2 GEOMETRICAL CONSTRUCTIONS. 7. The drawing of tangents to circles, under various conditions. 8. The inscription and circumscription of figures in and about circles; and of circles in and about figures. 7 and 8 may be deferred till the Straight Line and Triangles have been studied theoretically, but should in all cases precede the study of the Circle in Geometry. The above constructions are to be taught generally, and illustrated by one or more of the following classes of problems: (a) The making of constructions involving various combinations of the above in accordance with general (i.e. not numerical) conditions, and exhibiting some of the more remarkable results of Geometry, such as the circumstances under which more than two straight lines pass through a point, or more than two points lie on a straight line. (B) The making of the above constructions and combinations of them to scale (but without the protractor). (7) The application of the above constructions to the indirect measurement of distances. (8) The use of the protractor and scale of chords, and the application of these to the laying off of angles, and the indirect measurement of angles. SYLLABUS OF PLANE GEOMETRY. INTRODUCTION. [NOTE. In the following Introduction are collected together certain general axioms which, though frequently used in Geometry, are not peculiar to that science, and also certain logical relations, the distinct apprehension of which is very desirable in connexion with the demonstrations of the Propositions. They are brought together here for convenience of reference, but it is not intended to imply by this that the study of Geometry ought to be preceded by a study of the logical interdependence of associated theorems. The Association think that at first all the steps by which any theorem is demonstrated should be carefully gone through by the student, rather than that its truth should be inferred from the logical rules here laid down. At the same time they strongly recommend an early application of general logical principles.] 1. Propositions admitted without demonstration are 2. called Axioms. Of the Axioms used in Geometry those are termed General which are applicable to magnitudes of all kinds: the following is a list of the general axioms more frequently used. (a) The whole is greater than its part. (b) The whole is equal to the sum of its parts. |