Publisher Description

Leonhard Euler's polyhedron formula describes the structure of many objects--from soccer balls and gemstones to Buckminster Fuller's buildings and giant all-carbon molecules. Yet Euler's formula is so simple it can be explained to a child. Euler's Gem tells the illuminating story of this indispensable mathematical idea. From ancient Greek geometry to today's cutting-edge research, Euler's Gem celebrates the discovery of Euler's beloved polyhedron formula and its far-reaching impact on topology, the study of shapes. In 1750, Euler observed that any polyhedron composed of V vertices, E edges, and F faces satisfies the equation V-E+F=2. David Richeson tells how the Greeks missed the formula entirely; how Descartes almost discovered it but fell short; how nineteenth-century mathematicians widened the formula's scope in ways that Euler never envisioned by adapting it for use with doughnut shapes, smooth surfaces, and higher dimensional shapes; and how twentieth-century mathematicians discovered that every shape has its own Euler's formula.
Using wonderful examples and numerous illustrations, Richeson presents the formula's many elegant and unexpected applications, such as showing why there is always some windless spot on earth, how to measure the acreage of a tree farm by counting trees, and how many crayons are needed to color any map. Filled with a who's who of brilliant mathematicians who questioned, refined, and contributed to a remarkable theorem's development, Euler's Gem will fascinate every mathematics enthusiast.

Notes

Celebrates the discovery of the polyhedron formula and traces its far-reaching impact on topology.

Back Cover

" Euler's Gem is a thoroughly satisfying meditation on one of mathematics' loveliest formulas. The author begins with Euler's act of seeing what no one previously had, and returns repeatedly to the resulting formula with ever more careful emendations and ever-widening points of view. This highly nuanced narrative sweeps the reader into the cascade of interlocking ideas which undergird modern topology and lend it its power and beauty." --Donal O'Shea, author of The Poincar Conjecture: In Search of the Shape of the Universe "Beginning with Euler's famous polyhedron formula, continuing to modern concepts of 'rubber geometry,' and advancing all the way to the proof of Poincar's Conjecture, Richeson's well-written and well-illustrated book is a gentle tour de force of topology." --George G. Szpiro, author of Poincar's Prize: The Hundred-Year Quest to Solve One of Math's Greatest Puzzles "A fascinating and accessible excursion through two thousand years of mathematics. From Plato's Academy, via the bridges of Knigsberg, to the world of knots, soccer balls, and geodesic domes, the author's enthusiasm shines through. This attractive introduction to the origins of topology deserves to be widely read." --Robin Wilson, author of Four Colors Suffice: How the Map Problem Was Solved "Appealing and accessible to a general audience, this well-organized, well-supported, and well-written book contains vast amounts of information not found elsewhere. Euler's Gem is a significant and timely contribution to the field." --Edward Sandifer, Western Connecticut State University " Euler's Gem is a very good book. It succeeds in explaining complicated concepts in engaging layman's terms. Richeson is keenly aware of where the difficult twists and turns are located, and he covers them to satisfaction. This book is engaging and a joy to read." --Alejandro Lpez-Ortiz, University of Waterloo

Flap

" Eulers Gem is a thoroughly satisfying meditation on one of mathematics loveliest formulas. The author begins with Eulers act of seeing what no one previously had, and returns repeatedly to the resulting formula with ever more careful emendations and ever-widening points of view. This highly nuanced narrative sweeps the reader into the cascade of interlocking ideas which undergird modern topology and lend it its power and beauty."-- Donal OShea, author of The Poincar Conjecture: In Search of the Shape of the Universe "Beginning with Eulers famous polyhedron formula, continuing to modern concepts of 'rubber geometry,' and advancing all the way to the proof of Poincars Conjecture, Richesons well-written and well-illustrated book is a gentle tour de force of topology."-- George G. Szpiro, author of Poincars Prize: The Hundred-Year Quest to Solve One of Maths Greatest Puzzles "A fascinating and accessible excursion through two thousand years of mathematics. From Platos Academy, via the bridges of Knigsberg, to the world of knots, soccer balls, and geodesic domes, the authors enthusiasm shines through. This attractive introduction to the origins of topology deserves to be widely read."-- Robin Wilson, author of Four Colors Suffice: How the Map Problem Was Solved "Appealing and accessible to a general audience, this well-organized, well-supported, and well-written book contains vast amounts of information not found elsewhere. Eulers Gem is a significant and timely contribution to the field."-- Edward Sandifer, Western Connecticut State University " Eulers Gem is a very good book. It succeeds in explaining complicated concepts in engaging laymans terms. Richeson is keenly aware of where the difficult twists and turns are located, and he covers them to satisfaction. This book is engaging and a joy to read."-- Alejandro Lpez-Ortiz, University of Waterloo

Author Biography

David S. Richeson is associate professor of mathematics at Dickinson College.

Table of Contents

Preface ix Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Leonhard Euler and His Three "Great" Friends 10 Chapter 2: What Is a Polyhedron? 27 Chapter 3: The Five Perfect Bodies 31 Chapter 4: The Pythagorean Brotherhood and Plato's Atomic Theory 36 Chapter 5: Euclid and His Elements 44 Chapter 6: Kepler's Polyhedral Universe 51 Chapter 7: Euler's Gem 63 Chapter 8: Platonic Solids, Golf Balls, Fullerenes, and Geodesic Domes 75 Chapter 9: Scooped by Descartes? 81 Chapter 10: Legendre Gets It Right 87 Chapter 11: A Stroll through Konigsberg 100 Chapter 12: Cauchy's Flattened Polyhedra 112 Chapter 13: Planar Graphs, Geoboards, and Brussels Sprouts 119 Chapter 14: It's a Colorful World 130 Chapter 15: New Problems and New Proofs 145 Chapter 16: Rubber Sheets, Hollow Doughnuts, and Crazy Bottles 156 Chapter 17: Are They the Same, or Are They Different? 173 Chapter 18: A Knotty Problem 186 Chapter 19: Combing the Hair on a Coconut 202 Chapter 20: When Topology Controls Geometry 219 Chapter 21: The Topology of Curvy Surfaces 231 Chapter 22: Navigating in n Dimensions 241 Chapter 23: Henri Poincare and the Ascendance of Topology 253 Epilogue The Million-Dollar Question 265 Acknowledgements 271 Appendix A Build Your Own Polyhedra and Surfaces 273 Appendix B Recommended Readings 283 Notes 287 References 295 Illustration Credits 309 Index 311

Review

Winner of the 2010 Euler Book Prize, Mathematical Association of America One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2009 "The author has achieved a remarkable feat, introducing a naive reader to a rich history without compromising the insights and without leaving out a delicious detail. Furthermore, he describes the development of topology from a suggestion by Gottfried Leibniz to its algebraic formulation by Emmy Noether, relating all to Euler's formula. This book will be valuable to every library with patrons looking for an awe-inspiring experience."--Choice "This is an excellent book about a great man and a timeless formula."--Charles Ashbacher, Journal of Recreational Mathematics "I liked Richeson's style of writing. He is enthusiastic and humorous. It was a pleasure reading this book, and I recommend it to everyone who is not afraid of mathematical arguments and has ever wondered what this field of 'rubbersheet geometry' is about. You will not be disappointed."--Jeanine Daems, Mathematical Intelligencer "The book is a pleasure to read for professional mathematicians, students of mathematicians or anyone with a general interest in mathematics."--European Mathematical Society Newsletter "I found much more to like than to criticize in Euler's Gem. At its best, the book succeeds at showing the reader a lot of attractive mathematics with a well-chosen level of technical detail. I recommend it both to professional mathematicians and to their seatmates."--Jeremy L. Martin, Notices of the AMS "I highly recommend this book for teachers interested in geometry or topology, particularly for university faculty. The examples, proofs, and historical anecdotes are interesting, informative, and useful for encouraging classroom discussions. Advanced students will also glimpse the broad horizons of mathematics by reading (and working through) the book."--Dustin L. Jones, Mathematics Teacher "The book should interest non-mathematicians as well as mathematicians. It is written in a lively way, mathematical properties are explained well and several biographical details are included."--Krzysztof Ciesielski, Mathematical Reviews

Prizes

Winner of Mathematical Association of America's Euler Book Prize 2010
Short-listed for Choice Magazine Outstanding Reference/Academic Book Award 2009

Long Description

Leonhard Euler's polyhedron formula describes the structure of many objects--from soccer balls and gemstones to Buckminster Fuller's buildings and giant all-carbon molecules. Yet Euler's formula is so simple it can be explained to a child. Euler's Gem tells the illuminating story of this indispensable mathematical idea. From ancient Greek geometry to today's cutting-edge research, Euler's Gem celebrates the discovery of Euler's beloved polyhedron formula and its far-reaching impact on topology, the study of shapes. In 1750, Euler observed that any polyhedron composed of V vertices, E edges, and F faces satisfies the equation V-E+F=2. David Richeson tells how the Greeks missed the formula entirely; how Descartes almost discovered it but fell short; how nineteenth-century mathematicians widened the formula's scope in ways that Euler never envisioned by adapting it for use with doughnut shapes, smooth surfaces, and higher dimensional shapes; and how twentieth-century mathematicians discovered that every shape has its own Euler's formula.Using wonderful examples and numerous illustrations, Richeson presents the formula's many elegant and unexpected applications, such as showing why there is always some windless spot on earth, how to measure the acreage of a tree farm by counting trees, and how many crayons are needed to color any map. Filled with a who's who of brilliant mathematicians who questioned, refined, and contributed to a remarkable theorem's development, Euler's Gem will fascinate every mathematics enthusiast.

Review Quote

Winner of the 2010 Euler Book Prize, Mathematical Association of America One of Choice s Outstanding Academic Titles for 2009

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