Chapter 3 Exploring Polyhedra
Most of the geometry we have studied thus far has been on a flat surface called a plane. While planar geometry is easier to draw, it is not the world we live in. All physical objects, including boxes, rooms, chairs, pets, and humans, have length, width, and height.
The sculptor creates art in a three-dimensional world while the painter projects an image of the three-dimensional world onto a flat, two-dimensional canvas. Similarly, images in this section have been projected from three-dimensional space to the two-dimensional computer screen or book. This projection may distort shapes and angles. Constructing objects or finding examples in your surroundings may be helpful as you seek to understand the geometry of our world.
Who needs to study three-dimensional geometry? The architect designing a building, the animator bringing characters to life on the screen, the doctor analyzing the size and shape of a tumor, the home gardener ordering soil and mulch, the astronomer studying our universe, pilots and air traffic controllers navigating our skies, and retailers and wholesalers managing supply are just a few examples.
