List of interactive geometry software explained

Interactive geometry software (IGS) or dynamic geometry environments (DGEs) are computer programs which allow one to create and then manipulate geometric constructions, primarily in plane geometry. In most IGS, one starts construction by putting a few points and using them to define new objects such as lines, circles or other points. After some construction is done, one can move the points one started with and see how the construction changes.

History

The earliest IGS was the Geometric Supposer, which was developed in the early 1980s.[1] This was soon followed by Cabri in 1986 and The Geometer's Sketchpad.

Comparison

There are three main types of computer environments for studying school geometry: supposers, dynamic geometry environments (DGEs) and Logo-based programs.[2] Most are DGEs: software that allows the user to manipulate ("drag") the geometric object into different shapes or positions. The main example of a supposer is the Geometric Supposer, which does not have draggable objects, but allows students to study pre-defined shapes. Nearly all of the following programs are DGEs. For a related, comparative physical example of these algorithms, see Lenart Sphere.

License and platform

The following table provides a first comparison of the different software according to their license and platform.

SoftwareCost (USD)LicencePlatforms
Cabri GeometryWindows, macOS
C.a.R.Windows, Linux, macOS
CaRMetalWindows, Linux, macOS
Cinderella 1.4Windows, Linux, Mac OS X (Java)
Cinderella 2.0Windows, Linux, Mac OS X (Java)
DrGeoWindows, Linux, Mac OS X
GeoGebraFree/PaidGeoGebra License[3] Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
GeomWindows, MacOS, Linux
The Geometer's Sketchpad70.02 US$Windows, Mac OS X (Java)
Geometry Expert (GEX)Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
GEUPWindows
KigLinux
KSEGWindows, Linux, Mac OS X
WIRISLinux, Windows, Mac OS X (Java)

3D Software

SoftwareCost (USD)LicencePlatforms
Archimedes Geo3DWindows/Mac OS X/Linux
GeoGebra (from version 5.0 Beta)Free/PaidGeoGebra LicenseWindows, Linux, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, Windows RT
GEUP 3DWindows
Yenka 3D ShapesWindows
WIRISWindows, Linux, Mac OS X

General features

The following table provides a more detailed comparison :

SoftwareCalculationsMacrosLociAnimationsScriptingAssignmentsLaTeX exportWeb exportMultilingualProofsExtra
Cabri II Plus (with plug-in) (on relations)Available on TI Calculator
Calques 3D (FRA ENG DEU ESP PTG) (on relations)Experimental connection with some CAS
CaR
CaRMetal (recursive) (multiple) (JavaScript) (probabilistic)Amodality, folder system, the Monkey
Cinderella (PDF)ProbabilisticSeveral geometries, Physics simulations
Ganja.js2D and 3D, projective and conformal, Geometric Algebra.
GCLCReadable proofs, support for 3D
GeoGebra (JavaScript) (PSTricks & PGF/TikZ) (55 languages)CAS, HTML5 Export (from version 4.2)
3D & Automatic Proof (from version 5.0)
GeometriaTwo-role (teacher, student) model
GeometrixInteractive proof, diagram checking, teacher/student models, labels with dynamic placeholders
Geometry Expressions (Interactive HTML5/JS Apps)Symbolic calculations, which can be copied as input for CAS, TeX, and source code in 21 formats/languages. Functions. Arcs on any function or curve. Website for exported HTML5 Canvas and JavaScript Interactive Apps (Euclid's Muse).
GeoNextAvailable as a web app
Géoplan-Géospace (activeX)Sequences, 2D & 3D, human readable file format
GeoProofAutomatic formal proofs
GEUPCAD functionality through CADGEUP
iGeomProbabilistRecurrent scripts
Kig (Python) (PSTricks)Labels with dynamic placeholders
Live GeometryIncludes player.
Sarit2dAvailable on web
Sketchpad (limited)Functions & function plots, symbolic differentiation, mathematical notation
TabulaFolding, cutting, taping, marker, and working instrument models.
TabulaeCollaborative sessions over the internet.
Cabri 3D (limited)
Archimedes Geo3D (Eng De Fr)Intersection of Loci
GEUP 3DCAD functionality through CADGEUP
NetpadBase on Web
SoftwareCalculationsMacrosLociAnimationsScriptingAssignmentsLaTeX exportWeb exportMultilingualProofsExtra

Macros

Features related to macro constructions: (TODO)

SoftwareAllows recursityAllows saving
Cabri II Plus
Calques 3D
GCLC
GeoGebra
Géoplan-Géospace
GEUP
iGeom
Kig
KSEG
Sketchpad (GSP) (via Iteration)

Loci

Loci features related to IGS: (TODO)

SoftwareTake a point of a locusIntersection of two loci
Cabri II Plus
Calques 3D
CaR
GeoGebra
Géoplan-Géospace
GEUP
iGeom
Kig
Sketchpad (GSP)
NetPad

Proof

We detail here the proof related features. (TODO)

SoftwareInteractive ProofsAutomatic ProofsProbabilist Proofs
Cabri II PlusFeedback for in Cabri I
CinderellaUsing external CAS
GCLC
GeoGebra
Geometrix
Géoplan-Géospace
GeoProof
iGeom
Jeometry
NetPad

Measurements and calculation

Measurement and calculation features related to IGS: (TODO)

SoftwareArbitrary PrecisionArithmetic expressionsTrigonometric functionsIfObject existence test
Cabri
Calques 3D
C.a.R.
GCLC
GeoGebra (JavaScript)
Geometria
Géoplan-Géospace (μ function)
GeoProof
Geometrix
iGeom
NetPad

Graphics export formats

SoftwarePNGBMPTIFFGIFSWFSVGEMFFigPostscriptPdfLaTeX/EukleidesLaTeX/PstricksLaTeX/PGF/TikZAsymptote
Calques 3D
C.a.R.
Cinderella
GCLC
GeoGebra (animated)
Geometry Expressions (animated)
GeoProof
Kig
KmPlot
KSEG

\alpha

Geometrix
iGeom

Object attributes

SoftwareColorFilled/Not filledWidthTransparencyShown/HiddenLayerShape of pointsType of line
Cabri
Calques 3D
C.a.R.
GCLC
GeoGebra
Geometria
Geometry Expressions (but size)
Géoplan-Géospace
Kig
GeoProof
Geometrix
GEUP
iGeom
Sketchpad
NetPad (but size)

2D programs

C.a.R.

C.a.R. is a free GPL analog of The Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP), written in Java.

Cabri

Cabri Cabri was developed by the French school of mathematics education in Grenoble (Laborde, 1993)

CaRMetal

CaRMetal is a free GPL software written in Java. Derived from C.a.R., it provides a different user interface.

Cinderella

Cinderella, written in Java, is very different from The Geometer's Sketchpad. The later version Cinderella.2 also includes a physics simulation engine and a scripting language. Also, it now supports macros, line segments, calculations, arbitrary functions, plots, etc. Full documentation is available online.

Dr Genius

Dr Genius was an attempt to merge Dr. Geo and the Genius calculator.

Dr. Geo

Dr. Geo is a GPL interactive software intended for younger students (7-15). The later version, Dr. Geo II,[4] is a complete rewrite of Dr. Geo, for the Squeak/Smalltalk environment.

GCLC

GCLC[5] is a dynamic geometry tool for visualizing and teaching geometry, and for producing mathematical illustrations. In GCLC, figures are described rather than drawn. This approach stresses the fact that geometrical constructions are abstract, formal procedures and not figures. A concrete figure can be generated on the basis of the abstract description. There are several output formats, including LaTeX, LaTeX/PStricks, LaTeX/Tikz, SVG and PostScript. There is a built-in geometry theorem prover (based on the area method). GCLC is available for Windows and Linux. WinGCLC is a Windows version of GCLC with a graphical interface that provides a range of additional functionalities. GCLC is open source software (licence CC BY-ND).

GeoGebra

GeoGebra is software that combines geometry, algebra and calculus for mathematics education in schools and universities. It is available free of charge for non-commercial users.[6]

GeoKone.NET

GeoKone.NET[7] is an interactive recursive natural geometry (or "sacred geometry") generator that runs in a web browser. GeoKone allows the user to create geometric figures using naturalistic rules of recursive copying, such as the Golden ratio.

Geolog

Geolog[8] is a logic programming language for finitary geometric logic.

Geometry Expressions

Geometry Expressions[9] Does symbolic geometry. It uses real symbolic inputs and returns real and symbolic outputs. It emphasises use with a Computer Algebra System (CAS), as well as exporting and sharing via interactive HTML5, Lua, and OS X dashboard widget apps.

The Geometer's Sketchpad

The Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP)

The Geometric Supposer

The Geometric Supposer[10]

Geonext

Geonext was developed by the University of Bayreuth until 2007 and is completely implemented in Java. Its final version was 1.74.

GeoProof

GeoProof[11] is a free GPL dynamic geometry software, written in OCaml.

GEUP

GEUP is a more calculus-oriented analog of The Geometer's Sketchpad.

GRACE

GRACE (The Graphical Ruler And Compass Editor) is an analog of The Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP), written in Java.

Jeometry

Jeometry is a dynamic geometry applet.

Kig

Kig is a free (GPL) analog of The Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP) for KDE, but more calculus-oriented. It is a part of the KDE Edutainment Project.

KmPlot

KmPlot is a mathematical function plotter released under the free GPL license. Includes a powerful parser and precision printing in correct scale. Simultaneously plot multiple functions and combine function terms to build new functions. Supports functions with parameters and functions in polar coordinates. Several grid modes are available. Features include:

KSEG

KSEG is a free (GPL) analog of The Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP) with some unique features. This software can handle heavy, complex constructions in Euclidean geometry.

Live Geometry

Live Geometry is a free CodePlex project that lets you create interactive ruler and compass constructions and experiment with them. It is written in Silverlight 4 and C# 4.0 (Visual Studio 2010). The core engine is a flexible and extensible framework that allows easy addition of new figure types and features. The project has two front-ends: WPF and Silverlight, which both share the common DynamicGeometry library.

TracenPoche

TracenPoche is a completely Adobe Flash program. It is available in English, Spanish, and French.

3D programs

Cabri 3D

Cabri Geometry

Archimedes Geo3D

Archimedes Geo3D

Euler 3D

Euler (software)

Euler 3D is a program that allows you to create and manipulate your own polyhedrons. It has a number of facilities: transformations, animations, creating duals, import/export VRML, etc.

Free registration required.

GeoGebra

GeoGebra, includes a 3D mode since version 5.0

Geomview

Geomview

GEUP 3D

GEUP

Continuity versus determinism

All these programs can be divided into two category: deterministic and continuous.GeoGebra can be deterministic or continuous (one can change it in preferences).

All constructions in the deterministic programs (GSP, Cabri, Kseg and most of others) are completely determined by the given points but the result of some constructions can jump or behave unexpectedly when a given point is moved.

On the contrary, some constructions in continuous programs (so far only Cinderella and GeoGebra), depend on the number of hidden parameters and in such a way that moving a given point produces a continuous motion of the construction, as a result, if the point is moved back to the original position the result of construction might be different.

Here is a test to check whether a particular program is continuous:

Construct the orthocenter of triangle and three midpoints (say A', B' C' ) between vertices and orthocenter.

Construct a circumcircle of A'B'C' .

This is the nine-point circle, it intersects each side of the original triangle at two points: the base of altitude and midpoint. Construct an intersection of one side with the circle at midpoint now move opposite vertex of the original triangle, if the constructed point does not move when base of altitude moves through it that probably means that your program is continuous.

Although it is possible to make a deterministic program which behaves continuously in this and similar simple examples, in general it can be proved that no program can be continuous and deterministic at the same time.[12]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Schwartz . Yerushalmy and Wilson . The Geometric Supposer: What is it a Case of? . Lawrence Erlbaum Associates . 1993 . Hillsdale, NJ.
  2. Book: Battista , M.T. . The Development of Geometric and Spatial Thinking . Lester, Jr. . F.K. . Second Handbook of Research on Mathematics Teaching and Learning . 843–903 . Information Age and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics . Charlotte, NC . 2007 .
  3. Web site: GeoGebra License . 2022-01-11 .
  4. Web site: DrGeo - OLPC.
  5. Web site: Mathematical Tool GCLC - Geometry Constructions -> LaTeX Converter.
  6. Web site: License.
  7. Web site: Home . GeoKone.NET.
  8. Web site: Geolog and Skolem Machines . 2008-03-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080409014328/http://www.csupomona.edu/~jrfisher/www/geolog/ . 2008-04-09 .
  9. Web site: Geometry Expressions.
  10. Web site: CET - Mathematics. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010420130536/http://www.cet.ac.il/math-international/software5.htm . 2001-04-20 .
  11. Web site: Archived copy . 2006-04-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060421112504/http://home.gna.org/geoproof/ . 2006-04-21 .
  12. Kortenkamp, Ulrich (1999): Foundations of Dynamic Geometry, Dissertation, ETH Zurich 1999. Available online at http://kortenkamps.net/papers/1999/diss.pdf