Geometrography in Dynamic Geometry

Abstract

Geometrography, “alias the art of geometric constructions” was proposed by Émile Lemoine between the late 1800s and the early 1900s. It consisted originally of a system to measure the complexity of ruler-and-compass geometric constructions, capable of: designate every geometric construction by a pair of values that manifests its simplicity and exactitude; teach the simplest way to execute an assigned construction; allow the discussion of a known solution to a problem and eventually replacing it with a better solution; compare different solutions for a problem, by deciding which is the most exact and the simplest solution from the point of view of geometrography. Since then some authors proposed different approaches and perspectives to the study of geometrography. In this article the extrapolation of geometrography to the new tools of dynamic geometry systems is presented and its application to education is foreseen.