Turtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for Exploring Mathematics

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MIT Press, 1986 - Computers - 477 pages
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Turtle Geometry presents an innovative program of mathematical discovery thatdemonstrates how the effective use of personal computers can profoundly change the nature of astudent's contact with mathematics. Using this book and a few simple computer programs, students canexplore the properties of space by following an imaginary turtle across the screen.The concept ofturtle 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 universityundergraduates. Harold Abelson is an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineeringand Computer Science at MIT. Andrea diSessa is an associate professor in the Graduate School ofEducation, University of California, Berkeley.

 

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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 ... Read full review

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 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 3
378
Exercises for Section 9 4
387
Turtle Procedure Notation
393
Writing Turtle Programs in Conventional Computer
405

Exercises for Section 4 4
198
Exercises for Section 5 3
235
Exploring the Cube
241
A Second Look at the Sphere
279
Hints for Selected Exercises
423
Answers to Selected Exercises
439
Index
471
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

ANGLE axis basic called chapter circle closed path commands common Consider coordinates corresponding crossing cube curve defined deformation direction display distance draw edge equal equation example excess exercise face fact figure fixed flat formula FORWARD geometry give given going handle heading implement initial inputs integer keep LEFT length LEVEL look loop means measure method moving multiple Notice observe operation path pieces plane POLY position possible problem procedure projection proof region REPEAT represent result RETURN RIGHT rotation segments sequence shown in figure shows SIDE simple simulation space specified sphere spirograph square starting step straight subsection Suppose surface symmetry theorem things three-dimensional topological torus total curvature total turning triangle turtle turtle's vector vertex vertices walk wedge window zero

References to this book

About the author (1986)

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

QR code for Turtle Geometry
TitleTurtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for Exploring Mathematics
Artificial Intelligence Series
MIT Press series in artificial intelligence, ISSN 2691-8951
AuthorsHarold Abelson, Andrea A. DiSessa
Editionillustrated, reprint, revised
PublisherMIT Press, 1986
ISBN0262510375, 9780262510370
Length477 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Computers / Computer Science
Computers / Languages / General
Computers / Reference
Mathematics / Geometry / General
  
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