August 14, 2008

Things that make me pause

Maybe it's the math nerd of the complex thinker in me or something...but I seem to have no trouble over-thinking questions to make sure all possible answers are accounted for. For example:
"What type(s) of quadrilaterals is the base of a pyramid?" Well, what do we call solids that have a non-regular polygonal base--like a trapezoid? Must every pyramid have 2 pairs of congruent faces? I apparently will now have to do some research.

Also, regarding prisms: while height is defined as the perpendicular distance between bases--I've only ever seen teachers and textbooks use right cylinders (obviously there must be slanted cylinders) or prisms where edges meet the bases at right angles.

Maybe this is why I was never strong at Geometry.

Posted by Anna at August 14, 2008 03:26 PM | TrackBack