THIS WORK IS DEDICATED TO
H. S. M. COXETER
PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
To me no experience of childhood so reinforced self-
confidence in one's own exploratory faculties
as did geometry. Its inspiring effectiveness in
winnowing out and evaluating a plurality
of previously unknowns from a few given
knowns, and its elegance of proof
lead to the further discovery and comprehension of a
grand strategy for all
problem solving.
By virtue of his extraordinary life's work in mathematics,
Dr. Coxeter is the geometer of our bestirring
twentieth century, the spontaneously acclaimed
terrestrial curator of the historical
inventory of the science of
pattern analysis.
I dedicate this work with particular esteem for him
and in thanks to all the geometers of all time
whose importance to humanity
he epitomizes.