A Math Forum Project

Geometry Forum Problem of the Week

    "The Dot and The Line" - Sept. 26-30, 1994

    Bonita and Braulio had to do a book report for geometry class. They picked a book by Norton Juster called "The Dot and the Line". This is what they wrote:

    The Dot and the Line is a love story between the beautiful dot and the simple line. The line was in love with the dot, but she didn't love the line because she only had eyes for the squiggle. The line figured it was because he was too boring, and that she loved the squiggle because he was so interesting. So the line figured out how to turn himself into an angle, and he and the dot fell in love and lived happily ever after. We thought this was pretty cool, but we had some geometry questions that we'd like your help in answering.

    1. Is it possible for the line to be both a line and an angle at the same time?
      Why or why not?

    2. Could the line turn itself into a ray?

    3. Is it possible, if the line bends itself at several points simultaneously,
      for it to become more than one angle at a time?

    4. What other twists and turns could you add to this plot?

    5. What might become the line's favorite party trick?

    6. Write your own question!

    [This problem comes mostly from Harold Jacob's Geometry book.]
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2 July 1995