No label defined (Q4223036)

This is a book on geometric visualization of curves and surfaces and some methods of interpolation, with some rudiments of approximation (where Bézier splines and other effective splines are not mentioned). After a short introduction to interpolation problems, there are longer sections on the properties of conics and algebraic curves. The main attraction of these chapters is the abundance of illustrations; the chapters can serve as good introductions to the books of \textit{G. Salmon} on ``Analytic geometry of conics'' (1965; JFM 45.0832.04), of ``Three-dimensional geometry'' (Vol. I 1914; JFM 45.0807.04; Vol II 1915; JFM 45.0807.05), and of ``Higher algebraic curves'' (if you can read German in Fraktur type, the workings over of Salmon's books by \textit{Fiedler} (1922; JFM 48.0681.01) are still better), and of \textit{J. G. Semple} and \textit{L. Roth's} ``Algebraic geometry'' (1949; Zbl 0041.27903). In between there is a rather incongruous chapter on synthetic geometry, and a short introduction to projective methods. The last two chapters, on applications of algebraic curves and surfaces, are all devoted to interpolation problems and constructions of local representations of surface patches. Curvature of curves is at least mentioned, but not used. Curvature of surfaces is not even mentioned. Hence, the more advanced method of geometric interpolation (and pattern recognition) cannot be understood with the methods taught in this book. The kind of work for which this book will repare you is, for example, \textit{Eugene L. Wachspress} [A rational finite element basis (1975; Zbl 0322.65001)]. Also, vector methods are never used. In all, the book contains material that should be known by everybody whose work is somehow connected to the geometry on nonlinear objects, but it certainly does not contain all that belongs to a basic education in geometry.