Languish.org

General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Syt on September 15, 2021, 09:21:55 AM

Title: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2021, 09:21:55 AM
This came up on Reddit, where some people claim that this device, used primarily in geometry classes in school, is not known outside German speaking countries, whereas others say that's nonsense.

I could Google, but I thought I'd rather ask the Languish hive mind. :P

Did you have something like this in school? It's 15 cm wide and generally used for drawing/measuring angles, drawing parallel lines, etc., and at least in my time was a key item:

(https://static.betzold.at/images/prod/E_87195/STYLEX-Schueler-Geodreieck-10-Stueck-E_87195_a-XL.jpg)

There's larger versions of it, including for use on the black board:

(https://www.hail.de/media/image/ff/94/b7/Hails-Tafel-Geodreieck-60-cm-GD60-00.jpg)

Did you use something like that? Or something else?
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Eddie Teach on September 15, 2021, 09:33:42 AM
We just use the curved part and call it a protractor.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: celedhring on September 15, 2021, 09:34:57 AM
Yes, that's a "escuadra de geometría" over here. Protractors were far more common though, usually only the showoff kids had the full thing.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: HVC on September 15, 2021, 09:35:33 AM
We used a protractor in ontario. So, i guess only the curved one in the middle of your image. Didn't use one with a outer triangle.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on September 15, 2021, 09:37:41 AM
Only saw one of those a couple of times; usually we used a protractor and two set squares (triangles) one with 45/45/90 angles and the other with 30/60/90 angles.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Duque de Bragança on September 15, 2021, 09:39:37 AM
Triangle or équerre géométrique. Have not used or even seen one since primary school (online sighting post Syt's query does not count  :P).

Esquadro geométrico in Portuguese.

Basic équerre/esquadro version is much more common, and bigger versions are used in DiY and by handymen.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2021, 09:41:07 AM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on September 15, 2021, 09:33:42 AM
We just use the curved part and call it a protractor.

Tbf, I'm not sure what the reason for the triangle shape is, or what benefit it gives. :D
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: The Brain on September 15, 2021, 09:44:25 AM
I don't think it was completely unknown, but standard was just a protractor.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Josquius on September 15, 2021, 09:46:56 AM
The small one looks vaguely familiar from when I was in school.
The giant one instantly rings bells of Japanese schools with me
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: DGuller on September 15, 2021, 09:49:50 AM
What's the advantage of the triangle thing over just the semi-circle thing?
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on September 15, 2021, 09:50:47 AM
Quote from: DGuller on September 15, 2021, 09:49:50 AM
What's the advantage of the triangle thing over just the semi-circle thing?

Much more effective in combat situations.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Jacob on September 15, 2021, 09:53:49 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 15, 2021, 09:41:07 AM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on September 15, 2021, 09:33:42 AM
We just use the curved part and call it a protractor.

Tbf, I'm not sure what the reason for the triangle shape is, or what benefit it gives. :D

The triangle is for drawing 90° and 45° angles.

Typically, we used separate set-squares and protractors like this:

(https://media.istockphoto.com/vectors/school-supplies-set-of-transparent-plastic-measuring-tools-vector-id1005459292?k=20&m=1005459292&s=612x612&w=0&h=2CJavYyFfvb-RNrywygN9RtyfXR_Ln1oXheyJaEwWkw=)

I used them in elementary school for various geometry things, and a fair bit in engineering drafting class in Uni (though the triangles were significantly larger).
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: HVC on September 15, 2021, 09:54:37 AM
also, when i first read the title i thought you had joined a MLM haha
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Sheilbh on September 15, 2021, 09:55:12 AM
Yeah, same as Jake. Never seen the combo though.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: DGuller on September 15, 2021, 09:55:56 AM
When I was little, I saw that my grandmother had a retractable straight edge back from her school days.  I didn't understand the point of it, what utility does the retractable part give to it?  It's not like you can make the straight edge more compact, the retractable part of it doesn't line up with the outside shell.  Years later, when I was taking a history of math class, I realized that it was a slide rule.  :blush:
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: HVC on September 15, 2021, 09:56:29 AM
Quote from: Tyr on September 15, 2021, 09:46:56 AM
The small one looks vaguely familiar from when I was in school.
The giant one instantly rings bells of Japanese schools with me

We used a giant protractor too, but it was wood.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2021, 09:57:35 AM
Quote from: HVC on September 15, 2021, 09:54:37 AM
also, when i first read the title i thought you had joined a MLM haha
:lol:
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 15, 2021, 10:43:07 AM
used quite a lot of them cause they kept breaking.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Jacob on September 15, 2021, 11:36:05 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 15, 2021, 10:43:07 AM
used quite a lot of them cause they kept breaking.

They're quite flimsy when used as shuriken, I found.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Berkut on September 15, 2021, 11:41:57 AM
I had one of those in high school.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Maladict on September 15, 2021, 11:46:04 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 15, 2021, 09:21:55 AM

Did you have something like this in school? It's 15 cm wide and generally used for drawing/measuring angles, drawing parallel lines, etc., and at least in my time was a key item:


Yeah, those were mandatory (geodriehoek, like the German name)
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: The Brain on September 15, 2021, 11:46:47 AM
Quote from: Jacob on September 15, 2021, 11:36:05 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 15, 2021, 10:43:07 AM
used quite a lot of them cause they kept breaking.

They're quite flimsy when used as shuriken, I found.

A good shuriken is made from the things you use to draw circles (compass, the not-for-magnetic-navigation kind?). Parts from several duct taped together with the sharp ends outwards make for a nice, heavy weapon.

Disclaimer: don't try this at home.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Syt on September 15, 2021, 11:49:54 AM
Quote from: The Brain on September 15, 2021, 11:46:47 AM
Quote from: Jacob on September 15, 2021, 11:36:05 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on September 15, 2021, 10:43:07 AM
used quite a lot of them cause they kept breaking.

They're quite flimsy when used as shuriken, I found.

A good shuriken is made from the things you use to draw circles (compass, the not-for-magnetic-navigation kind?). Parts from several duct taped together with the sharp ends outwards make for a nice, heavy weapon.

Disclaimer: don't try this at home.

Q: Can a ninja use throwing stars?
A: Shuriken.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Zanza on September 15, 2021, 12:00:25 PM
I obviously know what a Geodreieck is and extensively used it whenever trigonometry was taught.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Jacob on September 15, 2021, 12:04:22 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 15, 2021, 11:49:54 AM
Q: Can a ninja use throwing stars?
A: Shuriken.

* chortle *

:lol:
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: crazy canuck on September 15, 2021, 01:46:09 PM
Quote from: Jacob on September 15, 2021, 09:53:49 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 15, 2021, 09:41:07 AM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on September 15, 2021, 09:33:42 AM
We just use the curved part and call it a protractor.

Tbf, I'm not sure what the reason for the triangle shape is, or what benefit it gives. :D

The triangle is for drawing 90° and 45° angles.

Typically, we used separate set-squares and protractors like this:

(https://media.istockphoto.com/vectors/school-supplies-set-of-transparent-plastic-measuring-tools-vector-id1005459292?k=20&m=1005459292&s=612x612&w=0&h=2CJavYyFfvb-RNrywygN9RtyfXR_Ln1oXheyJaEwWkw=)

I used them in elementary school for various geometry things, and a fair bit in engineering drafting class in Uni (though the triangles were significantly larger).

Yep, that was my grade 6 set up - along with a compass
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Grey Fox on September 16, 2021, 05:27:01 AM
I would never have guessed the English name for the half circle.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Syt on September 16, 2021, 05:32:55 AM
Quote from: Jacob on September 15, 2021, 09:53:49 AM

Typically, we used separate set-squares and protractors like this:

I like that the set-squares are not square shaped. :P
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: ulmont on September 16, 2021, 08:58:31 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 16, 2021, 05:27:01 AM
I would never have guessed the English name for the half circle.

From the Latin to draw out, apparently, picking up surveying senses in the 1650s.
Title: Re: Do Languishites know the Geodreieck?
Post by: Jacob on September 16, 2021, 10:14:01 AM
Quote from: Syt on September 16, 2021, 05:32:55 AM
Quote from: Jacob on September 15, 2021, 09:53:49 AM

Typically, we used separate set-squares and protractors like this:

I like that the set-squares are not square shaped. :P

... but they're used to draw squares.