Symmetries

The main object of study for this book is geometry, with group theory providing an appropriate language in which to express geometrical ideas. Key features include: An overview of the preliminaries from group theory and geometry Coverage of the discrete subgroups of the Euclidean group A clear and complete derivation and classification of the 17 plane crystallographic groups Tessellations of various spaces (they are constructed, described and classified) A brief introduction to hyperbolic geometry. Each chapter contains a number of exercises, most with solutions, and suggestions for background, alternative and further reading. The author's accessible and down-to-earth approach make this an ideal introduction for readers in the second or third year of a mathematics undergraduate course. It is also recommended for mechanical engineers, architects, physicists and crystallographers needing an understanding of 3-dimensional geometry, symmetry and trigonometry.