# Tag Info

1

The wikipedia definition is the right one. A square is a rectangle. A rectangle is a trapezoid. Yeah, at times you can have specific/different definitions. But, the trapezoid one is pretty clear cut. You'd be hard pressed to find a (non contrived) theorem that applies to trapezoid that suddenly stops working because the shape is also a rectangle. It seems to ...

19

I would use this to help students understand three "meta" ideas: (1) Math is not about memorizing lots of random trivia. In the real world, if you go up to a mathematician and ask them which definition of a trapezoid is right, they will just smile indulgently. They don't know or care. (2) There is not always a consensus about definitions. Get over ...

8

Unfortunately, we don't have a set of universally agreed upon definitions in mathematics. It might seem like we do (or should), especially in Geometry with its long history and so much agreement, but the truth is that we use different definitions frequently. One proof of this is the differing definitions in your textbooks! That is just the nature of a ...

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