Tensor Geometry The Geometric Viewpoint and its Uses [Hardcover]

This treatment of differential geometry and the mathematics required for general relativity makes the subject accessible, for the first time, to anyone familiar with elementary calculus in one variable and with some knowledge of vector algebra. The emphasis throughout is on the geometry of the mathematics, which is greatly enhanced by the many illustrations presenting figures of three and more dimensions as closely as the book form will allow.

We have been very encouraged by the reactions of students and teachers using our book over the past ten years and so this is a complete retype in TEX, with corrections of known errors and the addition of a supplementary bibliography. Thanks are due to the Springer staff in Heidelberg for their enthusiastic sup? port and to the typist, Armin Kollner for the excellence of the final result. Once again, it has been achieved with the authors in yet two other countries. November 1990 Kit Dodson Toronto, Canada Tim Poston Pohang, Korea Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . XI O. Fundamental Not(at)ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1. Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2. Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3. Physical Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 I. Real Vector Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 1. Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Subspace geometry, components 2. Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Linearity, singularity, matrices 3. Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lc&