New math elective class for Fall 2021!

MATH 390 Special Topics:

Origami: Math in Creasing
instructor: Thomas Hull

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00am - 12:20pm

Prerequisites: MATH 251 or MATH 281, or permission of the instructor

Origami is the art of folding paper, and mathematics is the language best suited to
describe how origami works. This course explores a variety of mathematical models
that can be used to understand folding processes. Our studies will include geometric
constructions, combinatorics, discrete geometry, linear algebra, and calculus.
Explorations will be made into these models by physically making origami art as well
as via computer simulations. Applications of origami to physics, engineering,
architecture, robotics, and education will be discussed throughout the course.

Some of what we will study:

• Modular origami and the math behind polyhedra,

Buckyballs, and geodesic domes.
• How math is used to design origami birds, animals,
insects, and more.
• The Miura-ori (aka Miura map fold) and why
engineers get excited about how this model folds
and unfolds so easily (and how origami like this is
being used to put large solar panels into outer
space).
• How to trisect an angle, which the classic Greek geometry tools straightedge and
compass cannot do, but origami can!
(a) (b) ⇢2 (c) tan(⇢2 /2)
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l3 l2 ⇢3 ⇢1
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mode 2
mode 1 ⇡ 4
mode 2
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⇡ ↵ ↵ l1
⇢2
⇡

l4 ⇢4 ⇢1 tan(⇢1 /2)
l3 ⇡ ⇡ 4 4
l2 mode 2 ⇢3
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⇢1 mode 1
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⇡ ↵ ↵ l1 mode 1
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⇡ ⇢2

l4 ⇢4 <latexit sha1_base64="(null)">(null)</latexit>
⇡ 4

Questions? Want more information? Contact Thomas Hull: thull@wne.edu