Rotating Cubes: A Trigonometry Project Using Logo

Abstract

Trigonometry can be a difficult subject for which to motivate students. Sines and tangents have many applications in science and engineering, but it is hard to find situations in the students' own experiences where they are relevant. I suggest a way to use the computer to provide an environment where sines and tangents are important, while at the same time having a natural, intuitive physical meaning. This environment is one where we wish to simulate one simple aspect of three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional display terminal, namely what happens when they rotate relative to an observer. The environment also provides students with some introduction to three-dimensional graphics.