Geometry Notes

By: Andy Witten

Chapter 1
Section 1
What is Geometry?
The branch of mathematics which investigates the relations, properties, and
measurements of solids, surfaces, lines, and angles
History of Geometry
2000 B.C.
1. Development of permanent towns and villages
2. Need for agriculture
3. Land had to be measured
Geometry comes from
GEO earth and METREIN to measure
Geometry was originally the science of measuring land
Approximations and trial and error were used to develop rules and
procedures
Thales (624 546 B.C.) Father of Mathematics
Insisted that geometric statements be established by reasoning rather
than trial and error
Pythagoras (580 490 B.C.) First Pure Mathematician
Continued the work of Thales
Mathematician and Astronomer
Head of the Pythagoreans
Philosophers Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato
Euclid (330 260 B.C.) Father of Geometry
Elements
1. Collections of all mathematical works of the time
2. One of the most widely read books of all time
Axiomatic Method
1. Method of proving that results are correct
Set of terms and statements that we all accept as true without proof
Undefined Terms: those things that can only be explained by examples
and description
Postulates (or Axioms): statements that are accepted as true without
proof
The Theorem: a statement or conjecture that can be proven by

undefined terms, postulates, or definitions

Undefined terms
Point a location
1. A point has no actual size

Line a line is made up of points and has no thickness or width. Points

that are on the same line are said to be collinear
Plane a flat surface made up of point. Points on the same plane are

said to be coplanar
Naming Conventions for Points, Lines and Planes
Point
1. P = Point P
Line
1. Line AE line
Plane
1. Plane M
Undefined terms
To lie On: Points can lie on a plane
1. Point Q lies on line PR line
Euclids First Postulate
Postulate 2.1: Through any two points there is exactly one line
Line Segment: A measureable part of a line that consist of two points, called
endpoints, and all of the points between them
Betweeness of points
Between: For any two points A and B on a line, the point C is between
A and B, if and only if A, B, and C are collinear and AC

line

+BC

line

=AB

line

AC

line

, BC

line

, And AB

line

without the - on top denote the

measurement or length of segments

Section 2
Congruent: having the same measurement
Precision: the precision of any measurement depends on the smallest unite
available on the measuring tool. The measurement should be precise within
0.5 unit of measure.
Section 3

Distance on a number line

Distance formula on a number line
X-S=lEl