Mathematics 429.31
Improving Student Understanding of Geometry Proofs

Summer 2000

Proof-Related Activities
Field of Vision Problem-- Collect data on field of vision using various viewing tubes. Determine variables and relationship between variables. Justify relationship with geometric proof.

 July 17
(Monday)
Equilateral Triangle Problem -- What is the relationship between an interior point and the total distance from the point to the sides of an equilateral triangle? Does this relationship hold in other triangles?

 July 18
(Tuesday)
Overlapping Squares Problem -- If the vertex of a square is at the center of another square, what is the maximum area of the overlapping region of the two squares? How can you justify this?


July 19
(Wednesday)
Triangle-within-a-Triangle Problem -- After creating a diagram of a triangle within a triangle using the one-third marks on the sides of the original triangle, determine relationships among other triangles created. Why do these relationships hold?

 July 19 and 20
(Wed. and Thurs.)
Trisecting an Angle Problem -- Can an angle be trisected? A procedure is shown, but why does it work?

 July 20 and
General Interest
(Thursday)
Non-congruent Triangles Problem -- Does there exist a pair of triangles which are non-congruent yet have the same area and perimeter? The answer is yes. How can we find such triangles? How many are there for a given triangle?

 General Interest

Last updated July 11, 2000

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