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Coxeter

H.S.M. Coxeter was a British mathematician known for his work in geometry, in particular on regular polytopes and abstract algebra. Some of his key achievements include establishing the foundations of n-dimensional geometry in the 1930s and publishing over 200 papers and 12 books. Coxeter studied symmetry in nature and geometry, making important contributions to group theory, crystallography, and the mathematics of art and pattern formation. He is recognized for pioneering work on abstract polytopes and Coxeter groups which have applications in diverse fields including computer science, chemistry, and telecommunications.

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50 views10 pages

Coxeter

H.S.M. Coxeter was a British mathematician known for his work in geometry, in particular on regular polytopes and abstract algebra. Some of his key achievements include establishing the foundations of n-dimensional geometry in the 1930s and publishing over 200 papers and 12 books. Coxeter studied symmetry in nature and geometry, making important contributions to group theory, crystallography, and the mathematics of art and pattern formation. He is recognized for pioneering work on abstract polytopes and Coxeter groups which have applications in diverse fields including computer science, chemistry, and telecommunications.

Uploaded by

AimeeElaine
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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H.S.M.

Coxeter
On Polytopes & Pineapples

History of Mathematics

3000BC Numbers established on bones


1950BC Solved first quadratic equation
1850BC Pythagorean Theorem was established
1933AD N-dimensional kaleidoscope established

Biography

B. Feb. 9, 1907
D. Mar. 31, 2003

Achievements:
9 Honorary
Doctorates
12 Books
200+ published
articles

Polytopes

A geometric figure
with a high degree of
symmetry 600
vertices

Examples in 2
dimension include the
square & regular
pentagon
In 3 dimension, the
dodecahedron

H.G. Wells: The Time Machine

Coxeter & Petrie questioned why there were only


5 Platonic solids
A few years later, Coxeter won an essay on how to
project geometric shapes into higher dimensions

N-Dimensional Kaleidoscope

Complex algebraic
equations detailing
how many images
of an object may
be seen in a
kaleidoscope are
known as Coxeter
Groups

Circle Limit III

Inspired by
Coxeters paper
Crystal Symmetry
and Its
Generalizations

M.C. Escher created


a series of Circle
Limit etchings

Icosahedral Symmetry
Has 20 hexagonal
surfaces and 12
pentagonal surfaces -each a carbon atom AKA
Carbon 60 molecule
1996 Nobel Prized
winning discovery
Uses are for:

designing algorithms for


computer programs
Telecommunications for
Aids research
Chemotherapy

Coxeters Example of Natural


Symmetry

Symmetry refers to mirror-image correspondence


between parts of an object
Scales of a pineapple are arranged in spirals. The
spirals are geometrically similar to one another and are
arranged in a regular way, with balance or proportion

Books by H.S.M. Coxeter

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