Dear Geometers,

Archimedes was one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, but when he died as an old man, he was still drawing circles in the sand. Circles are an endless mystery: they are an enclosed space with infinite sides. Unlike many other shapes, circles appear in nature–ripples in a pond, craters in the moon, the eye of a hurricane, the face of a sunflower. Ancient people studied these circles and from them created the field of geometry.

Today, we’ll create circles using one of the geometer’s best friends–the compass. With this simple tool, we’ll be able to create beautiful, intricate designs. As we’re doing it, look for patterns, look for symmetry, and be prepared to be amazed.

Sincerely,

Mr. H