Reading Guide to Birkhoff and Beatley (B&B)

We will start off with a modified version of the axioms in B&B, staring with congruence before similarity.  The following reading guide may help follow this modified path.  A further guide will be provided in a day or two.

Chapter 1

• Skim over pp 1-19 very lightly, noting the role of definition and undefined terms.
• Read the proofs of pp. 20-23 carefully.
• On page 24, problem 1 will be covered in lab 3 (look for it)
• On page 24, the problems about kites (2, 3, 4) are covered in the homework.
• Read carefully the pages 26-36 about reasoning.  You may want to skim this over and return and reread from time to time as you write more proofs.

Chapter 2

The assumptions that we will make at the outset are Principles 1 – 4 and a modified Principle 5 called SAS Congruence.

• SAS Congruence (congruence version of Principle 5).  If ABC and DEF are triangles, with angle A = angle D, side AB = DE, and side AC = DF, then triangle ABC is congruent to triangle DEF.