Euclidean Geometry or not--What is the norm for most public and private schools?

[Kimber]

I must be honest, I'm totally confused when it comes to Geometry. I had a teacher that refused to cover any new material until every student understood what was going on. So, what I know I know really well, but the rest...

Anyway, in my research of texts for high school, I'm reading some people calling for Euclidean and others saying it's not necessary because it isn't age appropriate to high school.

I did find a Jurgensen 1963 Geometry text that had Dolciani's name on it, so I'm going to check that out. But when the book gets here I have no idea what I'm looking for.

What are the colleges expecting? What does the SAT and the ACT test for? Or does none of this matter because the systems aren't that much different at the high school level? I'm completely lost, again. :001_huh:

Thanks for the help!

[mcconnellboys]

I don't think there's any Euclidean geometry on the ACT/SAT's. The only school I know of that specifically touts teaching Euclidean geometry is Patrick Henry College.

Regena

[Kimber]

Thanks Regena!

Kimberly

[CleoQc]

Can someone define Euclidian geometry for me?

When I did my geometry in high school, we had a text from 1965. I still have that text, I loved it that much.
In grade 10 and 11 (we don't have grade 12) I had 100% all year long. The final mark didn't fit on my report card! :lol:

I also know that we were the last school to get credits for geometry apart from math. I always believed what we did was Euclidian, but now I realize I have no idea what's Euclidian anyway? (I do know who Euclid was on the other hand)

[Jane in NC]

Can someone define Euclidian geometry for me?


The geometry of the ancients Greeks was recorded by Euclid in what is probably the most famous math text of all time. "Euclidean Geometry" as discussed in the Elements refers to a study of angle/distance relations in the plane and space, but this geometry can be extended to the n-th dimension.

In the 19th century, the study of non-Euclidean geometries was born. Consider the sphere, on which the sum of the angles of a triangle is greater than 180 degrees. Hyperbolic geometry is another geometry in whch Euclid's 5th postulate (the parallel postulate) does not hold. Hence these geometries are referred to as "Non-Euclidean".

In arguing for and against the relevance of geometry in the high school classroom, one often encounters discussion on the need for "Euclidean geometry". This is not to imply that non-Euclidean geometries are being studied. On the contrary, the argument is whether geometry should be reduced to learning about shapes and measures as elementary schoolers do or whether students should study the traditional methodology of geometry: prove theorems from a given group of axioms.

Hope that clarifies the issue for you.

Jane

[CleoQc]

Thanks Jane.

I did study axioms and theorems and proofs, and that's what I have in mind for my son. I guess that would make it Euclidian.

[Kimber]

Thanks Jane, I didn't even understand what I was reading. I kept telling myself that Euclidean geometry seemed so much easier for students--working with parallel lines rather than curved or spheres. I didn't understand that the discussion was whether or not proofs were used. Somehow or another I thought all geometry was about 2 column proofs and axioms.

I was so totally confused. Thanks!