How to Get Started with GEX2.0 
revised 19may11, 15jun13


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\maketitle

\section{Introduction}
If you have not already done so, you should download 
Micheal Hvidsten's
Geometry Explorer  (GEX2.0) as appropriate to your computer platform.
The GEX1.0 which comes on a CD with your textbook is not adequate for this course. Why this is so is explained at length elsewhere. 

\section{Summer 2013 Additions}
You may wish to watch a 

9.5 minute 14.2MB MP4 video made  by Brian Fisher for his 
course, netMA348SU13, which will get you started using GEX2.0. But compare this video with the one on KSEG, since KSEG is similar to GEX2.0 in many respects. 
And the geometrical subjects used for illustration differ.

\section{Why don't we use KSEG?}
Especially since there seems to be a lot of advice on using KSEG in the
Advice section of the course. KSEG is a good product, but it cannot do
non-Euclidean geometry. Also, it does not come with an extensive manual
documenting its use. It is a very useful construction kit for other courses.
Therefore there is careful documentation here for it. GEX comes with a 
very generous document for how to use it. You should download it and keep it
handy on your computer.

\section{What about GEX?}
GEX is very \textbf{ geometrical} in its design. That is, Prof. Hvidsten 
has separated the GEX palette (see the advice on Palettes) into three sections.
\subsection{Create Geometrical Objects}
The first, labelled \textbf{ Create}. The only essential buttons here are 
the Chooser (the black arrow) and the Point creator. But for your convenience,
he has provided creators for the Circle, Segment, Ray, and Line. These all
depend on two points, and could be constructed by creating two points, and then
passing to the Construct buttons. So don't get confused by the fact that 
there are two buttons with the picture of a 2-point segment on them. They are
located in different groups. 
\subsection{Construct  Geometrical Objects}
Given two geometrical objects, new objects can be constructed, which subsequently depend on the initial ones. Thus, if you move one of the end points of 
segment with the Chooser, the segment follows along. The construction does not
fall apart. Experimenting witht these tools is the fastest way to learn GEX.
\subsection{Transform Geometrical Objects}
Certain point transformations in the plane, whether it is the Euclidean on a
non-Euclidean plane, apply to any and all chosen objects. But the nature of
the transformation must first be determined. 

For a translation, you'll need a vector. And a vector is best defined by two
points, a first and a last point. The second point is the arrowhead on the
vector. For a rotation, you'll need a point and an angle. And so forth.

\section{The Wiggle Test}
It is possible to construct a figure carelessly, disregarding the geometrical
principles. So, you don't guess where the midpoint of a segment is located. You must 
construct it. (There is a button for that.) And, you can tell that you've 
done a proper construction, by moving some initial points (the ones you
created at the start.) If the figure continues to illustrate the same 
geometrical principles, you have done it correctly.

 


 


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