Geometry

Rating:
Summary: Easy to use and covers material well.
Review: I have used other Geometry books that seem to give over 1/3 of the book for basic elementary geometry and didn't even introduce proofs until almost 2/3 the way through the book! This book almost immediately starts out with some great information about Postulates, and lets the student slowly be introduced to the concept of "proofs" without throwing it on them near the end of the year. Numbered angles are usually written in red, which helps it stick out from the lines/segments/triangles and helps visual learners and others quickly identify parts of the diagram. Short Biographical notes tell of people that use geometry in the 'real world', short paragraphs include information about places that geometry are useful from house building to satelites in space. This is a VERY good geometry text and it comes HIGHLY recommended.

Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: I used this book for a semester geometry course (covering Chapters 1 through 13), and it was marvelous! Besides the fact that there are no typographical errors, the book flows logically from one chapter to the next. In addition, its early introduction of proofs guarantees a successful continuation and comprehension of the essence of geometry. Moreover, the lettered exercises at the end of each section go from easy to difficult--allowing for a gradual increase in skill. Finally, the logic appendix at the end is a great introduction to proofs and to the mathematical field of logic.

Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: I used this book for a semester geometry course (covering Chapters 1 through 13), and it was marvelous! Besides the fact that there are no typographical errors, the book flows logically from one chapter to the next. In addition, its early introduction of proofs guarantees a successful continuation and comprehension of the essence of geometry. Moreover, the lettered exercises at the end of each section go from easy to difficult--allowing for a gradual increase in skill. Finally, the logic appendix at the end is a great introduction to proofs and to the mathematical field of logic.

Rating:
Summary: not helpful AT ALL
Review: I used this book for my sophomore year of geometry. The majority of people in my class squeaked by first semester with a B- - C-. Then come 2nd semester, 90% of the class FAILS, including myself. I'm especially disappointed since my report card says straight As for all my classes except for an Incomplete for geometry. This book, like the previous reviewer said, does not provide enough helpful examples to guide you through the problems. The examples help you through the first few problems which are obviously simple but then you go past the fifth problem and you're totally stuck. I'm currently making up the work I left incomplete. Not because I was lazy, it's because I couldn't understand the book's concept. And so this summer, I'm stuck with this cursed book AGAIN. I need to retake the 2nd semester final all because of this book. Now I know not everyone is gifted with mathematical skills as some others may be. But can't there be a book where EVERYONE can understand? Last year in Algebra, I passed with an A. Because the book was easy to comprehend and provided the student with examples thorough enough to guide you through basically all the problems. I forgot the name of it but the initials of the author were H.M. Houghlin...Mc something. Now THAT's a book I'd take home any day.

Rating:
Summary: horrible book
Review: it teaches some wierd geometry where the actual theorems have been claimed as postulates. if you'll take a look on page 692 where all "postulates" are listed you'll find that many of them are actually theorems (for examples, "postulates" 10-14 are theorems and have proof based on real axioms which for some wierd reason are not listed in this book at all!)

Rating:
Summary: Not a great geometry book.
Review: This book fails to teach geometry properly. Sure it lists the theorems and sometimes examples of them. This book doesn't provide enough examples of problems and a better explanation of the topics in order to help the student.
Once in awhile an example will come up, but they only help for a problem or two. You're basically stuck trying to figure out a problem. It doesn't even explain how to work on proofs! You're left figuring them out on your own and wondering if you did them right.

I believe the other reviewers for the book are either the publisher and authors who want to sell the book. Also instructors who like this book because they have all the answers to them, so they think they know how to do the problems. I'm sure they would be stuck without their solutions manual!

There are far better geometry books out there, so teach with those and NOT this one!

Rating:
Summary: I really like this book.
Review: This is an excellent resource for a traditional geometry course. I especially love the challenging problems at the end of each lesson. The homework problems have a wide range of difficulty that can accommodate the most advanced honors student, but it can also be used in a regular level class. No errors or typos in this book. Does not integrate technology, but I use GeoSketch Pad assignments to supplement in this area. I have taught with this text for four years and love it.

Rating:
Summary: Not a great geometry book.
Review: This is probably one of the best mathematical books that I have read thus far. This book must be read by every pre-college student who seeks the heavenly path to Mathland and Logicland or Philosophy. It was genuinely interesting to read and work the exercises that range from simple to very challenging. The chapters are broken to small units which make things very easy to comprehend, and provide innate feeling that you are making a lot of progress, all the time. What a wonderful feeling when you are doing math. The book contains a lot of background that will prepare you well for future studies of Math, Logic, and Proofs beyond Geometry. The real life examples are interesting. And last, but not least there is no danger that you will need a foot surgery if the book will fall on your feet, the book had more than 600 pages, but somehow the publisher kept it small and light weight. I wish I had access to this book in High-Scholl.

Rating:
Summary: Good addition to any course
Review: We used this book throughout last year in geometry and I found it to be helpful in having plenty of sample problems of how to use the things we learned in class. The problem some of the previous reviewers had, of not being able to understand, have a teacher issue, not a book issue. If the teacher taught instead of the book they would be fine.