This is a list of all courses offered by the Math Department.  Not all courses are offered each year.  What is provided is a general description of the courses and the prerequisites.  The actual content may vary.

Offered Course List Archived Courses

Math 430 - Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometries (may not be offered every regular semester)

Description

Hilbert's axioms for Euclidean Geometry. Neutral Geometry: The consistency of the hyperbolic parallel postulate and the inconsistency of the elliptic parallel postulate with neutral geometry. Models of hyperbolic geometry. Existence and properties of isometries.

Prerequisites

1 course with a minimum grade of C- from (MATH240, MATH341, MATH461).


Level of Rigor

Standard


Sample Textbooks

The Four Pillars of Geometry, by J. Stillwell

Foundations of Geometry, by G.A. Venema.


Applications


If you like this course, you might also consider the following courses


Additional Notes

Topics

Logical deficiencies in Euclidean Geometry

Flawed proofs

Correction of some flawed proofs by clearly stating certain postulates and giving rigorous deductions

Overview of the structure of Euclidean Geometry

Importance of Euclid's Parallel Postulate as opposed to the other postulates

Equivalence of certain postulates (Play fair, etc) to Euclid's Parallel Postulate

Absolute or Neutral geometry. Work of Legendre and Saccheri

Negation of Euclid's Parallel Postulate; non-Euclidean geometry.

Discussion of models for non-Euclidean geometry

Axiom systems

Incidence axiom and ruler postulate

Betweenness

Segments, Rays and Convex sets

Angles and Triangles

Pasch's Postulate and Plane Separation Postulate

Perpendiculars and inequalities

SAS postulate

Parallel postulates

Models for non-Euclidean geometry

Proof of the consistency of non-Euclidean geometry by means of models