Excursions into combinatorial geometry

by V.G Boltyanskiĭ

The book deals with the combinatorial geometry of convex bodies in finite-dimensional spaces. A general introduction to geometric convexity is followed by the investigation of d-convexity and H-convexity, and by various applications. Recent research is discussed, for example the three problems from the combinatorial geometry of convex bodies (unsolved in the general case): the Szoekefalvi-Nagy problem, the Borsuk problem, the Hadwiger covering problem. These and related questions are then applied to a new class of convex bodies which is a natural generalization of the class of zonoids: the class of belt bodies. Finally open research problems are discussed. Each section is supplemented by a wide range of exercises and the geometric approach to many topics is illustrated with the help of more than 250 figures.