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. Harold Abelson is an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT. Andrea diSessa is an associate professor in the Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley.
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"A college-level math text for serious mathematicians and fans of recreational mathematics. This book proves that turtle graphics is not just kid stuff." Popular Computing
"Reading this book with the help of a good graphics computer system, you are sure to discover new and interesting math... an excellent textbook or self-study guide." W. Lloyd Milligan , Byte
About the Author
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).
Robert J. Barro is Robert C. Waggoner Professor of Economics at Harvard University and a senior fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.About Robert Barro:"He has changed the way economists think about everything from the long-run effects of government deficits to the forces that favor economic growth."--Sylvia Nasar, New York Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite geometry textbook,
This review is from: Turtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for Exploring (Hardcover)
I discovered this little gem of a book while exploring the stacks in the library when I was attending a local junior college back in the 80's. The author uses Logo's turtle graphics as a way of exploring the properties of geometric space. From very simple beginnings drawing regular polygons and other simple shapes, the book gradually works its way to more and more complicated scenarios. After exploring the properties of ordinary turtle graphics, turtle graphics are tried on the surfaces of spheres and cubes, then on more complicated surfaces. Little by little, concepts of non-Euclidean geometry are introduced, until the final chapters in which the turtle is used to demonstrate the geometric nature of gravity in Einstein's general theory of relativity.I strongly recommend this book to anyone with interests in computer programming, geometry and physics. The unusual approach this book takes to the understanding of curved space is deceptively simple and surprisingly powerful.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
forward thinking book about using the computer for mathematics education,
By
This review is from: Turtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for Exploring Mathematics (Artificial Intelligence) (Paperback)
Turtle Geometry teaches mathematics and physics via the computer and the Logo programming language. The mathematics covered is pretty advanced, including topology, and general relativity. Yet, through the use of turtle geometry this advanced math and physics becomes accessible to the layperson. Although all of the examples are in the Logo programming language there are listings of Basic routines in the back of the book. With the help of the Basic routines I was able to easily translate the Logo/Basic code to the Python programming language which I choose to use for reading this book. The reviewers of this book mention it as the beginnning of a revolution in mathematics education. It seems though, that this revolution did not come about as computers are still not used very effectively in the classroom. I think this is very sad as the teaching approach used in Turtle Geometry could be very successful in the classroom.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good book to show how to use logo as a tool for math,
By A Customer
This review is from: Turtle Geometry: The Computer as a Medium for Exploring Mathematics (Artificial Intelligence) (Paperback)
Anyone interested in logo from beginners to advanced userswill benefit from reading this book. It has very easy and simple to understand examples, along with a review, and questions at the end of every chapter. Some solutions are provided at the end of the book, (and their even correct, as opposed to many other text books I've read). The pace of the book gets gradually more difficulst, yet more interesting as you reach the climax at the end. A must read for anyone interested in Mathematics.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Imagine that you have control of a little creature called a turtle that exists in a mathematical plane or, better yet, on a computer display screen. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
closing theorem, regular monogon, piecewise square surface, regular unexpectedly, piecewise flat surfaces, fixed instruction sequence, wedge map, concentrated curvature, turtle line, northeast vertex, turtle path, turtle trek, spatial bending, cube program, turtle program, total turning, turtle geometry, turtle commands, curvature density, turtle circle, simple closed path, turtle walking, additivity theorem, total curvature, turtle starts Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Turtle Escapes the Plane, Exploring the Cube, Topology of Turtle Paths, Form Figure, General Relativity, Introduction Figure, Implementing Turtle Vector Graphics New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Imagine that you have control of a little creature called a turtle that exists in a mathematical plane or, better yet, on a computer display screen. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
closing theorem, regular monogon, piecewise square surface, regular unexpectedly, piecewise flat surfaces, fixed instruction sequence, wedge map, concentrated curvature, turtle line, northeast vertex, turtle path, turtle trek, spatial bending, cube program, turtle program, total turning, turtle geometry, turtle commands, curvature density, turtle circle, simple closed path, turtle walking, additivity theorem, total curvature, turtle starts Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Turtle Escapes the Plane, Exploring the Cube, Topology of Turtle Paths, Form Figure, General Relativity, Introduction Figure, Implementing Turtle Vector Graphics New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 8
books:
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17
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- The Theory of Relativity: & Other Essays by Albert Einstein in Front Matter, page 343, and page 372
- Artificial Intelligence (3rd Edition) by Winston in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and Front Matter (3)
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy in Front Matter
- On Growth and Form: The Complete Revised Edition (Dover Books on Biology) by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson on page 85
- The Interpretation of Visual Motion (Artificial Intelligence Series) by Michael Brady in Front Matter
See all 8 books this book cites
- Pattern Book: Fractals, Art and Nature, the by Clifford A. Pickover on page 134, and page 137
- Information and Communication Technology and the Teacher of the Future (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology) by Carolyn Dowling on page 227
- Machine Translation: A View from the Lexicon (Artificial Intelligence) by Bonnie Jean Dorr in Back Matter
- The Language Complexity Game (Artificial Intelligence) by Eric Sven Ristad in Back Matter
- Unobstructed Shortest Paths in Polyhedral Environments (Lecture Notes in Computer Science) by Varol Akman in Back Matter
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