Why is 2-D geometry important?

Answer 1

Well, almost every engineered product such as cars and bridges and rockets and even iPods require drawings to show how they're going to be made. Even for 3D objects, those drawings are still largely 2D, and 2D geometry is indispensible in the development of those 2D drawings. This is true even for computer workstations that work with 3D representation of products, because all the cross sections are still 2D, and engineers need those cross sections to help with the analysis.

Answer 2

This is always an interesting question to answer. I can only tell you what I think, and not the "honest truth." Often, if someone offers to tell you the "truth" about something, then chances are he's trying to sell you something else. So take what I have to say for what it's worth.

There's so much knowledge in the world that isn't important for its own sake, but for what it allows us to do.

Substituting "algebra" for "2-D geometry," do you think you're going to meet someone at a street corner who will say to you "If you can tell me the roots of x^2 - 5x + 6, I'll give you $100." If you do, tell me where that street corner is.

Knowing how to find the roots of an algebraic equation is important in other mathematical disciplines - calculus and differential equations come to mind.

Of course, you asked about geometry. Again, this is only what I think:

* We live in a world that in many ways approximates a 2-D geometric system. When you look at a map, the earth's curvature is not a significant factor in being able to apply 2-D Euclidean geometry principles to a reasonable degree of accuracy.

* Solving mathematics problems in general is a proxy process for general problem solving. When you solve math problems, you separate important information from unimportant information. You follow steps in a defined process to get from original information to a solution whose validity can be defended. In Geometry, doing proofs requires you to take a disciplined approach to figuring out whether a principle is true by using other true principles. Building logical arguments is a skill that is important outside of geometry and math in general.

Again, this is just what I think. I've been a math teacher, and I know that most students won't be mathematicians. But the skills that they (should) learn in any math class - including a basic geometry class - can find use outside of the math class.

Answer 3

Becasue it leads to Trig. which leads to calculus which branches int engineering and arcitechture which build everything building.