Introduction and Summary
This chapter is an introduction to geometry.
Here, we will
explore some basic geometric shapes and learn how to find their perimeter
and area.
The first section will explain the
meaning of the term "perimeter." It will show how to calculate the
perimeter of a polygon, and it will introduce formulas that will help
calculate the perimeter of rectangles and squares.
The second section will explain the
meaning of the term "area." It will introduce formulas that will help in the
calculation of the area of rectangles and squares.
The third section will focus on circles. It will
introduce a special term for the "perimeter" of a circle--
circumference--as well as other terms that mathematicians use when
they talk about circles, such as diameter and radius. This section
will present formulas for the calculation of the circumference and area of
circles, and it will explain the mathematical term pi (represented by Π).
The material covered in this chapter will be important in the study of
geometry. It will allow the reader to begin working with shapes and the
calculations associated with them. The formulas that are taught in this
chapter will reappear in later math classes, especially geometry, where they
will be studied in greater depth. In order to study this material in greater
depth, however, one must first master the basics that are covered in this
chapter.
