The Elements of Plane Geometry

Abstract

THIS book contains a revised edition of Books III., IV., V., of the “Syllabus of Plane Geometry” drawn up by the Association for the Improvement of Geometrical Teaching, with demonstrations of the propositions, and an excellent, though limited, collection of suitable exercises. If nothing else than these two parts had been the outcome of the movement first set on foot in our columns, the Association would have amply justified its formation. Much difference of opinion has prevailed as to the desirability or expediency of the Association producing such a work as this. The late Mr. Merrifield for some years strenuously opposed any such proceeding, but at the annual meeting of 1881 he expressed himself as “now satisfied from the experience which he had had in dealing with the examining bodies that they would not get their work really adopted by the public until they had a textbook. Everywhere he was met with the impossibility of wading through a dry Syllabus. Nobody who was not thoroughly versed in mathematics could judge whether there was any real possibility of teaching from the Syllabus at all.” Circumstances appear to have compelled the Association at last to take the field with demonstrations put forward by a selected committee of its members: a principal reason being that the Association was bound to help teachers. The plan of teaching the Syllabus without giving written proofs was found to succeed so long as the teaching was confined to the earlier parts of the subject, but when the later books were reached it was found necessary to give formal written proofs for subsequent reference (Report, 1881, p. 30).

The Elements of Plane Geometry.

Part II. (corresponding to Euclid, Books III., IV., V., VI.). (London: Swan Sonnenschein, 1886.)