Descartes Returned with (the help of) Cabri

Abstract

The idea is to show, based on historical examples in math and physics, how geometry used to be central in supporting major scientific development (Descartes in his Optics, Newton and the universal gravitation, Duerer and perspective drawing,…). In a second part we will show why, later, geometry declined. And finally, how, today, with dynamic geometry systems like Cabri Geometry, we are back at a renew of the power of geometry, as a "thinking" tool for students and teachers and as a modeling tool for engineers and others.