Hit the geometry wall? Get up and running with this no-nonsense guide! Does the thought of geometry make you jittery? You're not alone. Fortunately, this down-to-earth guide helps you approach it from a new angle, making it easier than ever to conquer your fears and score your highest in geometry. From getting started with geometry basics to making friends with lines and angles, you'll be proving triangles congruent, calculating circumference, using formulas, and serving up pi in no time.
Geometry is a subject full of mathematical richness and beauty. But it's a subject that bewilders many students because it's so unlike the math they've done before—it requires the use of deductive logic in formal proofs. If you're having a hard time wrapping your mind around what that even means, you've come to the right place! Inside, you'll find out how a proof's chain of logic works and even discover some secrets for getting past rough spots along the way. You don't have to be a math genius to grasp geometry, and this book helps you get un-stumped in a hurry!
- Find out how to decode complex geometry proofs
- Learn to reason deductively and inductively
- Make sense of angles, arcs, area, and more
- Improve your chances of scoring higher in your geometry class
There's no reason to let your nerves get jangled over geometry—your understanding will take new shape with the help of Geometry For Dummies.
Mark Ryan is the founder and owner of The Math Center in the Chicago area, where he provides tutoring in all math subjects as well as test preparation. Mark is the author of Calculus For Dummies, Calculus Workbook For Dummies, and Geometry Workbook For Dummies.
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Started with Geometry Basics 5
CHAPTER 1: Introducing Geometry 7
CHAPTER 2: Building Your Geometric Foundation 17
CHAPTER 3: Sizing Up Segments and Analyzing Angles 31
Part 2: Introducing Proofs 43
CHAPTER 4: Prelude to Proofs 45
CHAPTER 5: Your Starter Kit of Easy Theorems and Short Proofs 55
CHAPTER 6: The Ultimate Guide to Tackling a Longer Proof 75
Part 3: Triangles: Polygons of the Three-Sided Variety 87
CHAPTER 7: Grasping Triangle Fundamentals 89
CHAPTER 8: Regarding Right Triangles 107
CHAPTER 9: Completing Congruent Triangle Proofs 125
Part 4: Polygons of the Four-or-More-Sided Variety 153
CHAPTER 10: The Seven Wonders of the Quadrilateral World 155
CHAPTER 11: Proving That You Have a Particular Quadrilateral 177
CHAPTER 12: Polygon Formulas: Area, Angles, and Diagonals 193
CHAPTER 13: Similarity: Same Shape, Different Size 211
Part 5: Working with Not-So-Vicious Circles 235
CHAPTER 14: Coming Around to Circle Basics 237
CHAPTER 15: Circle Formulas and Theorems 255
Part 6: Going Deep with 3-D Geometry 277
CHAPTER 16: 3-D Space: Proofs in a Higher Plane of Existence 279
CHAPTER 17: Getting a Grip on Solid Geometry 287
Part 7: Placement, Points, and Pictures: Alternative Geometry Topics 303
CHAPTER 18: Coordinate Geometry 305
CHAPTER 19: Changing the Scene with Geometric Transformations 323
CHAPTER 20: Locating Loci and Constructing Constructions 343
Part 8: The Part of Tens 361
CHAPTER 21: Ten Things to Use as Reasons in Geometry Proofs 363
CHAPTER 22: Ten Cool Geometry Problems 369
Index 377
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