What Is Geometry?
Geometry is a branch mathematics that studies shapes and their properties.Dictionary Definition
The Oxford English Dictionary defines geometry as "the branch of mathematics concerned with the properties and relations of points, lines, surfaces, and solids."Where Does the Word Geometry Come From?
Geometry comes from combining the Greek words 'ge' ("earth") and 'metria' ("measurement"). Geometry means measuring the earth or land. This is because initially geometry would have been used practically to measure areas of fields and the lengths of roads.Euclid and Geometry
Euclid was an ancient Greek mathematician, famous for his work in geometry. His book of geometry, Elements, is one of the most widely read books of all time and has earned Euclid the nickname the Father of Geometry. Euclid has had many great fans. Abraham Lincoln kept a copy of Euclid in his saddlebag and would read it late at night by lamplight to aid his career as a lawyer: "You never can make a lawyer if you do not understand what demonstrate means; and I left my situation in Springfield, went home to my father's house and stayed there till I could give any proposition in the six books of Euclid at sight". Albert Einstein received a copy when he was a boy and claimed it had a great influence on him. He called Elements the "holy little geometry book".The Curriculum
The lessons are grouped into mini-curriculum to help you organise your learning. A brief description is given for each mini-curriculum. Click the MORE button to learn more.Plane Shapes
Plane shapes are two-dimensional, flat shapes: such as circles, squares and triangles. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn about plane shapes.
Areas
Area is a measure of the size of a plane shape. Larger shapes have more area. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn the areas of plane shapes.
Here is an interactive widget to find the areas of plane shapes.
Volumes
Volume is a measure of a space that a three-dimensional shape contains. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn the volumes of shapes.
Here is an interactive widget to find the volumes of 3D shapes.
Circles
Circles have an interesting geometry; there are many terms to understand: radius, diameter, circumference, sector and segment. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn about circle geometry.
Here is an interactive widget to learn about circle geometry.
Radius of a Circle
The radius is the line segment from the center of the circle to any point on the circle. The radius also refers to the length of this line segment. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn about how to find the length of the radius from the other dimensions of a circle.
Diameter of a Circle
The diameter is the line segment that contains the centre of the circle and has its endpoints on the circle. The diameter also refers to the length of this line segment. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn about how to find the length of the diameter from the other dimensions of a circle.
Area of a Circle
The area of a circle is can be found from the diameter. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn about how to find the area of a circle from its diameter.
Circle Theorems
Circles have properties related to angles and lines. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn the circle theorems that relate to all circles, such as that tangents meet the radius at 90° and the alternate segment theorem.
Triangles
A triangle is a shape with three sides and three angles. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn about the different types of triangles and their properties.
Here is an interactive widget to learn about triangle geometry. Here is a game to learn about the different types of triangle.
Angles
An angle is a created when two lines meet. It is also a measure of the rotation between the two lines. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn about the different types of angles and how they are measured.
Angle Properties
Two more angles can add up to a right angle, a straight angle or a full angle. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn about complementary angles, supplementary angles and explementary angles.
Here is a game to learn about the 3 main types of angle.
Polygons
A polygon is a 2-dimensional shape with straight sides. In this mini-curriculum, you will learn about different types of polygons and their properties.
Here is an interactive widget to learn about parallelogram geometry. Here is an interactive widget to learn about trapezoid geometry. Here is an interactive widget to learn about rectangle geometry. Here is an interactive widget to learn about square geometry. Here is an interactive widget to learn about ellipse geometry.