Begin with GeoGebra 1

Core Elements
Table of Contents
Getting Started
Installing/enabling Geogebra
Installation WITH Internet access
Installation WITHOUT Internet access
GeoGebra version 4
GeoGebra version 5
Learning Phases
Introduction of GeoGebra
User Interface/Main Window of GeoGebra
Basic Use of GeoGebra Toolbar
Drawing without Mathematics
Construction Protocol
CheckBox to Show/Hide Objects
Numeric Foundations
Creating dynamic worksheets, mathlets
Using GeoGebra Animation
Geometry buttons/tools: characteristics and concepts
Basic geometric constructions, connection between geometry and algebra
Linear functions, polynomials of 1st degree
Quadric functions, polynomials of 2nd degree
Spreadsheet view - statistics
Using a powerful markup language
Famous patterns and problems: Sierpinski triangle, Fibonacci series, normal distribution and others.

www.ioprog.se

Getting started
Create a new folder called GeoGebra_Intro (or similar) on your desktop or as a folder in your filestructure. It is a
good strategy to save all files in a separate folder so they are easy to find later on.

Installation/enabling GeoGebra
Different ways are available to install and start GeoGebra. Go to the page
http://www.geogebra.org/cms/en/download to find those ways.

The current version (October 2011) of GeoGebra is GeoGebra 4. The latest release of GeoGebra 4 is still a Beta
version. The release notes are found on the link
http://www.geogebra.org/en/wiki/index.php/Release_Notes_GeoGebra_4.0
Installation WITH Internet access
There are a couple of webbased versions available: WebStart, AppleStart and GeoGebraPrim.
GeoGebra WebStart
Open the scrollist in the upper right corner of the download webpage and select the preferred tool/installation
language.
Click on the button called WebStart. In this case the Java Network Launching Protocol (JNLP) or Java Web
Start functionality is used. Java Web Start provides a platform-independent, secure, and robust deployment
technology. It enables developers to deploy full-featured applications to end-users by making the applications
available on a standard Web server.
The software is automatically installed on your computer. You only need to confirm all messages that might appear
with OK or YES.
Using GeoGebra WebStart has several advantages for you provided that you have an Internet connection available
for the initial installation:
You dont have to deal with different files because GeoGebra is installed automatically on your computer.
You dont need to have special user permissions in order to use GeoGebra WebStart, which is especially useful for
computer labs and laptop computers in schools.
Once GeoGebra WebStart was installed you can use the software off-line as well.
Provided you have Internet connection after the initial installation, GeoGebra WebStart frequently checks for
available updates and installs them automatically. Thus, you are always working with the newest version of
GeoGebra.
When the installation is ready you have got the following short-cut icon on the desktop.

GeoGebra AppletStart
Open the scrollist in the upper right corner of the download webpage and select the preferred tool/installation
language.
Click on the button called Applet Start. GeoGebra is opened and run as an ordinarie Java Applet.

GeoGebra GeoGebraPrim
Open the scrollist in the upper right corner of the download webpage and select the preferred tool/installation
language.
Click on the button called GeoGebraPrim. A corresponding .jnlp-file is then available. This is a stripped version
of GeoGebra and the restrictions can be found on the link
http://www.geogebra.org/en/wiki/index.php/Release_Notes_GeoGebra_4.0
Installation WITHOUT Internet access: Offline Installers
You need to have the installation media or installer file GeoGebra.exe (Windows platform), One click installers or
GeoGebra.zip (Linux platform).
Open the link offline installer and the address http://www.geogebra.org/cms/en/installers will open.
Copy the installer file for your preferred platform from the storage device into a created folder (with a suitable
name) on your computer. Current version for Windows platform: GeoGebra-Windows-Installer-4-X-X-X.exe.
Double-click the GeoGebra installer file and follow the instructions of the installer wizard.
When the installation is ready you have got the following short-cut icon on the desktop.

GeoGebra version 5
Find the latest notes about the currently developed GeoGebra 5.0 beta version ( June 2012) in the document

http://wiki.geogebra.org/en/Release_Notes_GeoGebra_5.0
You can run the GeoGebra 5.0 beta version directly here:

http://www.geogebra.org/webstart/5.0/ge ... jogl1.jnlp

If you have trouble with that, try this one which uses JOGL2

http://www.geogebra.org/webstart/5.0/ge ... jogl2.jnlp

Java OpenGL (JOGL) is a wrapper library that allows OpenGL to be used in the Java programming language.

Learning Phases
An important idea in the material Begin with GeoGebra is built on three learning phases:
collaboration phase with construction protocol and jointly adapted worksheets and work-outs with stepby-step guidance in discussion with teacher/instructor
elaboration phase with discovery/self-study/self-reviewed worksheets and work-outs, typically performed
as investigation of additional concepts, parallel concepts or attack concept/problem from another angle
exploration phase/e-learning supported by interactively modifyable worksheets/work-outs to foster
experimental as well as discovery learning to strengthen and confirm the understanding and use of
concepts, patterns and models. Every GeoGebra construction can be exported as a Web Page (html),
known as a Dynamic Worksheet. Computer on local base or access to the internet is all that is needed to
interact with it!
Those three phases will be practiced through the Begin with GeoGebra material.

Introduction of GeoGebra
GeoGebra is a user-friendly and interactive software for mathematics learning that dynamically combines
geometry, algebra, and calculus and also CAS (Computer Algebra System) in the latest versions GeoGebra 4 and 5.
On the one hand, GeoGebra is an interactive geometry system, the geometry view. You can do constructions with
points, vectors, segments, lines, and conic sections as well as functions while changing them dynamically
afterwards.
On the other hand, commands, equations and coordinates can be entered directly, the algebra view. Thus,
GeoGebra has the ability to deal with variables for numbers, vectors, and points. It finds derivatives and integrals of
functions and offers commands like Root or Vertex. The algebra view is connected to an Input field to make the
direct textual input.
These two views are characteristic of GeoGebra: an expression in the algebra view corresponds to an object in the
geometry view and vice versa and the views are toggled in real time.
The third view is the calculus spreadsheet and its functionality. This will be handled later on.

And there is even a fourth view: CAS Computer Algebra System for symbol handling introduced in GeoGebra 4
and 5. This will also be handled in a separate chapter later on.

User Interface/Main Window of GeoGebra

Start GeoGebra with a double-click on the GeoGebra WebStart icon, GeoGebra Installer icon, link to Applet Start or
link to GeoGebra4/GeoGebra5. The GeoGebra tool opens the following standard/main window with a common type
of layout for user interface and main page window. GeoGebras user interface/standard main page consists of a
graphics window and an algebra view opened for usage. The calculus view and the CAS view are hidden when the
GeoGebra interface/main page is opened. Those views are open from the toolbox, examined later on.

Tool Menu Menu tabs for navigation for GeoGebra

Toolbar Specific for GeoGebra Views
Algebra View
Geometry View. Drawing Pad
Input Field

Input Options

The User Interface/Main Window for GeoGebra 5.0

This interface/main windows is started with a Perspective Menu Window from which you can easily switch between
different views, without selecting each individually.
You can choose between 5 different standard perspectives:
Algebra & Graphics: The Algebra View and the Graphics View with axes are shown.
Basic Geometry: Only the Graphics View without axes or grid is displayed.
Geometry: Only theGraphics View with grid is shown.
Spreadsheet & Graphics: The Spreadsheet View and theGraphics View are displayed.
CAS & Graphics: The CAS View and the Graphics View are displayed.

Basic Use of GeoGebra Toolbar

Activate a tool by clicking on the button showing the corresponding icon.
Open a toolbox by clicking on the lower part of a button and select another tool from this toolbox.
You dont have to open the toolbox every time you want to select a tool. If the icon of the desired tool is already

shown on the button it can be activated directly.

Toolboxes contain similar tools or tools that generate the same type of new object.
Check the toolbar help in order to find out which tool is currently activated and how to operate it.

Drawing without Mathematics

Double-click on any of the GeoGebra WebStart icon, GeoGebra Installer icon or links to GeGebra4/GeoGebra5. The
GeoGebra tool opens the following standard window.

If you dont have Swedish as the tool language in the GeoGebra window (the right picuture above), click on the
toolbar tab Option and activate Languge -> R-Z -> Swedish in the opened scrollist. Then the tool language is
changed to Swedish as in the left picture above.
Open the View tab and uncheck the Axis, check the Grid alternatives. Close the Algebra View. Then you get a
Geomety View with a Drawing Pad

Select the Geometry tool New Point

to create a Point A

Select the Geometry tool Line through two points and click the red triangle in the low right corner of the tool
icon. Select the Segment between two points.

Use the mouse cursor (cross mark) to draw a chair.

Activate the points of the chair with a right-click and select Show Label. The chair is labeled like this

Open the Algebra View. The coordinates for the five points on the chair are presented as Free Objects.
Activate the seat on the chair with the mouse cursor. This is named as the segment a or Segment [A,B]. In the
same way the back, left and right leg are presented as Segment name and value as Dependent Objects in the
Algebra View.

GeoGebra distinguishes between free and dependant objects. While free objects can be directly modified either
using the mouse or the keyboard, dependant objects adapt to changes of their parent objects. Thereby, it is
irrelevant in which way (mouse or keyboard) an object was initially created!

Construction Protocol
Select Construction Protocol under the View tool.

In the construction protocol you can see in what order the objects have been constructed. At the bottom of the
construction protocol table there are a set of navigation button that can be used to display the construction
sequence of the objects. The buttons are easily recognized from a common recorder.
CheckBox to Show/Hide Objects
A common use of the CheckBox tool in GeoGebra is to allow objects to hidden or revealed. We connect a checkbox
Show chair to the chair.
Select the tool CheckBox to Show/Hide Object. Click on the Grahics View on a optional position. A checkbox dialog
window is opened.

Write Show chair in the Caption textfield and select all objects for the chair in the Select objects in construction
or choose from list scrollist. Press Apply button.

The checkbox Show chair is checked. When you uncheck the checkbox with the mouse, the chair is hidden!
In the algebra view there is a Boolean variable created with a variable name in alphabetic order and a value true.
When the checkbox Show chair is unchecked, the Boolean variable gets the value false.
Exercise
Construct a stick man.

Exercise
Make a pentagram. Start with the tool Regular Polygon (Pentagon). Connect all the corners on the pentagon.
Hide the pentagon object.

Congruent constructions
Two sets of points are called congruent if, and only if, one can be transformed into the other by an isometry, i.e., a
combination of translations, rotations and reflections. An isometry of the plane is a linear transformation which
preserves length.
The Euclidean geometry (Euclidean geometry, see chapter Geometry buttons/tools: characteristics and concepts
later on) include five types of isometrics: translation, rotation, reflection, glide reflection, identity. Reflection or
mirror isometrics can be combined to produce any isometrics.
Mirroring in a line
A point and its mirror point have the same perpendicular distance to the line.
Open the View tab and uncheck the tool Axes or right-click anywhere in the drawing pad and uncheck Axes.
Enter a line between the points A and B.
Enter a free point C.
Use the tool Reflect Object in Lin. Click on the point C and then on the line. The mirror point C' is created.
In order to distinguish between the free point C (the point you can drag) and the dependent point C', you can
change the look of the points. Right-click on C and choose Object Properties. Change colour under the tab Colour.
Change the size and the appearance under the tab Style.
Put a trace on both points by right-clicking on them and checking Trace On. Draw a picture by dragging the point C.
You can erase the picture drawn by zooming in or out, use the mouse wheel or the tools in the tool bar.

An image has a rotational symmetry if you can rotate the image around some point and get the same image. An
image has a reflection symmetry if you can reflect the image in some line and get the same image.
Translation
The red arrow is called a vector. A vector has a direction and a length. If you check the check box you can see that
all the vertices of the polygon are translated along the same vector. The gray arrows are all parallel.
You make a vector in GeoGebra by using the tool Vector between Two Points

You make a translation by using the tool Translate Object by Vector

. Click on the object you want to translate
and then on the vector. The object itself is not translated but a translated copy of the object is created.

Rotation
In order to rotate an object you need an angle.
Make two segments with one common endpoint A. Use the tool Segment between Two points

Use the tool Angle

. Click on one of the segments, then on the other segment. An angle called appears ( is
the first letter in the Greek alphabet).
Create a geometrical object, a circle or a polygon.
Use the tool Rotate Object around Point by Angle
. Click on the geometrical object; then on the point A; then on
the angle . You can click either in the drawing pad or in the algebra view.
Parallel and perpendicular
In the Euclidean geometrical theory (Euclidean geometry, see chapter Geometry buttons/tools: characteristics
and concepts later on), there is only a small collection of self-evidently true axioms and derive, in a logically
sound manner, the consequences of these, known as theorems. In GeoGebra we have a collection of buttons/tools
which correspond to theorems among those Parallel Line and Perpendicular Line.
Create three optional points with the tool Points.
Choose the tool Move . Move the three points!
Select the tool Parallel Line . Click on the point C and then on the blue line; a black line appears. Select the
Move tool again and move the three points. Describe in detail how the two lines are related.
Click on Reset Construction in the upper right corner.
Select the tool Perpendicular Line . Click on the point C and then on the blue line; a black line appears. Select the
Move tool again and move the three points. Describe in detail how the two lines are related.
Click on Reset Construction in the upper right corner.
Select the tool Perpendicular Line . Click on the point B and then on the blue line; a black line appears. Move the
points!
Using the Input Field
GeoGebra offers algebraic input and commands in addition to the geometry tools. Every tool has a matching
command and therefore, could be applied without even using the mouse.
GeoGebra offers more commands than geometry tools. Therefore, not every command has a corresponding
geometry tool!
Check out the list of commands next to the input field (in the lower right corner of the main window) and look for
commands whose corresponding tools were already introduced so far.
Use the Input Field and construct the chair again with commands.
Input: A = (0, 0). The point A is created.
Input: (0, 2). The point B is created. If a specific name is not given the objects are not named in alphabetical
order.
Input: C = (2, 2)
Input: D = (0,-2)
Input: E = (2, -2)
Input: Segment[A,B]
Input: Segment[B,C]
Input: Segment[A,D]
Input: Segment[B,E]
The same chair as before is constructed. The commands are instantly visualized in the geometry view.

Properties of objects
Change properties of objects in order to improve the constructions appearance (e.g. colors, line thickness, auxiliary
objects dashed,).
Right click on the chair objects (points, segments) and select the Objects Properties alternative. A properties
window is opened.

Draw text Tool Slider -> ABC Insert Text

Enter the desired text into the appearing window.

Numeric Foundations

Mathematics is mainly about digits and numbers and their connections, patterns and changes. So let us return to
this main track, the numbers.
Visualizing Integer Addition with the Number Line
Double-click on any of the GeoGebra WebStart icon, GeoGebra Installer icon or links to GeGebra4/GeoGebra5. The
GeoGebra tool opens the standard window.
Prepare a horizontal number line.
Right click on the Graphics View/Drawing Pad and select the Graphics View properties. Hide the yAxis (uncheck
the Show yAxis checkbox) and give the xAxis the range from min = -10 to max = 10.
Use sliders to show and modify a variable and a variable value.
Activate/click on the Slider tool in the toolbar and locate and click the mouse cursor on the geometry view/drawing
pad.

Right click on the slider icon and open the Object Properties. Set the slider range with the Min and Max values, e.g.
the default values -5 and 5 and Increment 1 (to get integer values). As all objects the slider variable name is given
the small letter a in alphabetic order. Activate/click the Move tool in the toolbar

and then use the mouse to change the value for the slider/variable with the knob/pin on the slider. Click on the
slider with the mouse cursor and drag the slider to an optional location on the drawing pad.
Create another slider/variable b with the same value range as the slider/variable a. The algebra view is open so the
sliders/variables a and b with the current values are presented as Free Objects.

Create the point Origo for the 0 on the number line as a reference for the start of the number system. Use the
command

10

Origo = (0, 0)

in the Input field or activate and drag the tool

to the value 0 on the number line.

Visualize the variable a with the startpoint A and the endpoint B with an arrow (vector) with the name aVector
along the number line. Put those objects one unit above the numberline, y-coordinate = 1, to get a better
visualibility. Write the following commands in the Input field:
A = (0,1)
B = A + (a,0)
aVector = Vector[A,B] or use the tool Vector between two Points, subtool to Line between to Points

The purpose with the arrow /vector is to get a visualization of the signed number a so the name aVector can be
hidden. Activate the Move tool and right click on the aVector object and uncheck Show Label.
Use the mouse to change the value for the slider/variable a with the knob/pin on the slider and observe that the
value is visualized with the arrow/vector length. Dont forget to activate the Move tool.

Visualize the variable b with the startpoint C and the endpoint B with an arrow (vector) with the name bVector
along the number line. Put those objects one more unit above, y-coordinate = 2, to keep the visualibility. Write the
following commands in the Input field:
C = B + (0,1)
D = C + (b,0)
bVector = Vector[C,D] or use the tool Vector between two Points, a subtool to Line between two Points

The purpose with the arrow /vector is to get a visualization of the signed number b so the name bVector can be
hidden. Activate the Move tool and right click on the bVector object and uncheck Show Label.
Use the mouse to change the value for the slider/variable b with the knob/pin on the slider and observe that the
value is visualized with the arrow/vector length.

11

Visualize the sum a + b. The slider/variable a and b can now both be changed with the mouse to visualize the
sum of a + b. The x coordinate for the point D is the sum of a and b, sum = a + b. Project the x coordinate of D,
Sum, and a projection line of D on the number line. The name Sum must have a capital letter S because it is the
name of a point in GeoGebra. Use the commands
Sum = (x(D),0)
Segment[D, Sum]

or use the tool Segment between two Points, a subtool to Line between two Points

Uncheck the label for the segment (default) name c. There is no need to visualize the name c for the moment.
To get a continuation of the visualized addition, make a segment line also between B anc C
Segment[B, C]
Uncheck the label for the segment (default) name d. There is no need to visualize the name d for the moment.
The get an even more visualization make the segment lines between B and C and D and Sum. Activate the Move
tool and wright click on the segment objects B and C and D and Sum. Open Object Properties, select the Style
tab and choose a dashline style in the scrollist.

Insert the algebraic expression of the addition

Use the subtool Insert Text to the tool Slider

Activate the Insert Text tool and click on the drawing pad. A separate Edit window is opened in which (already
defined) objects can be choosed with the Object button. Click the Object button and select the variable a from the
scrollist. A dynamic textfield for a is shown in the Edit window and the value is shown in the Preview window. Press
OK button. The dynamic value of the variable a is shown on the drawing pad. Activate the Move tool and drag the
dynamic value of a to a suitable location on the drawing pad. Change the slider/variable a value to see that the
dynamic text value is following.

12

Now we want the + operator in the a + b expression. This is a static text and this is made with a quote expression
in GeoGebra (like a static String in Java).
Use the till tool Insert Text again. Write the string + in the Edit Window. Press OK. Activate the Move tool
and drag the static value, operator +, to a suitable location on the drawing pad.

Use the tool Insert Text again for the dynamic value of the object/variable b. Activate the Move tool and drag
the dynamic value of b to a suitable location on the drawing pad. Change the slider/variable b value to see that the
dynamic text value is following.
Use the tool Insert Text again for the static text for the assignement operator =.
Now we need the dynamic value for the a + b sum. We need to create a variable for that, e.g. sum. The value for
sum is the x coordinate for D, see above. Be aware, the object Sum above (with a capital letter S) is a point! Now
we need a variable sum (with a small letter s). Write the following command in the Input field:
sum = x(D)

13

Use the tool Insert Text again for the dynamic value of the object/variable sum. Activate the Move tool and drag
the dynamic value of sum to a suitable location on the drawing pad. Change the slider/variable a and b value to see
that the dynamic text values are following.

Decorate the algebraic expression and the geometric visualization.

To even more increase the visualization decorate the a slider/variable and attached arrow/vector with a blue color,
the b slider/variable and attached arrow/vector with a red color and the point Sum and the variable sum with a green
color.
Activate the tool Move and wright click on the specific objects. Open the Color tab and select the color from the
color palett. Also for the dynamic values for a, b and sum open the Text tab for those Object Properties and select
suitable font (e.g. Very Large, B, ). For the arrow/vector objects a higher Style/Line Thickness (e.g. 7) can be
chosen.

Visualizing Integer Subtraction with the Number Line

The calculus rules for addition and subtraction are of course built in GeoGebra for the commands including the
operator + and -. (Geogebra uses the development software Java and all its foundations.)
Delete the object D from the Algebra View and write the subtraction command
D = C (b,0)

(The main change.)

Rewrite the commands

bVector

= Vector(C, D)

(Hide the bVector object label.)

Difference = (x(D), 0)

(Point Difference.)

Segment(D, Difference)

(Hide the Segment object label.)

difference = x(D)

(Variable difference.)

Change the text object + to the static subtraction operation - and update the dynamic text object for the variable
difference.
Decorate the objects with color and style as the for the visualize addition case.

14

Visualizing Integer Multiplication of Natural Numbers

Double-click on any of the GeoGebra WebStart icon, GeoGebra Installer icon or links to GeGebra4/GeoGebra5. The
GeoGebra tool opens the standard window.

Use sliders to show and modify a variable and a variable value.

Hide the Axes view.
Activate/click on the Slider tool in the toolbar and locate and click the mouse cursor on the geometry view/drawing
pad.

Right click on the slider icon and open the Object Properties. Set the slider range with the Min and Max values, e.g.
the default values 1 and 10 and Increment 1 (to get integer values). Set the slider width = 500. As all objects the
slider variable name is given the small letter a in alphabetic order. Change the slider variable name to factor1.
Click on the slider with the mouse cursor and drag the slider to an optional location at the bottom of the drawing
pad.
Create a point A. Put in the left lower corner on the drawing pad.
Create a horizontal segment from A with the tool Segment with a Given Length from Point. The segment object is
named a. Give the segment length the slider variable name factor1. The endpoint of the segment is automatically
called B in alphabetic order. With the slider variable factor1 the segment a (segment AB) can now be given different
length values from 1 to 10.
Draw vertical lines through A and B, perpendicular to segment a. Use the tool Perpendicular Line. Activate the
segment object a and then the point object A and B with the mouse. The perpendicular line objects are named b
and c.
Create another slider/variable factor2 with the same value range as the slider/variable factor1. Set this slider
orientation to Vertical. Click on the slider with the mouse cursor and drag the slider to an optional location to the
left side of the drawing pad.
b (Visible in the drawing pad. The picture is cut down here.)
c (Visible in the drawing pad. The picture is cut down here.)

Use the tool Circle with Center and Radius to connect the line b to the slider variable factor2. Activate the tool
Circle with Center and Radius with the mouse and click the mouse on the point A. The circle object is named d.
Give the circle the slider variable factor2.
Use the tool Intersect Two Objects to create a point C as the intersection between the circle object d and line
object b. Activate the tool Intersect Two Objects with the mouse and click the mouse on this intersection. The
intersection point will be called C automatically.

15

Use the tool Parallel Line to create a line through C parallel to segment a. Activate the tool Parallel Line with the
mouse and click the mouse on the segment a and then on the point C. This line object is named e.
Use the tool Intersect Two Objects to create a point D as the intersection between the line object e and line object
c. Activate the tool Intersect Two Objects with the mouse and click the mouse on this intersection. The
intersection point will be called D automatically.

Use the tool Polygon to create the polygon/square ABDC.

Right click on the specific object, uncheck Show Object in order to hide all line objects b, c e, circle object d and
segment object a. Uncheck Show Label in order to hide labels of the (polygon) segment objects.

Change the sliders to factor1 = 10 and factor2 = 10.

Divide the polygon/square into 10x10 segments/parts using the slider variable factor1 and factor2.
Use the Sequence command. Open the built-in Command list with the tab to the right of the Input field. Select All
Commands and Sequence. Open the Show Online help.

Select Segment and open the Show Online help.

Make a sequence list of segments between A and C (vertical segments) and then between A and B (horizontals
segments). Write the following commands in the Input field.

16

Sequence[Segment[A+i*(1,0), C+i*(1,0)], i, 1, factor1]

Sequence[Segment[A+i*(0,1), B+i*(0,1)], i, 1, factor2]
The following segment grid is created. Change the slide variables factor1 and factor2 to check that the number of
segments in the grid is changed.

Insert the algebraic expression of the addition

Use the subtool Insert Text to the tool Slider
Activate the Insert Text tool and click on the drawing pad. A separate Edit window is opened in which (already
defined) objects can be choosed with the Object button. Click the Object button and select the variable factor1
from the scrollist.
A dynamic textfield for a is shown in the Edit window and the value is shown in the Preview window. Press OK
button. The dynamic value of the variable a is shown on the drawing pad. Activate the Move tool and drag the
dynamic value of factor1 to a suitable location on the drawing pad. Change the slider/variable a value to see that
the dynamic text value is following.
Now we want the * operator in the factor1 * factor2 expression. This is a static text and this is made with a
quote expression in GeoGebra (like a static String in Java).
Use the till tool Insert Text again. Write the string * in the Edit Window. Press OK. Activate the Move tool
and drag the static value, operator *, to a suitable location on the drawing pad.
Use the tool Insert Text again for the dynamic value of the object/variable factor2. Activate the Move tool and
drag the dynamic value of factor2 to a suitable location on the drawing pad. Change the slider/variable factor2
value to see that the dynamic text value is following.
Use the tool Insert Text again for the static text for the assignement operator =.
Now we need the dynamic value for the factor1 * factor2 product. We need to create a variable for that, e.g.
product. Write the following command in the Input field:
product

= factor1 * factor2

The following picture visualize the multiplication 7 * 8 = 56

17

Decorate the algebraic expression and the geometric visualization.

To even more increase the visualization decorate the factor1 slider/variable with a blue color, the factor2
slider/variable with a red color and the variable product with a green color.
Activate the tool Move and wright click on the specific objects. Open the Color tab and select the color from the
color palett. Also for the dynamic values for factor1, factor2 and product open the Text tab for those Object
Properties and select suitable font (e.g. Very Large, B, ).
The points A, B, C and D can optional be hidden.

18

Fractions
A fraction is a number that describes part of a whole number. Because fractions are numbers just like 7, 2 or 99,
they can live on a number line.
A fraction is made up of a numerator and a denominator:

numerator
denominator

The numerator tells how many of those parts you have.

The denominator tells how many parts each unit interval has been cut into.
GeoGebra
Create sliders for the nominator n and denominator d.
Open the tool Insert Text and use the Latex Formula , see chapter Using a powerful markup language to
visualize the fraction

n
d

Visualize the denominator d with a blue arrow (Vector object) and the fraction

n
d

with w red arrow (Vector

object).
If the nominator > denominator we have an improper fraction. This fraction can be changed into a mixed number
with a whole part and a part fraction with a nominator < denominator.
A fraction can be "reduced", like 21 and 7 in the picture above and have at least one common factor (other than 1).
This GCD, Greatest Common Divisor, can be calculated in GeoGebra with the function GCD(), g = GCD(n,d).
Reduce the nominator n and denominator d with n1 = n/g and d1 = d/g
In GeoGebra the whole part can be calculated with the built-in function floor(), whole = floor(n1/d1), and the
remaining nominator part = n1 whole * d1.
When those expressions are written in the Input field, use the Keep Input, Alt+Enter to get this feature. The
value of g will then not effect the value of n and calculate a new value for g.
See the GeoGebra Documentation:
Enter: evaluates the current row depending on the selected tool in the toolbar: =, numeric, keep input. Ctrl+Enter
switches between Numeric and Evaluate. Alt + Enter switches between Keep Input and Evaluate.
Use the Latex Formula to visualize the origin fraction, the reduced fraction and the mixed fraction.

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Adding fractions
1. Find common denominator for the fractions
2. Rename one or both fractions with the common denominator
3. Add nominators.
4. Reduce and get mixed form.

Subtracting fractions
To subtract fractions similar steps as for addition fractions are required:
1. Find common denominator for the fractions
2. Rename one or both fractions with the common denominator
3. Subtract nominators.
4. Reduce and get mixed form.
Multiplying fractions
It is a three-step process to multiply mixed numbers:
1. Convert mixed numbers into fractions
2. Multiply across
3. Simplify: reduce and rename
Dividing fractions

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It is a four-step process to divide mixed numbers:

1. Convert mixed numbers to impropers
2. Flip second fraction and change divison to multiplication
3. Multiply across
4. Simplify: reduce and rename

Geometry buttons/tools: characteristics and concepts

Navigate to this link and read an overview http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euclid about Euclid of Alexandria, 300 BC,
great mathematician whose life we know very little about but whose work has give us a single, logically coherent
framework, making it easy to use and easy to reference, including a system of rigorous mathematical proofs that
remains the basis of mathematics 23 centuries later.
He constructed a geometrical theory using a minimum of assumptions. That is to say he wanted to assume only a
small collection of self-evidently true axioms and derive, in a logically sound manner, the consequences of these,
known as theorems. His assumptions were that it is possible to
1. draw a straight line from any point to any point,
2. extend a finite straight line indefinitely in a straight line,
3. draw a circle with any center and any diameter.
In Geogebra the first of these assumption is implemented by the button
the first two combine to provide the button

, Segment between two points, and

, Line through two points. We shall mostly consider indefinite

straight lines. The third is the button

, Circle with center through point. When Euclid talks of "any diameter"
he means any previously constructed length. That is, he may use two existing points to open his compasses
against. He does not mean any diameter we can imagine or perhaps define algebraically.
Furthermore, he assumed that
4. all right angles are equal to one another, and
5. that if a straight line falling on two straight lines make the interior angles on the same side less than two right
angles, the two straight lines, if extended indefinitely, meet on that side on which the angles are less than the two
right angles.
This last assumption is sometimes known as the parallel postulate.
We note in passing that one strength of GeoGebra is the conjunction of algebraic and geometric views of
mathematics. For example, one can type in the equation of a parabola as y = x2, then place a point on the curve
and drag it around. The tangent line can be illustrated using the button Tangents, and the equation of this line
recovered from the algebra window.
GeoGebra provides many buttons/tools which have nothing to do with geometry. For example buttons about
measurement (Distance, Angle, Polygon (area of) , Relation between two objects. Those
concepts are not considered within Euclidean Constructions.
Then we try to identify a set of axiomatic buttons/tools from which all the others can be constructed. If the
functionality of another button/tool can be constructed by axioms or previously constructed buttons then it can be
called a theorem button. Consider the following collection of buttons/tools: Line through two points, Circle
with center and through point, Conic through five points. These three provide one way to create all three of the
classic identifiable objects in plane geometry, the line, circle and a conic section. Notice that the first two are special
cases of the last.

In addition we may place a "New point"

either unconstrained in space or to be constrained on one of these

objects. We may also find the intersection of two objects

and this button places new point(s) there. This latter
operation applies to any two of line, circle and conic and it returns between zero and two new points, which are
automatically assigned names. The intersection button is needed so that points can be created which are related to
two existing objects. Without this, or something similar, there is no way to establish relationships between
objects. Notice that implicit in identifying a point of intersection is an assumption of continuity.

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Then we have a collection of buttons/tools which correspond to theorems. Those are: Perpendicular Bisector,
Perpendicular Line, Parallel Line, Midpoint or Centre, Angular Bisector, Circle with Centre and Radius,
Semicircle through Two Points, Circle through Three Points, Mirror Object in Point, Mirror Object at Line,
Tangents, Polar or Diameter Line. In the case of the Circle with center and radius,
, GeoGebra expects the
user to type in an algebraic distance. Hence the status of this button as a purely geometric theorem is questionable.
In order to include this button we would need to include the "Distance tool", or use GeoGebra's "Segment between
two points" which returns the length of the segment.
In addition it might be advantageous to build a basic arithmetic system by identifying the length of a line segment
with a number, starting with an arbitrary agreed unit. Then, in a systematic way, to construct the geometric
counterparts of the arithmetic operations such as addition, multiplication, and so on. It is not at all clear which
operations and hence numbers are constructible in this way. This combination of algebra and geometry is a classical
topic and the basic geometric constructions for addition, multiplication.
In GeoGebra a facility for user-defined buttons/tools" is provided. This allows a construction to be encapsulated as
a new button, providing the opportunity for the above, or other, constructions to be implemented. Furthermore, an
interface is provided in which existing buttons can be "switched off" or the order rearranged. This allows an
application in GeoGebra to be configured with a web page containing only a small number of buttons, and from
these the task to demonstrate a particular construction. For example, given only

and

show how we can make the button equivalent to

. While this removes the complaint "we already have a
button for this" it also removes the freedom to make choices of their own about the any mutual dependencies.

Basic geometric constructs, connection between geometry and algebra

Bisect an Angle
This is a most common geometric construction. Use GeoGebra to do it.
Double-click on any of the GeoGebra WebStart icon, GeoGebra Installer icon or links to GeGebra4/GeoGebra5. The
GeoGebra tool opens the standard window.
Hide the Axes view.
Use the tool New Point and create a point A
Use the tool Segment between Two Points and create segments to a point B and a point C. In order to hide the
segments name (a and b), uncheck Show Labels. Those segments are the angles legs.
Use the tool Angle and draw the angle BAC by clicking on the points B, A and C. Right click on the angle object,
open Objects Properties, Basic and select Show Label: Name
Use the circle tool Compas. Activate the tool, click on point A and point B and click on point A to fix the the center
of the circle to point A. The circle with the radius = length of segment AB (optional made shorter than segment AC)
is intersecting the segment AC.
Use the tool Intersect Two Object to create/fix the point D.

Create a segment object between C and D and decorate the segment as a dashed line. Create a point E on the
segment CD with an optional location but nearer C than D.

22

Use the circle tool Compass. Activate the tool and click with the mouse on point D, point E and the again on point
D to fix the center of the circle to point D.
Use the circle tool Compass again. Activate the tool and click with the mouse on point D, point E and the again on
point C to fix the center of the circle to point C.
Use the tool Intersect Two Object to create/fix the intersection point F between the circles.
Use the tool Ray through Two Points and create a line between A and F.

Hide all the circles objects, segment CD and point E with a right click with the mouse on the objects and uncheck
Show Object.
Use the tool Angle to create the angels DAF and FAC. Activate the Angle tool and click with the mouse on point
D, A and F. Activate the Angle tool and click with the mouse on point F, A and C.
Right click on the name ( and ) and value for the angels, open Object Properties and make some decoration for
the angels.

The values of the angles and are the same.

Use the tool Move and move the point B and C. As an example you can get a right angel divided into two angles
with the value 45.

Eqvilateral Triangles
Another classic geometry construction is eqvilateral triangels. Here is an abstract from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euclid%27s_Elements
that gives an overview of Euclid's Elements a collection of 13 books written by

mathematician

Euclid in Alexandria about 300 BC.

23

the Greek

A proof from Euclid's Elements that, given a line segment, an equilateral triangle exists that includes the segment
as one of its sides. The proof is by construction: an equilateral triangle is made by drawing circles and
centered on the points and , and taking one intersection of the circles as the third vertex of the triangle.
Again GeoGebra is perfect for this construction.
Double-click on any of the GeoGebra WebStart icon, GeoGebra Installer icon or links to GeGebra4/GeoGebra5. The
GeoGebra tool opens the standard window.
Hide the Axes view.
Use the New Point tool to create a point A and point B.
Use the Circle tool Compass to draw a circle with the radius = distance between A and B. Activate the tool
Compass and click with the mounse on point A and B and then on A again to make A as the circle center.
Repeat the same scenario for a similar circle but center on the point B.
Create/fix the upper intersection point between the circles with the tool Intersect Two Objects.

Create segment AB, AC and BC with the tool Segment between Two Points. Hide the Circle Object.
Use the tool Angle to control the eqvilateral triangle angels. Activate the toll Angle and click on the point B, A
and C to get the angle BAC.

24

Theorem of Pythagoras
This is a classic connection between a geometry construction and algebraic expression.
Make a right-angled triangle using these tools:
Line through Two Points,
Perpendicular Line,
New Point and
Polygon.
Use the tool Angle to show the right angle. Move the points! The triangle should remain right-angled. The points
of the polygon should be placed in a counterclockwise order.

In order to demonstrate Pythagoras' theorem we must show the square of the hypotenuse and the sum of the
squares of the shorter sides. We hence introduce two variables to store these values.
There is a standard way of writing subscripts and superscripts in GeoGebra; this way of writing is used in a number
of mathematics programs.
Superscripts are written using ^
right end of the Input field
Subscripts are written using _

x^2 is shown like this x2 or use the symbol table opened by the icon in the

c_1 is shown like this c1

You write a ^ by pressing ShiftAlt^, the character ^ may not show up until you press the next character or
spacebar.
Use the Input field at the bottom of the window to store the square of the hypotenuse in the variable hypKvad1=b2
and the sum of the squares of the shorter sides in hypKvad2=a2+c2. Observe the values of hypKvad1 and hypKvad2
I the algebra view as you move the points of the triangle.

25

Area of a triangle
Another fundamental connection between geometry and algebra is calculation of the area of a triangle.
Open GeoGebra in standard view with algebra view, input field and coordinate axes (View menu).
Create 2 horizontal lines: Write e.g. y= -1 (line name a) and y = 4 (line name b) in the Input field.
Create two points (tool New Point) on line y = -1 (point name A and B) and one point on the line y = 4 (point
name C). Connect the points with the tool Segment between Two Points 2 (sepment name c, d and e).
Draw a perpendicular line between the point on line y = 4 (point C) and the line y = -1.
Use the tool Intersect Two Objects for the intersection point between the perpendicular line and line y = -1 (point
D).
Use the tool Segment between Two Points 2 between point C and D. Open the Objects Properties for the
segment CD and make the style as dashed line.
Hide the lines y = -1 (line a), y = 4 (line b) and the perpendicular line. Right click the objects and uncheck the
Show Object.
Rename the segment between A and B to the name b or base and the segment between C and D to the name h or
height. Check the Object Properties/Show label/Name & Value for the segment b and h.
Write the triangle area formula in the Input field: Area = base*height/2.
Use the Insert Text tool to create a text Area = and the Area objects value as a Latex Formula. Move the point C
along the (now hidden) line b (y = 4) and the points A and B along the (now hidden) line a (y = -1). Observ how
the height is following and can be both inner and outer of the triangle.

Area of a parallelogram
Area of rectangular prisma
Area of a cylinder
Area of a cone
Area of a pyramide
Area of a sphere

26

Making a demonstration

27

Linear functions, polynomial of 1st degree

The term linear function is sometimes used to mean a first-degree polynomial function of one variable. These
functions are known as "linear" because they are precisely the functions whose graph in the Cartesian coordinate
plae is a straight line.
Such a function can be written as
y = kx + l
(y y1) = k(x x1)
ax + by + c = 0
The form y = kx + l is called slope-intercept form, where k and l are real constants and x is a real variable. The
constant k is often called the slope or gradient, while l is the y-interept, which gives the point of intersection
between the graph of the function and the y-axis. Changing k makes the line steeper or shallower, while changing l
moves the line up or down.
The form y y1 = k(x x1) is called point-slope form where k is the is the slope and (x1,y1) is a given point on the
line.
The form ax + by + c = 0 is called the standard form where a, b and c are real values, coefficients.

Slope-intercept form
Open GeoGebra in standard view with algebra view, input field and coordinate axes (View menu).
Create sliders for k and l.
Write y = k*x + l in the input field.
Exercise the line with different values for k and l on the sliders.

Point-slope form
Open GeoGebra in standard view with algebra view, input field and coordinate axes (View menu).
Create a point A = (x1, y1)
Write x1 = x(A) in Input field
Write y1 = y(A) in Input field
Create a slider for k.
Write y y1 = k*(x x1) in the Input field.

28

Standard form
Open GeoGebra in standard view with algebra view, input field and coordinate axes (View menu).
Create 3 sliders a, b and c.
Write a*x + b*y + c = 0 in the Input field.
Make a checkbox for the line ax + by + c = 0

Write the slope-intercept form translation y = -

Input field. Make a checkbox for the line y = -

a
b

a
b

x-

x-

c
a

c
a

of the standard form ax + by + c = 0 in the

Change the values of a, b and c and toggle between the two checkboxes.

Check the algebraic expression for y = -

a
b

x-

c
a

for the value b = 0!

Quadratic functions, polynomial of 2nd degree

A quadratic equation is an equation of a polynomial of degree two. When graphed, a quadratic equation makes a
parabola with a vertical symmetric axis or mirror line.
A quadratic function can be expressed in three formats:

29

f(x) = ax2 + bx + c is called the general form,

f(x) = a(x x1)(x x2) is called the factored form, where x1 and x2 are the roots of the quadratic equation,
f(x) = a(x x0)2 + y0 is called the vertex form (or standard form), where x0 and y0 are the x and y
coordinates of the vertex, respectively.
To convert the general form to factored form, one needs only the quadratic formula to determine the two roots
x1 and x2.
To convert the general form to standard form, one needs a process called completing the square.
To convert the factored form (or standard form) to general form, one needs to multiply, expand and/or
distribute the factors.
General form
The general form of a quadratic equation is f(x) = ax2 + bx + c or y = ax2 + bx + c where a, b and c are
constant coefficients and a0.
Open GeoGebra in standard view with algebra view, input field and coordinate axes (View menu).
Create 3 sliders a, b and c.
Write f(x) = a*x^2 + b*x + c or y = a*x^2 + b*x + c in the Input field.
Exercise the line with different values for a, b and c l on the sliders.
In this example a = 1, b = -2 and c = -3.

Roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 Graphic solution

Use the tool Intersect Two Objects to find the intersection A and B between the parabola y = a*x^2 + b*x + c
for the current values a = 1, b = -2 and c = -3: y = x2 2x -3 and the x-axis: y = 0. The x-coordinates for those
intersections A and B are the roots to the equation: x2 2x 3 = 0. x = -1 and x = 3

30

The discriminant of a quadratic equation is used to determine if a quadratic equation has real or complex roots. The
expression for the discriminant is b2 4ac
If the discriminant is positive, the quadratic equation has two real roots. If the discriminant is zero, the quadratic
equation has one real root. If the discriminant is negative, the quadratic equation has two complex roots. In Begin
with GeoGebra 3, chapter GeoGebra CAS solving equations there is a complete description of the quadratic
formula and the use of GeoGebra to solve equations.
Exercise
Give the sliders new values for a, b and c, giving the discriminant value zero (one real double root) and negative
value (no real roots = no intersection between the parabola and the x-axis)
Intercept form
The intercept form or factored form of a parabolic equation is y = a(x-x1)(x-x2) where x1 is one x-intercept of the
quadratic equation, x2 is the other x-intercept, and a indicates how steep the sides of the quadratic equation are. If
x1 = x2, the quadratic equation intercepts the x-axis only once. Not all quadratic equations can be described using
the x-intercept form.
Open GeoGebra in standard view with algebra view, input field and coordinate axes (View menu).
Create 3 sliders a, x1 and x2.
In the Imput field, write the expression y = a*(x x_1)*(x x_2)

Vertex form
The vertex form of a parabolic equation is y-y0 = a(x-x0)2. The vertex of the quadratic equation is at the point
(x0,y0). a shows how steep the sides of the quadratic equation are. Click on the points on the sliders in manipulative
4 and drag them to change the figure.
Open GeoGebra in standard view with algebra view, input field and coordinate axes (View menu).
Create 3 sliders a, x0 and y0.

31

Using a powerful markup language

LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. The
term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those
documents. In order to create a document in LaTeX, a .tex file must be created using some form of text editor.
While most text editors can be used to create a LaTeX document, a number of editors have been created specifically
for working with LaTeX.
In Geogebra there is a LaTeX Formula editing scrollist built in in the tool Insert Text. If the LaTeX Formula is
checked the edit window can be used as a LaTeX enabled editor.

This textelement in the preview window can then be configured with tool Insert Text Object Properties in
GeoGebra.
The \ (back-slash character) is heavily used in the LaTeX script language.
Some important LaTeX commands are explained in following table. Please have a look at any LaTeX documentation
for further information.
LaTeX input
Result
a \cdot b
ab
\frac{a}{b}
ab
\sqrt{x}
x
\sqrt[n]{x}
xn
\vec{v}
v
\overline{AB}
AB
x^{2}
x2

32

a_{1}
\sin\alpha + \cos\beta
\int_{a}^{b} x dx
\sum_{i=1}^{n} i^2

a1
sin+cos
baxdx
ni=1i2

This link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Displaying_a_formula#Basics gives more information about LaTeX.

LaTeX FormulaText[Object]
A special feature in LaTeX is the command FormulaText[Object]. This command gives a LaTeX formula for the
Object.
In GeoGebra the Object can be an expression invoked in the Input field. e.g. a quadratic function. In this example
we have the quadratic function y = ax2 + bx + c. This object will get an ordinary GeoGebra name in alphabetic
order, e.g. e. The name can be renamed as all GeoGebra objects, e.g. to the name polynomial.
The three coefficients a, b and c are implemented as sliders.
In the Edit window in the Insert Text tool, check LaTeX Formula. Between the start-end $ $ symbol for the LaTeX
expression, open the Objects scrolllist at the bottom of the Edit window and select the object e. The text object e
is then translated to LaTeX and presented in the Graphics view where the Insert Tool has been positioned.
The text object for y = ax2 + bx + c with the current values for a, b and c is presented in LaTeX format in Preview
window.

The text object e: y = 2x2 x 1 can be configured with the properties Text and Color under Object Properties.
The coefficients a, b and c can be given new values by the sliders and the current text object for the polynomial is
presented. In the Edit window in the tool Insert text you can also create a LaTeX static text object written
between characters, e.e Polynomial 2nd degree:.

Another way to create the LaTeX formula for the polynomial expression e, is to write the command +
Formula[e] or + FormulaText[polynomial] in the tool Insert text Edit window.

33