Overview
- Introduces symplectic and contact geometry alongside Riemannian geometry, unlike other texts in differential geometry
- Develops tools from linear algebra and advanced calculus, including differential forms and tensors, that are necessary in differential geometry
- Introduces the reader to higher mathematics, including proofs of most of the main statements and results
- Aimed as a text for undergraduate students who have finished two years of standard mathematics curriculum, including courses in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics (UTM)
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Table of contents (7 chapters)
Keywords
About this book
Differential geometry arguably offers the smoothest transition from the standard university mathematics sequence of the first four semesters in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations to the higher levels of abstraction and proof encountered at the upper division by mathematics majors. Today it is possible to describe differential geometry as "the study of structures on the tangent space," and this text develops this point of view.
This book, unlike other introductory texts in differential geometry, develops the architecture necessary to introduce symplectic and contact geometry alongside its Riemannian cousin. The main goal of this book is to bring the undergraduate student who already has a solid foundation in the standard mathematics curriculum into contact with the beauty of higher mathematics. In particular, the presentation here emphasizes the consequences of a definition and the careful use of examples and constructions in order to explore those consequences.
Reviews
From the book reviews:
“This books presents an alternative route, aiming to provide the student with an introduction not only to Riemannian geometry, but also to contact and symplectic geometry. … the book is leavened with an excellent collection of illustrative examples, and a wealth of exercises on which students can hone their skills. Each chapter also includes a short guide to further reading on the topic with a helpful brief commentary on the suggestions.” (Robert J. Low, Mathematical Reviews, May, 2014)
“This book is a distinctive and ambitious effort to bring modern notions of differential geometry to undergraduates. … Mclnerney’s writing is well constructed and very clear … . Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students.” (S. J. Colley, Choice, Vol. 51 (8), April, 2014)
“The author does make a considerable effort to keep things as accessible as possible, with fairly detailed explanations, extensive motivational discussions and homework problems … . this book provides a different way of looking at the subject of differential geometry, one that is more modern and sophisticated than is provided by many of the standard undergraduate texts and which will certainly do a good job of preparing the student for additional work in this area down the road.” (Mark Hunacek, MAA Reviews, January, 2014)
“This text provides an early and broad view of geometry to mathematical students … . Altogether, this book is easy to read because there are plenty of figures, examples and exercises which make it intuitive and perfect for undergraduate students.” (Teresa Arias-Marco, zbMATH, Vol. 1283, 2014)
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: First Steps in Differential Geometry
Book Subtitle: Riemannian, Contact, Symplectic
Authors: Andrew McInerney
Series Title: Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7732-7
Publisher: Springer New York, NY
eBook Packages: Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Statistics (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2013
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4614-7731-0Published: 10 July 2013
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4899-9046-4Published: 05 August 2015
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4614-7732-7Published: 09 July 2013
Series ISSN: 0172-6056
Series E-ISSN: 2197-5604
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIII, 410
Number of Illustrations: 29 b/w illustrations, 25 illustrations in colour
Topics: Differential Geometry, Global Analysis and Analysis on Manifolds, Manifolds and Cell Complexes (incl. Diff.Topology)