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Quote of the Day:
"Mathematics -- the subtle fine art." -- Jamie Byrnie Shaw"
Objectives:
The student will apply the delta-epsilon definition of a limit
to making a Hexaflexagon.
1. Collect Homework.
2. Distribute sheets of adding machine paper to each student -- they
should be three feet in length.
Begin folding the sheets to form triangles – eventually they will
become equilateral triangles. Take the sheet and fold down
and make a crease. Then unfold the paper and fold up along
the crease, making another crease. Then unfold and fold down
along the last crease. Continue this process until you have
25 triangles.
The last 19 triangles are the ones we will use – they should be
very close to equilateral!
3. The purpose of this exercise is to see that the angles in the
triangle are approaching 60 degrees. Here is a proof (making
the triangles equilateral):
Represent the first angle in triangle #1 by 60 + e degrees, where
e is the difference between the measure of the angle and 60
degrees. Then using alternate interior angles, there is an
angle in triangle #2 which has this same measure. Since the
sum of the angles along a line equal 180 degrees, and the
transversals represent the folds, the middle angle at the top
of triangle #2 must equal 60 – e/2 degrees. Then continue
using alternate interior angles and the sum of the angles
along a line equaling 180 degrees to discover the measures of
the remaining angles. Notice that the angles are approaching
60 degrees:
from (60+e) to (60-e/2) to (60+e/4) to (60-e/8) to (60+e/16), etc.
If the original angle was 80 degrees, so that it was off by
20 degrees (e = 20), then by triangle #5, e = 20/16 = 1.5
degrees!!!! So the angle would equal 61.5 degrees. And the
next ones would be closer.
Click here for instructions on folding and flexing the Hexaflexagon
5. Assignment:
Finish decorating all 6 sides of the Hexaflexagon
p. 137 (6, 12, 30, 31)
p. 145 (6, 16, 17)
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