From Pythagoras to Einstein
K. O. Friedrichs
Mathematical Assn of Amer
The main thread running through this somewhat unorthodox approach to the special theory of relativity is the Pythagorean theorem. It appears in its most elementary geometric form in the very beginning of this monograph. Then it reappears in algebraic garb, is further modified and finally reinterpreted to play the role of one of the main characters in the special theory of relativity. <P>The first four chapters are easily accessible to high school sophmores or juniors. the remaining part of the book may be a little difficult for students who never studied physics, although the author actually employs only  the notion of impact and presupposes no background in physics. With the aid of the vector geometry introduced earlier, he leads the reader from the impact conversation laws to the famous formula e=mc2.