Turtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for Exploring Mathematics

Front Cover
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.
 

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
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

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
Answers to Selected Exercises
439
Index
471
280
472
Copyright

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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).

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