Learn how to make flexagons - beautiful and unique paper constructions - and explore the math behind them. Discover the unusual math of twisted strips of paper. Flexagons are twisted strips of folded paper, which reveal their properties when flexed. This online course will explain what flexagons are, their history and their naming conventions. You’ll find out how to create your own flexagons and be able to share them with our global community of learners.
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You’ll also explore mathematical fields that provide tools to analyze flexagons, including topology and graph theory and learn about Möbius strips, Tuckermann diagrams and more.
What topics will you cover?
- The invention of flexagons
- How to make flexagons
- Cyclic and non-cyclic flexagons
- Advanced flexagons
- Möbius strips and their surprising properties
- The math behind flexagons, Möbius strips and knotted paper bands
Learning on this course
You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...
- Produce, create and fold Flexagons and Mobius Strips
- Explore flexagons and discover some of their unique properties
- Synthesize your knowledge and discover links between different mathematical tools.
Who is the course for?
This course is aimed at learners who enjoy being creative, solving puzzles, folding paper and revealing hidden mathematics. It will be especially useful for parents or teachers looking to inspire a love of math and do fun math activities with young people.
