Singapore Math 4A "Set-square?" What do you use?

[doubleportion]

I had to look up what the book meant by a "set-square". I figured that it is actually maybe what I know as a t-square. What did you use when the textbook said to use a set-square and draw perpendicular lines? I am inclined to just have my dd use the protractor but not sure if I should actually buy another tool instead? What are your experiences?

Edie

[pjdobro]

Edie, you've got me scratching my head here trying to remember what we did! Though I have a t-square around here somewhere, I know I didn't get it out for our math last spring. I'm thinking what I did is use 2 triangles or a triangle and a ruler. We have a little drafting/geometry kind of set that has the semi-circle protractor, a compass, a ruler, an equilateral triangle, and a right triangle. If you use the ruler or one of the sides of the equilateral triangle as your base and then put the square cornered side of the right angle triangle on it, you have your own t-square set-up for drawing perpendicular lines. I'm thinking that is the way we did it. I don't even remember it saying "set -square". I must have quickly surmised that I didn't have one and improvised.

[my3sons]

Hi Edie! I'm with pjdobro - I'm not sure if I'm remembering this right either. I think I used a wooden block with square corners or a square coaster, but I could be way off. What unit, day, page number, etc. is it? Maybe that will jog my memory.

In Christ,
Julie

[doubleportion]

It is Singapore 4A Textbook Unit 6 (starts around pg 78). I just had her use a protractor for the work on pg 80. I think I may order a geometry set just to have a set square on hand anyway. My dd is not visual and following the line up to the degree number is not always easy for her. She had no problem doing it with a protractor, but we did have to work together more than one time on it. Set squares are called for allot through out Unit 6. We will be getting into pgs 81 and on this next week. Maybe it is just me, but I don't remember doing geometry in elementary school like that. Times sure have changed.

Edie

[mamas4bugs]

Thanks for this thread! We'll get to that unit in a week or so, and now I know I need to order a geometry set right quick.

[Melena]

We just finished the exercises requiring a "set square" this week. We used a piece of sturdy card stock. It did the job just fine. HTH

[my3sons]

We just finished the exercises requiring a "set square" this week. We used a piece of sturdy card stock. It did the job just fine. HTH

This is what we did too! I think this works just fine, and I saw my ds grab an index card the next time he had to check for a square corner. I like this, as it's a visual that he can use even during standardized testing, or whatever setting he happens to be in when needing to check for a square corner. However, if you want to get the special set-square you surely could too, and of course, that would be 100% accurate. However, much of math is done on the fly, and realizing there are square corners all around isn't all bad either.

In Christ,
Julie

[doubleportion]

Such a good point about grabbing an every day item to use as the set square. Wish I thought of that. I will point it out to my dd.
Thank you ladies!!

Edie