Math_Fun_by_CAD

Math can be fun with CAD

Last update: Mar 24, 2011 Update history summary
Added Fractal,Chaos Coloring Book Section
What is this site ?
This site offers many popular math topics with animations for easier visual understanding. These animations are created using customizing feature of the industry standard CAD software called AutoCAD. All the contents of this site (GIF animation file, JPG image file, DWG(2004 format) drawing file, and AutoLisp program files) can be downloaded free for non-profit educational use.
This web site is maintained in order to record the author's on-going humble efforts to dispel the following myths.
3 common myths regarding Math & CAD

Math is not cool, no fun at all !!
The widely used CAD softwares(namely AutoCAD & its compatibles) are strictly for architectural,mechanical & other design works.
In order to utilize computer in math education, some specially tailored softwares are required.

How does this site help you :

If you are teaching : to prepare your own resources for math class.
If you are learning how to use AutoCAD :

to learn the basic CAD operations ; how to manipulate graphic objects.
to write your own customization program.

If you are an amateur mathematician : simply to enjoy the beauty of mathematics.
If you think there may be something you missed in math class in high school & college, : you will find some here.
After all, geometry taught in high school is more than 20 centuries old, and even calculus was developed in 17-th century, almost 400 years ago !!.

How the author started this site ?
A long time ago I wanted to learn how to use AutoCAD, and thought the best way to do is to go through a book on geometry because in learning geometry compass & ruler are required, and the modern replacement tool is CAD software. The book chosen was "The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Geometry" written by David Wells, first published by Penguin Books, in 1991. As I went through one topic after another, I realized that if I write programs to repeat the processes and convert them into animation, it would be much easier to understand the contents of the book. More and more similar books came to my attention, and I kept doing the same operation. When more than 150 animations have been accumulated, I have decided that it is about time to put these results into HTML format so that people can have access to them through internet. The process of adding more contents are going on.
How to use this site:
On the top of the page of every topic, there is a list of animation files contained in that section.
By just clicking the hypertext, animation repeats twice and stop.
Use Browser's "Back" button to go back to the list of animations.
This will give you an idea of contents in the section.
If you want to see the drawing files and manipulate objects, you need CAD software which (almost all do) can read DWG(2004) drawing file format. You can download evaluation or trial version from www.autodesk.com , www.cadopia.com ,etc .

If your CAD can handle AutoLISP, download the lisp files to your CAD's folder and execute the application.
You may even modify the lisp files using text editor, and try your own ideas.
How to set up program environment

Topics - Current List

Lines and Circles

Dissections and Tesselations

Pythagorean Theorem and many proofs

Sums of Integers and Series

Topics from Pursuit Curves

How to draw an egg shape

Topics from the Solar system, Sun , Earth and Moon

The Three Famous Problems of Ancient Greek Mathematics

Test Posting-Fractal

Fractal,Chaos Coloring Book　