Reconstructing psychological practice

Sutton, Andrew

McPherson, Ian

Croom Helm

From the practical fundamentals to the more demanding, this pocket-sized book introduces the origins and basic principles of geometric constructions using ruler and compass, before going on to cover dozens of geometric constructions!
Since the earliest times mankind has employed the simple geometric forms of straight line and circle. Originally marked out by eye and later using a stretched cord, in time these came to be made with the simple tools of ruler and compass. This small book introduces the origins and basic principles of geometric constructions using ruler and compass, before going on to cover dozens of geometric constructions, from the practical fundamentals to the more demanding.
- Constructions for more than thirty regular polygons
- Introduces geometric construction using compasses alone and using rulers alone
- Explains why trisecting an angle is impossible using classical rules and how to trisect an angle anyway
- Highlights the relationship of geometric construction with many fundamental developments throughout the history of mathematics
Wooden Books was founded in 1999 by designer John Martineau near Hay-on-Wye. The aim was to produce a beautiful series of recycled books based on the classical philosophies, arts and sciences. Using the Beatrix Potter formula of text facing picture pages, and old-styles fonts, along with hand-drawn illustrations and 19th century engravings, the books are designed not to date. Small but stuffed with information. Eco friendly and educational. Big ideas in a tiny space. There are over 1,000,000 Wooden Books now in print worldwide and growing.

Ruler and Compass: Practical Geometric Constructions (Wooden Books)

Science & Math

Mathematics

Bloomsbury USA

An introduction to geometry without measurements. Since the earliest times, mankind has employed the simple geometric forms of straight line and circle, in art, architecture, and mathematics. Originally marked out by eye and later using a stretched cord, in time these came to be made with the simple tools of ruler and compass. This valuable reference book introduces the origins and principles of geometry using these basic tools, and shows some of the geometric constructions used by artists, architects, and mathematicians of old.

Wooden Books

About the Author\nAndrew Sutton is a high school mathematics teacher based in the UK. He has taught in London and New York and has a special interest in mathematics in art.\nHow do you draw a heptagon? What about a heptakaidecagon? How do you fit circles perfectly into triangles? And around them? If the computer is down - could you do it with ruler and compass? In this unique pocket book, Andrew Sutton guides you through the once treasured principles of ruler and compass constructions, used for centuries by architects, carpenters, stonemasons and master craftsmen. 
Designed to last until the lights go out, this is a timeless book. WOODEN BOOKS USA. Small books, BIG ideas. Tiny but packed with information. “Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST.\nExcerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.\nThe art of geometric construction can be traced back to the widespread, possibly universal, practice of marking out simple forms and measures on the Earth using pegs and cords – geometry, literally Earth measure. Examples include ancient Egyptian rope stretchers, or harpenodaptai, who re-established land boundaries after the annual Nile flood, and ancient Indian altar construction techniques found in the Vedic Sulbasutras, the oldest surviving texts with geometric instruction. In time this became the more familiar mathematical discipline, practiced at a smaller scale. Plato (d. ca. 347 bc) first stipulated the strict use of only ruler and compass, the ideal simple forms of straight line and circle. 
This book is intended as a small practical guide to the field, inspired by the artisans' manuals penned by Abu'l-Wafa' al-Buzjani (d. 998) and Albrecht Dürer (d. 1528). Some mathematical context and history is given, but no proofs. Unless noted, all constructions are mathematically exact. Readers are highly encouraged to try their hand at some of them – there is no substitute for actually taking ruler and compass to paper. 
This book uses a simple code. Line ab means draw the straight line that passes through a and b. Segment is used in place of line for the section of a straight line defined by two endpoints. Circle o-a means draw a circle centred at o and passing through a. Circle radius ab centre o means draw a circle of compass opening length ab centred at o. Arc is used in place of circle for drawing only part of the circle. Sometimes, extra points are given to help improve accuracy when drawing, for example, line acb, or circle o-ab. Newly found points are noted in brackets. Occasionally a line made possible by new points is assumed drawn, and merely noted, and stages may also be grouped together for brevity. Fear not. All will be clear.

Ruler & Compass: Practical Geometric Constructions (Wooden Books North America Editions)

Reference

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