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Stephanie Ng

Euclidean and NonEuclidean Geometry

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Euclidean Geometry

Attributed to the Greek mathematician Euclid of Alexandria study of planes and solid figures on the basis of axioms and theorems over two thousand years, the word Euclidean was not needed because no other type of geometry had been discovered

The For

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Euclids Elements
Written Earliest

by Euclid around 300 BC

known systematic discussion of geometry a collection of definitions, axioms, propositions (theorems and constructions) and mathematical proofs successful and influential textbook ever written

Comprises

Most

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Axioms
Axiom:

a mathematical statement assumed to be true geometry is an axiomatic system

Euclidean Serves All

as a starting point from which other logical statements are derived theorems are derived from a number of axioms

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Theorems
True

statements

A statement The

proved on the basis of previously accepted/established statements proof of a theorem is a logical argument demonstrating that the hypothesis and conclusion are true without any further assumptions

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Non-Euclidean Geometry
Hyperbolic Not

and elliptic geometry

widely accepted until the 19th century rejection of Euclids parallel postulate:

The

If a line segment intersects two straight lines forming two interior angles on the same side that sum to less than 180, then the two lines, if extended indefinitely, meet on that side on which the angle sum to less than 180.
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Differences between the two geometries

The

difference between Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry is the nature of parallel lines of parallel lines, the lines either curve away or toward each other

Instead

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TOK Issues
Axioms

statements assumed true

How do we know these statements are true? Not logical if they are just assumed true

Theorems

statements proven true based on axioms

If axioms are assumed true, then theorems

have not been proven because there is no way of knowing if axioms are true or not
Not logical arguments because there is no

logic to something assumed true

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