Exploring Geometry, Second Edition promotes student engagement with the beautiful ideas of geometry. Every major concept is introduced in its historical context and connects the idea with real-life. A system of experimentation followed by rigorous explanation and proof is central. Exploratory projects play an integral role in this text. Students develop a better sense of how to prove a result and visualize connections between statements, making these connections real. They develop the intuition needed to conjecture a theorem and devise a proof of what they have observed. Features: Second edition of a successful textbook for the first undergraduate course Every major concept is introduced in its historical context and connects the idea with real life Focuses on experimentation Projects help enhance student learning All major software programs can be used; free software from author
For seven years, Paul Lockhart’s A Mathematician’s Lament enjoyed a samizdat-style popularity in the mathematics underground, before demand prompted its 2009 publication to even wider applause and debate. An impassioned critique of K–12 mathematics education, it outlined how we shortchange students by introducing them to math the wrong way. Here Lockhart offers the positive side of the math education story by showing us how math should be done. Measurement offers a permanent solution to math phobia by introducing us to mathematics as an artful way of thinking and living. In conversational prose that conveys his passion for the subject, Lockhart makes mathematics accessible without oversimplifying. He makes no more attempt to hide the challenge of mathematics than he does to shield us from its beautiful intensity. Favoring plain English and pictures over jargon and formulas, he succeeds in making complex ideas about the mathematics of shape and motion intuitive and graspable. His elegant discussion of mathematical reasoning and themes in classical geometry offers proof of his conviction that mathematics illuminates art as much as science. Lockhart leads us into a universe where beautiful designs and patterns float through our minds and do surprising, miraculous things. As we turn our thoughts to symmetry, circles, cylinders, and cones, we begin to see that almost anyone can “do the math” in a way that brings emotional and aesthetic rewards. Measurement is an invitation to summon curiosity, courage, and creativity in order to experience firsthand the playful excitement of mathematical work.
The study of two-dimensional analytic geometry has gone in and out of fashion several times over the past century, however this classic field of mathematics has once again become popular due to the growing power of personal computers and the availability of powerful mathematical software systems, such as Mathematica, that can provide an interactive environment for studying the field. By combining the power of Mathematica with an analytic geometry software system called Descarta2D, the author has succeeded in meshing an ancient field of study with modern computational tools, the result being a simple, yet powerful, approach to studying analytic geometry. Students, engineers and mathematicians alike who are interested in analytic geometry can use this book and software for the study, research or just plain enjoyment of analytic geometry. Mathematica provides an attractive environment for studying analytic geometry. Mathematica supports both numeric and symbolic computations meaning that geometry problems can be solved for special cases using numbers, as well as general cases producing formulas. Mathematica also has good facilities for producing graphical plots which are useful for visualizing the graphs of two-dimensional geometry. * A classic study in analytic geometry, complete with in-line Mathematica dialogs illustrating every concept as it is introduced * Excellent theoretical presentation *Fully explained examples of all key concepts * Interactive Mathematica notebooks for the entire book * Provides a complete computer-based environment for study of analytic geometry * All chapters and reference material are provided on CD-ROM in addition to being printedin the book * Complete software system: Descarta2D * A software system, including source code, for the underlying computer implementation, called Descarta2D is provided * Part VII of the book is a listing of the (30) Mathematica files supporting Descarta2D; the source code is also supplied on CD-ROM * Explorations * More than 120 challenging problems in analytic geometry are posed; Complete solutions are provided both as interactive Mathematica notebooks on CD-ROM and as printed material in the book * Mathematica and Descarta2D Hints expand the reader's knowledge and understanding of Descarta2D and Mathematica * Sortware developed with Mathematica 3.0 and is compatible with Mathematica 4.0 * Detailed reference manual * Complete documentation for Descarta2D * Fully integrated into the Mathematica Help Browser
Turtle Geometry presents an innovative program of mathematical discovery that demonstrates how the effective use of personal computers can profoundly change the nature of a student's contact with mathematics. Using this book and a few simple computer programs, students can explore the properties of space by following an imaginary turtle across the screen. The concept of turtle geometry grew out of the Logo Group at MIT. Directed by Seymour Papert, author of Mindstorms, this group has done extensive work with preschool children, high school students and university undergraduates.
**Exploring the Infinite Possibilities Unlock the Mysteries of Mathematics** Dive into a world where numbers weave patterns of breathtaking beauty and equations reveal the secrets of the universe. "Exploring the Infinite Possibilities" is a captivating journey through the landscape of mathematics, offering a fresh and insightful perspective on a subject often shrouded in mystery and complexity. Begin your exploration with the aesthetic allure of mathematics, where the harmony of numbers and the elegance of patterns and symmetry spark a sense of wonder. Venture into the rich history of mathematical thought, tracing its evolution from ancient civilizations, through the intellectual fervor of the Renaissance, to the innovations that define modern mathematics today. Discover the boundless nature of infinity, uncover the mysteries of fractals and chaos theory, and delve into the intriguing realm of transfinite numbers. Wander through the natural world, where the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio manifest in mesmerizing forms and patterns, and explore the symmetrical beauty inherent in biological structures. Unravel the intricacies of mathematical proofs, from historical breakthroughs to contemporary challenges that drive mathematical discovery. Appreciate mathematics as a universal language, bridging the gap between the abstract and the tangible, and see its unifying power in science. From the elegance of Euclidean geometry to the peculiarities of non-Euclidean spaces, geometric concepts open the door to endless possibilities. Explore the hidden symmetries in abstract algebra, the enigmatic nature of prime numbers, and the profound impacts of calculus—the mathematics of change. Venture into the realms of mathematical analysis, probability, and statistics, uncovering the profound insights these fields offer into our world. Engage with the foundations of mathematical logic and embark on a journey through the digital age, where algorithms and machine learning reshape our lives. "Exploring the Infinite Possibilities" is not just a book—it's an inspiring odyssey into a vibrant mathematical universe. Whether you're a curious enthusiast or a seasoned mathematician, this book invites you to continue the great journey of mathematical exploration, inspiring future generations and highlighting the global impact of mathematics.
Improving the quality of education is an important ambition of educational policy. The TAL project aims to contribute to this. It is a project initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and carried out by the Freudenthal Institute (FI) of Utrecht University and the Dutch National Institute for Curriculum Development (SLO), and partly conducted in cooperation with the Rotterdam Center for Educational Services (CED). The quality of education can be improved in many ways.
This book provides an inquiry-based introduction to advanced Euclidean geometry. It utilizes dynamic geometry software, specifically GeoGebra, to explore the statements and proofs of many of the most interesting theorems in the subject. Topics covered include triangle centers, inscribed, circumscribed, and escribed circles, medial and orthic triangles, the nine-point circle, duality, and the theorems of Ceva and Menelaus, as well as numerous applications of those theorems. The final chapter explores constructions in the Poincare disk model for hyperbolic geometry. The book can be used either as a computer laboratory manual to supplement an undergraduate course in geometry or as a stand-alone introduction to advanced topics in Euclidean geometry. The text consists almost entirely of exercises (with hints) that guide students as they discover the geometric relationships for themselves. First the ideas are explored at the computer and then those ideas are assembled into a proof of the result under investigation. The goals are for the reader to experience the joy of discovering geometric relationships, to develop a deeper understanding of geometry, and to encourage an appreciation for the beauty of Euclidean geometry.
