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Alexandre Eremenko
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M. Berger, Geometrie, vol. V. MR0536874

Edit. Let me sketch a proof for the spherical triangle. Let the sphere have area $4\pi$. First you derive the area of diangledigon. It is $2\alpha$, where $\alpha$ is the angle, by completely elementary reasons. Now consider a triangle. Extend its sides to three full great circles. These three circles make several dianglesdigons and two equal triangles (the second one is centrally symmetric to the original one). Make a picture showing how these three circles partition the sphere. As the areas of all dianglesdigons are known the area of a triangle is simply derived by the exclusion-inclusion formula!

Notice: this proof is truly elementary in the sense that it only uses the existence of the area for a diangledigon and triangle, its invariance with respect to rotations, and finite additivity. Euclid COULD give a rigorous proof of this. As rigorous as his investigation of areas of Euclidean triangles.

M. Berger, Geometrie, vol. V. MR0536874

Edit. Let me sketch a proof for the spherical triangle. Let the sphere have area $4\pi$. First you derive the area of diangle. It is $2\alpha$, where $\alpha$ is the angle, by completely elementary reasons. Now consider a triangle. Extend its sides to three full great circles. These three circles make several diangles and two equal triangles (the second one is centrally symmetric to the original one). Make a picture showing how these three circles partition the sphere. As the areas of all diangles are known the area of a triangle is simply derived by the exclusion-inclusion formula!

Notice: this proof is truly elementary in the sense that it only uses the existence of the area for a diangle and triangle, its invariance with respect to rotations, and finite additivity. Euclid COULD give a rigorous proof of this. As rigorous as his investigation of areas of Euclidean triangles.

M. Berger, Geometrie, vol. V. MR0536874

Edit. Let me sketch a proof for the spherical triangle. Let the sphere have area $4\pi$. First you derive the area of digon. It is $2\alpha$, where $\alpha$ is the angle, by completely elementary reasons. Now consider a triangle. Extend its sides to three full great circles. These three circles make several digons and two equal triangles (the second one is centrally symmetric to the original one). Make a picture showing how these three circles partition the sphere. As the areas of all digons are known the area of a triangle is simply derived by the exclusion-inclusion formula!

Notice: this proof is truly elementary in the sense that it only uses the existence of the area for a digon and triangle, its invariance with respect to rotations, and finite additivity. Euclid COULD give a rigorous proof of this. As rigorous as his investigation of areas of Euclidean triangles.

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Source Link
Alexandre Eremenko
  • 91.8k
  • 9
  • 259
  • 429

M. Berger, Geometrie, vol. V. MR0536874

Edit. Let me sketch a proof for the spherical triangle. Let the sphere have area $4\pi$. First you derive the area of diangle. It is $2\alpha$, where $\alpha$ is the angle, by completely elementary reasons. Now consider a triangle. Extend its sides to three full great circles. These three circles make several diangles and two equal triangles (the second one is centrally symmetric to the original one). Make a picture showing how these three circles partition the sphere. As the areas of all diangles are known the area of a triangle is simply derived by the exclusion-inclusion formula!

Notice: this proof is truly elementary in the sense that it only uses the existence of the area for a diangle and triangle, its invariance with respect to rotations, and finite additivity. Euclid COULD give a rigorous proof of this. As rigorous as his investigation of areas of Euclidean triangles.

M. Berger, Geometrie, vol. V. MR0536874

M. Berger, Geometrie, vol. V. MR0536874

Edit. Let me sketch a proof for the spherical triangle. Let the sphere have area $4\pi$. First you derive the area of diangle. It is $2\alpha$, where $\alpha$ is the angle, by completely elementary reasons. Now consider a triangle. Extend its sides to three full great circles. These three circles make several diangles and two equal triangles (the second one is centrally symmetric to the original one). Make a picture showing how these three circles partition the sphere. As the areas of all diangles are known the area of a triangle is simply derived by the exclusion-inclusion formula!

Notice: this proof is truly elementary in the sense that it only uses the existence of the area for a diangle and triangle, its invariance with respect to rotations, and finite additivity. Euclid COULD give a rigorous proof of this. As rigorous as his investigation of areas of Euclidean triangles.

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Source Link
Alexandre Eremenko
  • 91.8k
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  • 259
  • 429

M. Berger, GeometryGeometrie, Chvol. V. MR0882916MR0536874

M. Berger, Geometry, Ch V. MR0882916

M. Berger, Geometrie, vol. V. MR0536874

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Alexandre Eremenko
  • 91.8k
  • 9
  • 259
  • 429
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