Head First 2D Geometry: A Brain-Friendly Guide

With honors geometry coming up in school this Fall, I had my son work through 2D Geometry over the summer break. Of course, he thought the idea of having to to do schoolwork over summer break was indication that he had been born of a Nazi father. However, once he caught the idea that this was going to happen, and that I'd be checking over his work each week, he gave the book a chance.And once he did, he was thoroughly engaged. Instead of a formal, class-like approach, the book showed him how human being get their brains to work solving problems... and oh, by the way, you learn some geometry principles as well.Each chapter's project connected him to something real, something he could imagine. Then, with very little prompting from me (mostly about showing his work line by line), he was off. The pacing was very accessible for him, the explanations both thorough and clear, and the visual layout appealing enough that the summer became HIS project, not mine.I'd recommend this treatment of geometry without hesitation.

She needed help with her geometry. Her sister tried to give her the extra help but it wasn't going so well so I bought this one to see if it would help. She said she passed her geometry mid terms and got extra credit; not sure what she meant but the highlight here is that everyone was happy. So I guess this method works way better than the old "2 trains going in opposite directions". I liked the visuals, the coversational style and the examples from our lives today not the ones my grandparents led after WWII.

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Just to pick up on the previous review, the reviewer is correct that this book isn't focussed on geometry proofs in the formal sense.Instead, it aims to be a stepping stone for learners, moving them across that big scary jump between simply learning formulas and plugging your numbers in, and creating formal geometry proofs.In Head First 2D Geometry, the learner - not the author - creates the formulas that they need to solve challenging problems. By going through the process of discovering those formulas for themselves we believe learners develop a deeper and more confident understanding of how geometry works, putting them in the right place to move on to formal proofs.If you're one of those students who didn't struggle until you hit geometry proofs, this book should help you over that hurdle. If you were already confused by the time you hit 'Pi' or if you're new to circle formulas, quads and polygons then Head First 2D Geometry is waiting to be your guide. If you need geometry to apply to your programming or design work, you're our learner too.Like all Head First books, this is a book that will help you to think differently, and targets your brain rather than focussing directly on your exam grade. Head First 3D Geometry (which includes Trig) and Head First Geometry Proofs will both be coming out in 2010. If you're a Head First 2D Geometry reader and you're moving your new skills into proofs, please do come and talk to us at[...] - the more we know about what you find difficult the better our books become.[Hmm... I can't submit unless I rate the item - so obviously I'm giving it 5 stars - but I don't expect anyone to take my rating at face value!]

Since the average student of geometry is having problems performing the proofs which make up the largest portion of any geometry course, I'd say that most high school and college geometry students will not get that much out of this book. Most geometry students easily grasp how to make geometric calculations, what they can't do is formally prove why those calculations are correct.However, if you are a technician and you need to learn how to solve problems using geometry and think geometrically, this is a very good book, and that is why I give it five stars. The table of contents are:Chapter 1. Finding Missing AnglesChapter 2. Similarity and CongruenceChapter 3. The Pythagorean TheoremChapter 4. Triangle PropertiesChapter 5. CirclesChapter 6. QuadrilateralsChapter 7. Regular PolygonsO'Reilly plans to publish a similar practitioner's book on 3D geometry and eventually print still another Head First book on those who need to learn how to perform proofs in geometry.If you've never seen the Head First series of books before, they are completely different from conventional textbooks. They use pictures, fake interview sessions, Q&A sessions, and even crossword puzzles to help you understand concepts. They'll even set you down the wrong path to solving a problem just to help you remember the right path better. This approach works particularly well for something as visual as geometry. Highly recommended for the practitioner and technician, but not the student of geometric proofs.