Proofs of newer theorems characterizing isometries and Lorentz transformations under mild hypotheses are included, such as for instance infinite dimensional versions of famous theorems of A.D. Alexandrov on Lorentz transformations. A real benefit is the dimension-free approach to important geometrical theories.
New to this third edition is a chapter dealing with a simple and great idea of Leibniz that allows us to characterize, for these same spaces X, hyperplanes of euclidean, hyperbolic geometry, or spherical geometry, the geometries of Lorentz-Minkowski and de Sitter, and this through finite or infinite dimensions greater than 1.
Another new and fundamental result in this edition concerns the representation of hyperbolic motions, their form and their transformations. Further we show that the geometry (P,G) of segments based on X is isomorphic to the hyperbolic geometry over X. Here P collects all x in X of norm less than one, G is defined to be the group of bijections of P transforming segments of P onto segments.
The only prerequisites for reading this book are basic linear algebra and basic 2- and 3-dimensional real geometry. This implies that mathematicians who have not so far been especially interested in geometry could study and understand some of the great ideas of classical geometries in modern and general contexts.
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Review of the 2nd edition by O. Röschel (Graz)
Internationale Mathematische Nachrichten Nr. 212, Dez. 2009
[...] The book on the one hand brings together many elder results scattered through the literature and on the other hand leads to the frontier of research. Thus it is highly welcomed and can be recommended warmly to anyone interested in this topic.
Review of the first edition by G. Kowol, Vienna
Monatshefte für Mathematik Vol. 150, No. 3/2007
"... The mathematical prerequisites are minimal - the rudiments of linear algebra suffice - and all theorems are proved in detail. Following the proofs does not involve more than following the lines of a computation, and the author makes every effort to avoid referring to a synthetic geometric understanding, given that he aims at attracting readers with a distaste for synthetic geometry, which, given the academic curricula of the past decades, represent the overwhelming majority of potential readers of any mathematical monograph. One of the lessons of this monograph is that there is a coordinate-free analytic geometry, which significantly simplifies computations and frees the mind from redundant assumptions. the author makes every effort to avoid referring to a synthetic geometric understanding, given that he aims at attracting readers with a distaste for synthetic geometry, which, given the academic curricula of the past decades, represent the overwhelming majority of potential readers of any mathematical monograph. One of the lessons of this monograph is that there is a coordinate-free analytic geometry, which significantly simplifies computations and frees the mindfrom redundant assumptions. ..."
Review of the first edition by Victor V. Pambuccian, Mathematical Reviews 2006