Matemática aplicada à geografia

Abstract

From the interdisciplinary scenario in which mathematics is, this work comes down to present applications coming from Geography within the mathematical context. The NCP's (1998), documents governing the current Brazilian education, makes clear the importance of interdisciplinary work in education, and the importance of a contextualized teaching based on practical and historical experience of man. In turn, the geography was seen that mapping brings outstanding contributions to mathematics, and trigonometry is one of the main tools used in this context, both by the Euclidean geometry as the non-Euclidean geometry. So in this paper were presented some applications withdrawn from the study of cartography, with the help of mathematics and especially Trigonometry (flat and spherical) were resolved. Continuing, still focusing on cartography, specifically in the study of maps and projections, emphasis was given to Cylindrical Mercator projection and their mathematical explanations for the so-called art of designing a plan in case the projection of the sphere in a plane, with its appropriate mathematical explanations for such a feat. With time and the emergence of infinitesimal calculus, it was shown here to determine the variable called Mercator and its origin. Then with the help of differential geometry emphasizing Gauss studies, it was presented not isometry between the plane and the sphere, and the Gaussian curvature is the defining function for this fact. Through the fundamental forms and egregious Theorem here also presented the Gauss studies in differential geometry were defining for the most current explanation of Mercator variable, thus contributing to the clarification of the famous projection made by Mercator that went down in history for its perfection.