What Does It Mean To Transect A 2D Shape?

[Cmitchell]

Help!

I've been given the following sheet to give to Y6 children in maths.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=13&ved=0ahUKEwjexdPL05jNAhWmDcAKHQAJCywQFghXMAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.primaryresources.co.uk%2Fmaths%2Fdocs%2Fdiagonals_of_quadrilaterals.doc&usg=AFQjCNH-u4PFIKuLJyhjc0-JqiKmgRsprQ

I cannot find what Transect means anywhere on the internet!

Bisect I think means cut it in half so that you are left with 2 mirror images, but whatt does Transect mean. I just spoke to a couple of colleagues all of whom were quite baffled as to what it means because the example given has a square and under the column Transect it says NO. (pls see the sheet to see what I mean)

All help much appreciated.
Thank you in advance
Lindy Hop : )

[elliemay1]

I don't think that 'transect' is appropriate in this qn. This is taken from Primary Resources website where teachers contribute worksheets that they have made up themselves.

[Baldric]

Plenty of options online here

https://uk.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A9mSs2eI_1dXdikAFVpLBQx.;_ylc=X1MDMjExNDcxNzAwMwRfcgMyBGZyA21jYWZlZQRncHJpZAM0aERjZk5BTVJJYXcza055Yzd0UUxBBG5fcnNsdAMwBG5fc3VnZwMxMARvcmlnaW4DdWsuc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAwRxc3RybAM4BHF1ZXJ5A3RyYW5zZWN0BHRfc3RtcAMxNDY1Mzk5MjQx?p=transect&fr2=sb-top-uk.search&fr=mcafee&type=C211GB691D20151119

[Baldric]

Your link just gives me a blank page

[Mamyalynne]

Clicking the link downloads a word.doc.

Can't answer any better than above sorry.

[Peter Pedant]

transect is any cut thro a 2D shape - straight line

cant call up any piccy from you
probably they want a line that goes thro the centre of gravity
divides into equal area

try googling urban transect
that basically is any straight line on a map innit ?

[elliemay1]

If you read the links you'll see that it doesn't make sense when used in 2D shapes.

[elliemay1]

^ IMO!

[Buenchico]

'Transect' simply means 'cut across'.

The diagonals of all the rectangles listed transect those rectangles, with the exception of the delta kite where one of the diagonals is external to the figure, in that it joins the top two 'points' together and thus does not 'cut across' (= 'transect') the delta kite.

[elliemay1]

But it says on the given sheet that the diagonals on the square do not transect.

[Buenchico]

An interesting point, Ellie!

My definition of 'transect' is based upon what's in the dictionary (and, indeed, how I'd use the word in everyday language). I'm unaware of any standardised mathematical definition of the word despite:
(a) having 'The Universal Encyclopedia of Mathematics' on my desk (as that standard reference work doesn't mention 'transect') ;
(b) holding a university degree in mathematics ; and
(c) having taught the subject (up to A-level) for 15 years!

I see that Fiction-Factory is around tonight, so I'll see if we can get some help from a current maths teacher!

[fiction-factory]

I can't open that link to see the context.
Please can you find the actual page or give the web address after www.primaryresources.co.uk
I'll try to find it too

[Buenchico]

I've uploaded the relevant page to TinyPic, F-F:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=4uw6sy&;s=9

[elliemay1]

I also have a University Maths degree and have never come across this term before. As I said, teachers submit their own worksheets to Primary Resources. I still teach 2 mornings a week (in a Primary School) and have found some excellent material on Primary Resources but some that I wouldn't use. This is apparently for a Year 6 Class. If you go to the website and click on Maths then Shape and Space you should find it.

[elliemay1]

^ From Shape and Space go to 2D 3D shapes and it is under Diagonals of Quadrilaterals

[Buenchico]

^^^ or simply click on my link above ;-)

[shoota]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/transect

Transect appears to mean cut from side to side therefore diagonals would not transect a shape.

[elliemay1]

But then if they didn't transect any of the shapes why ask the qn!

[Calibax]

All I can suggest is that they mean the diagonals intersect at right angles.
This is true for a square where the lines also bisect each other, untrue for a rectangle, where they do bisect and true for a kite where they do not bisect but do intersect at right angles.
Just a suggestion as I have not seen the term used in this way before.

[Buenchico]

^^^ Possibly, Shoota, although that would mean that the answer to everything in the 'Transect' column would automatically be 'No', which seems a little odd.

One of the most important things about the study of mathematics is that it's a universal language. (i.e. a mathematical statement made in Bradford must mean exactly the same thing to someone in Berlin or Beijing). I'm concerned that we appear to have a worksheet for primary school children where even the maths graduates on this thread can't find a definition which seems to concur with what's being presented on that worksheet!

[elliemay1]

But it says that it is not true for a square!