Turtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for Exploring Mathematics

Harold Abelson, Andrea Disessa

MIT Press, Jul 9, 1986 - Computers - 498 pages

Turtle Geometry presents an innovative program of mathematical discovery that demonstrates how the effective use of personal computers can profoundly change the nature of a student's contact with mathematics. Using this book and a few simple computer programs, students can explore the properties of space by following an imaginary turtle across the screen. The concept of turtle geometry grew out of the Logo Group at MIT. Directed by Seymour Papert, author of Mindstorms, this group has done extensive work with preschool children, high school students and university undergraduates.

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LibraryThing Review

User Review  - nillacat - LibraryThing

A lovely book on how to think geometrically and algorithmically, using a simple programming language to produce pictures and prove theorems, starting from Eucliedean Geometry and ending with the ...

Contents

• Introduction to Turtle Geometry: 3
• Exercises for Section 1 2: 30
• Exercises for Section 1 4: 50
• Exercises for Section 2 3: 85
• Exercises for Section 2 4: 99
• Vector Methods in Turtle Geometry: 105
• Exercises for Section 3 2: 135
• Topology of Turtle Paths: 161
• Exercises for Section 4 2: 179
• Exercises for Section 4 3: 188
• Exercises for Section 4 4: 198
• Exercises for Section 5 3: 235
• Exploring the Cube: 241
• A Second Look at the Sphere: 288
• Exercises for Chapter 7: 301
• Exercises for Section 8 2: 330
• Exercises for Section 8 3: 338
• Exercises for Section 9 2: 370
• Exercises for Section 9 4: 387
• Writing Turtle Programs in Conventional Computer: 405
• Hints for Selected Exercises: 423
• Answers to Selected Exercises: 439
• Index: 471
• 280: 472

About the author

Hal Abelson is Class of 1922 Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a fellow of the IEEE. He is a founding director of Creative Commons, Public Knowledge, and the Free Software Foundation. Additionally, he serves as co-chair for the MIT Council on Educational Technology.

Andrea diSessa is Chancellor's Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley, and a member of the National Academy of Education. He is the coauthor of Turtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for Exploring Mathematics (MIT Press, 1981).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Turtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for Exploring Mathematics; Artificial Intelligence Series
• Authors: Harold Abelson, Andrea Disessa
• Edition: illustrated, reprint, revised
• Publisher: MIT Press, 1986
• ISBN: 0262510375, 9780262510370
• Length: 498 pages
• Subjects: Computers / Computer Science