MYSTERIES OF THE EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE - HIKARI Ltd

Mathematical Recreations 127
Figure 4.33: Paper Folding [258]
Recreation 28 (Paper Folding [258]). Paper folding may be used as a
pedagogical device to expose even preschoolers to elementary concepts of plane
Euclidean geometry [258, p. 13]. Figure 4.33 displays an equilateral triangle
so obtained, replete with altitudes, center and pedal triangle.
Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, has traditionally focused
on forming the shape of natural objects such as animals, birds and fish
rather than polygons. Nonetheless, it has long held a particular fascination for
many mathematicians such as Lewis Carroll (C. L. Dodgson) [120].
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 4.34: Spidrons: (a) Seahorse. (b) Tiling. (c) Polyhedron. [95]