Kiselev's Geometry, Book I. Planimetry

by A.P. Kiselev, Alexander Givental (Translator)

This is an English translation of a classical Russian grade school-level text in plane Euclidean geometry. (The solid geometry part is published as Kiselev's Geometry / Book II. Stereometry ISBN 0977985210.) The book dominated in Russian math education for several decades, was reprinted in dozens of millions of copies, influenced geometry education in Eastern Europe and China, and is still active as a textbook for 7-9 grades. The book is adapted to the modern US curricula by a professor of mathematics from UC Berkeley.

Genres: Mathematics, Geometry, Nonfiction

248 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work by Kiselev was first published in 1892 and it remained a staple of Russian mathematical education until 1955, when it was officially phased out. For some time it was formally designated a "staple", meaning that it was the textbook to be used throughout the Soviet Union. After it was demoted, even though it was not the official textbook, it was still widely used as an under-the-desk reference. When you read the work, there is no doubt in your mind why it held such a high status for so long. Targeted for what would be equivalent to 7th through 9th graders in America, the explanations of planar geometry are excellent. Each section ends with a large set of problems to answer and a few proofs to work through. Solutions to the exercises are not included.
Planar geometry is an area of mathematics that is abstract in foundation but concrete in practice as the student can always draw a figure for reference. This book should be on the reference desk of every secondary school teacher of geometry. The main chapter headings are:

*) The straight line
*) The circle
*) Similarity
*) Regular polygons & circumference
*) Areas

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics reprinted with permission and this review also appears on Amazon

[Gregory Tabachnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic geometry book. In my mind, the best one around to implement traditional geometry education on a high school level. Written long time ago, this text book still remains the best. Surprisingly, it has never been translated in English before.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice, self-contained introduction to Euclidean geometry, with many nice questions. The treatment is in the spirit of Euclid, so is likely more suited for a younger audience (some proofs may be considered suspect in a more modern mathematical context).

[Maxim Perepelitsyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great content and very helpful virtual classroom.