What did the little acorn say when he grew up? Geometry (Gee, I’m a tree)!
Sorry for the ‘teacher’ joke.
As soon as we begin to enquire about shapes, we are ‘speaking’ geometry. Originally, it was the mathematics of measuring the Earth, surveying blocks of land for farming, for example. In Egypt, geometry was used to replace boundary markers between properties after the Nile flooded each year. The term geometry comes from the Greek words γη (ge-) or γαια (Gaia) meaning earth, ground or land, and μέτρον (métron) meaning measure.
Geometry can be regarded as the discipline of studying abstract shapes with their properties and relationships. It can also be thought of in very practical terms. Tradespeople use geometry every day of their lives, making sure walls or frames are square, having the correct gradients for trusses, roofs, pathways, stormwater, etc. I have workmen on my roof at the moment, replacing corrugated iron sheeting. The art of cutting the sheeting to fit involves some clever geometry!
All the different facets of geometry result from our asking curious questions. At least, someone asked these questions:
My son isn’t rapt about attending tutoring but Graeme has taken the time find out the things my son is interested in and relate the maths topics to them. I can’t speak highly enough of his patient, calming manner. The maths resources provided have been helpful (and sometimes fun!) in my son’s learning and I have noticed a great improvement in his confidence and ability since starting tutoring.
Judee F (parent, 2012)
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