Experiment in Hyperbolic Geometry
Directions: Point your internet browser to Non Euclid You may either download NonEuclid.zip or run the appet "NonEuclid". Do the following.
- In the PoincarŽ model, follow Euclid's proof of proposition 1 to construct an equilateral triangle ABC.
- Draw line segment AB
- Draw circle with center A and radius AB
- Draw circle with center B and radius BA
- Construct the points of intersection C, D
- Draw line segments, AC, BC
- Measure triangle ABC
- Move points A and B around the space and answer the following questions:
- Are the sides of your triangle always equal?
- Are the angles of your triangle always equal?
- What is the largest angle sum possible? What does the triangle look like when you get close to this sum?
- What is the smallest angle sum possible? What does the triangle look like when you get close to this sum?
- Change to the half plane model of hyperbolic geometry and repeat steps 1, 2, 3.
Last Update: October 4, 2006
Ronald K. Smith
Graceland University
Lamoni, IA 50140
rsmith@graceland.edu