Origami: A Good Way to Communicate Mathematics

Year: 2003 Authors: Ann Hanson

Core claim

Origami can communicate mathematics effectively by making symmetry and polyhedral relationships visible through hands-on folding.

Topics

origami, symmetry, polyhedra, mathematical proof

Domains

geometry, topology, combinatorics, Euler characteristics, paper folding, craft, visual communication

Methods

hands-on workshop, guided folding, proof challenge, student discovery

Media

paper, equilateral triangle, hexa-flexagon, stellated dodecahedron, cube

Paper text

The text below is the locally extracted OCR/Markdown version of the paper. Raw PDF files remain local and are not published here.

ISAMA The International Society of the Arts, Mathematics, and Architecture BRIDGES Mathematical Connections in Art, Music, and Science

Origami: A Good Way to Communicate Mathematics

Ann Hanson Science and Mathematics Department Columbia College 600 South Michigan Chicago, IL 60605 Email: ahanson@popmail.column.edu

Abstract

In this workshop, participants will learn some of the connections between mathematics and origami. Participants will learn how to fold an equilateral triangle and then be given the challenge to prove why their folding method works. For example, you may have to fold the paper in half and then in half again in the other direction and then fold each half in half which demonstrates several times the idea of symmetry.

You can fold almost every polyhedron. Once the polyhedron is folded, you can discuss such concepts as the number of faces, vertices and edges. If you have folded several polyhedrons, you can have the students discover the relationship between the faces, vertices and edges.

In this workshop, participants will learn how to fold a hexa-flexagon, a stellated dodecahedron and a cube.

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