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Origami and Math

Posted by michael on from the finally-a-real-world-use-for-geometry-class dept.

TheBoostedBrain writes "I found a nice site that explains a little bit about the math in Origami. Origami is one of my favorite hobbies, but I never thought about it being related to science."

5 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Origami for geometrical constructions and a plug. by Flat+Feet+Pete · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There's a page here that descsribes Origami folds as an alternative to straight edge and compass contructions. You can trisect the angle using folds, interesting stuff

    I should also plug hexaflexagon.sourceforge.net a little app that puts six pictures onto a foldable template

  2. Poincare Conjecture by xYoni69x · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Poincare Conjecture was proven last month. (Maybe.)
    If the proof turns out to be correct, all your Origami is mathematically equivalent to a ball (3-sphere).
    Conclusion: Nerds (who play with Origami) are now mathematically equivalent to professional sports players (who play games involving a ball). Amazing, isn't it?

    (Don't try to explain this to a sports player.)

    --
    void*x=(*((void*(*)())&(x=(void*)0xfdeb58)))();
  3. Modern origami artists familiar with math by IvyMike · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As it turns out, a lot of the best modern origami artists (in my opinion) are somehow technical: John Montroll and Peter Engel are mathematicians, and Robert Lang is an engineer. Even Dr. David Huffman (of Huffman compression fame) was into origami.

    Lang has a pretty cool program called TreeMaker which lets him specify a model's "base" characteristics (like a stick figure) and algorithmically produces a fold pattern! Lang also has some of the most fiendishly complex origami I've ever attempted. (And yes, I have to say "attempted" on most of his insect models, not "completed".)

  4. origami mathematics by n3k5 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    while it's impossible to solve cube duplication or trisection of an arbitrary angle using just a straightedge (not a marked ruler) and a compass, it can be accomplished utilizing origami. there are a number of recent very powerful results in origami mathematics. i wonder if you could take a sheet of paper and fold together the quadrature of the circle.

    --
    but what do i know, i'm just a model.
  5. Origami + Math = Tom Hull by Parthenogeny · · Score: 4, Interesting

    When it comes to Origami and Math I think of Tom Hull right off the bat. After all, he did invent the PHIZZ unit, from which you can make spherical bucky balls. Here, check it out:
    http://web.merrimack.edu/hullt/OrigamiMath.h tml