Resumen de Impossible Geometric Constructions: a Calculus Writing Project

Chad Awtrey

• This article discusses a writing project that offers students the opportunity to solve one of the most famous geometric problems of Greek antiquity; namely, the impossibility of trisecting the angle ?/3. Along the way, students study the history of Greek geometry problems as well as the life and achievements of Carl Friedrich Gauss. Included is a discussion of the project, common student difficulties, and a sample grading rubric. The materials have been successfully integrated into second-semester calculus courses at the author's home institution � a liberal arts university, where calculus class sizes average between 25 and 30 students. The project is also suitable for students of more advanced courses, such as geometry and abstract algebra.