Head First 2D Geometry

different geometry approaches

You can explore a geometry problem

in different ways

There’s more than one way to investigate a geometry problem,

and the choice of which one to go for is often about how your

own brain works rather than one being “better.”

1

Use your BRAIN

Your brain is amazing. Even

before you started to learn about

geometry, your brain could

already recognize symmetry

and special angles. But don’t

just think, use your imagination,

too. What if this shape was really

BIG? What if you turned it

upside down?

IMAGINE what

would happen if.…

2

Use a PENCIL and PAPER

Sketches can help you think, but an

accurate drawing can also show you

whether something is possible or impossible.

Add a ruler for

more accurate

drawings.

Gr

id pap

er giv

es y

ou

a head s

tart.

Think about the

RULES in your

GEOMETRY

TOOLBOX.

Use LOGIC to PROVE

something works or

doesn’t work.

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3

Geometry isn’t just an

idea—you can T

OUCH

it, too!

you test out stuf

f as

if it was in the REAL

WORLD.

the pythagorean theorem

Use the REAL WORLD

Geometry isn’t just important for your grades,

it’s what engineers and scientists rely on to make

buildings stand up and cars go around corners.

Use kids’ toys, a scrap piece of wood, or make

models out of cardboard to put your theories to

the test.

Use a COMPUTER MODEL

4

If you’ve ever played a video or computer

game then you’ve already used a computer

model of some geometry.

Whether the model is simple, or complex

(like a racing game), the great thing is that

you get to change something and then see

what impact your change makes.

A computer model lets

So—what’s your preference? Do you think it matters which

exploration technique you use to find the jumps you can build?

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