OMGeom

Geometry deals with shapes. Pretty simple really. Even preschoolers do geometry. In fact, I bet it’s the first type of math anyone has ever done; putting blocks in the right place, stacking up Legos to make towers, drawing scribbles or irregularly shaped objects. We’ve been applying geometry before we’ve even started talking. But as we get older, we soon find out that geometry is not just about circles and triangles. Nope. Unfortunately, we find out about what’s inside of each one like the area or the angles and the lengths of the different sides blah blah blah. It’s not a piece of cake. It’s a whole lot of pieces.

My group and I started the session with a game. The goal of the game was to make the required shape with toothpicks. Not as simple as it sounds. The instructions were quite specific and not all that easy to get. It definitely required some brain work.

Then we had a debate on whether or not all buildings should be rectangular. I was on the con side. In terms of stability, the triangle was the most stable shape (according to an architecture student). Economically, the shape is just a small factor. What really matters here are the materials used, may it be expensive or not. By the end of the debate, it was sought out that the different shapes of buildings serve different purposes.

We then made a video about the different types of geometry, namely: Euclidean geometry which is the study of flat space, Riemannian geometry which is the study of curved surfaces, and Hyperbolic geometry which is the study of a saddle shaped space. Who would’ve thought that there were different types of geometry? I certainly didn’t before making the video.

This activity broadened my knowledge on geometry. Though preparing for all of this was quite burdensome, I have to admit I did have a bit of fun.

Geometry is everywhere. It is happening in the world all around us. Whether you’re aware of it or not, geometry quite literally shapes our lives.