many examples.

Ideal for users who may have little previous experience with abstraction and proof, this book provides a rigorous and unified--yet straightforward and accessible --exposition of the foundations of Euclidean, hyperbolic, and spherical geometry. Unique in approach, it combines an extended theme--the study of a generalized absolute plane from axioms through classification into the three fundamental classical planes--with a leisurely development that allows ample time for mathematical growth. It is purposefully structured to facilitate the development of analytic and reasoning skills and to promote an awareness of the depth, power, and subtlety of the axiomatic method in general, and of Euclidean and non-Euclidean plane geometry in particular. Focus on one main topic--The axiomatic development of the absolute plane--which is pursued through a classification into Euclidean, hyperbolic, and spherical planes. Presents specific models such as the sphere, the Klein-Betrami hyperbolic model, and the "gap" plane. Gradually presents axioms for absolute plane geometry.

This book gives a rigorous treatment of the fundamentals of plane geometry: Euclidean, spherical, elliptical and hyperbolic.