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Basic Geometric Features

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Geometric Procedures for Civil Engineers

Abstract

Geometry, as used in the civil engineering and surveying professional fields of practice, is actually that branch of mathematics that is referred to as analytic or coordinate geometry. In simple form, analytic geometry employs algebra and trigonometry to solve problems of Euclidean geometry. Although a form of analytic geometry may be traced to Menaechmos—Μέναιχμος (380–320), the Greek mathematician and friend of Plato, it is Rene Descartes (see Chap. 1 of this book) that set the foundation of coordinate geometry. In his honor, coordinate geometry is sometimes referred to as Cartesian Geometry.

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Tonias, E.C., Tonias, C.N. (2016). Basic Geometric Features. In: Geometric Procedures for Civil Engineers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24295-8_2

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