geometryexpressions.com

Press Release

From:         Saltire Software

Contact:     Ben Chidlaw

media-info@geometryexpressions.com

(+1) 503 968 6251 ext 110

Embargo: Immediate release

Geometry Expressions – a world first says Saltire founder Phil Todd

Geometry Expressions is a genuine new inter-active product that unites geometry and algebra in one software package says Phil Todd, founder of Saltire Software.

It aims to reveal the algebra behind the geometry.

With Geometry Expressions users can go beyond creating geometrical models or problems using classic straight-edge and compass constructions, to exploring the relationship between the algebra and the geometry of the model.

“You may suspect that there is a relationship between lengths, angles,” says Phil Todd, “Geometry Expressions lets you generate the relationship algebraically and explore it.

“It’s the first system that does geometry algebraically.

“It’s not an attempt to challenge or replace the existing geometry giants Cabri or Geometer’s Sketchpad,” explains Phil Todd, “but a genuine new world-first inter-active product that unites geometry and algebra. We’re complementary.”

Geometric models are built by Geometry Expressions with its easy-to-use sketching tool plus a click-and-go menu of algebraic and geometric constraints. Models can be sketched quickly using Geometry Expressions’ intuitive tools, and constrained algebraically rather than numerically.

The principle is illustrated in this demonstration: http://geometryexpressions.com/demos/altitudes/altitudes.html

Geometry Expressions reveals the algebra of the entire model.

Phil Todd, 49, is a math PhD from Scotland – his research was into modelling the geometry of the folds on the surface of ferret brains.

He has lived in Portland, Oregon, since he worked at the Tektronix computer lab more than two decades ago, developing math-based software with easy user-interfaces.

He founded Saltire based on US National Science Foundation innovative research grants. Its software is now running in several leading brands of graphing calculators.

Saltire has also produced software for mechanisms analysis and even to calculate how best to cut shapes out of a roll of carpet. For Phil Todd it’s all about getting results from geometry.

In the 1980s he developed software based on symbolic geometry – but the computer hardware of the time could not deliver the speed needed. “A couple of years ago it became apparent that the power and speed had arrived.”

Geometry Expressions, a powerful world-first, is the result.

Phil Todd predicts that Geometry Expressions will prove to be a rich learning and research tool in high school and secondary algebra and geometry classrooms as well as for college teachers, researchers and engineers.

Notes to editors:

System requirements: Geometry Expressions is available for Windows 2000 or later. Linux and Macintosh versions will be available later in 2006. It requires a minimum of 256 MB RAM

Pricing: Geometry Expressions can be purchased from http://geometryexpressions.com at $495 for industrial and commercial users, $249 for teachers at all levels of education and $79 for students.

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