Item #136 Applications de Geometrie et de Mechanique, 1822. Charles Dupin.

Applications de Geometrie et de Mechanique, 1822

Paris: Bachelier Successeur Courcier, 1822. 1st Edition. SCARCE 1822 FIRST EDITION of the work in which the mathematician Charles Dupin first introduced a nonspherical surface with the property that all its lines of curvature were circular. Dupin called this surface a 'cyclide.' Recently, cyclides have been revived for use as surface patches in computer aided geometric design (CAGD), specialized military or aerospace applications, and surface modeling.

According to the Dictionary of Scientific Biography, "In the Applications we find an elaboration of Monge's theory of deblais et remblais -- and, hence, of congruences of straight lines, with applications to geometrical optics. Here Dupin, improving on a theorem of Malus's (1807), stated that a normal congruence remains normal after reflection and refraction. He also gave a more complete theory of the cyclids as the envelopes of the spheres tangent to three given spheres and discussed floating bodies" (DSB, IV, 257). Item #136

CONDITION & DETAILS: Paris: Bachelier Successeur Courcier. 4to. (10.25 x 8.25 inches, 256 x 206mm). [xxxv], 1, [336 pages], 17 plates. Illustration: 17 large fold-out copperplates. Exterior: Bound in half calf over scuffed and rubbed marbled paper boards. There is some chipping at the head and foot of the spine and at the edge tips, but nothing major. The binding is very tight and solid. Interior: Complete. Marbled endpapers. A very occasional and very light age spot. Very good condition throughout the interior by any measure.

Price: $450.00