The Mathematics of Origami

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When you see a paper crane, what do you think of? A symbol of hope, a delicate craft, The Karate Kid? What you might not see, but is ever present, is the fascinating mathematics underlying it. Origami is increasingly applied to engineering problems, including origami-based stents, deployment of solar arrays in space, architecture, and even furniture design. The topic is actively developing, with recent discoveries at the frontier (e.g., in rigid origami and in curved-crease origami) and an infusion of techniques and algorithms from theoretical computer science. The mathematics is often advanced, but this book instead relies on geometric intuition, making it accessible to readers with only a high school geometry and trigonometry background. Through careful exposition, more than 160 color figures, and 49 exercises all completely solved in an Appendix, the beautiful mathematics leading to stunning origami designs can be appreciated by students, teachers, engineers, and artists alike.

• Allows readers to visualize folding in action with 3D animations and to try techniques themselves with downloadable templates
• Introduces mathematical topics in asides to bring unfamiliar readers up to speed while advanced readers can skip ahead
• Reinforces concepts through 49 solved exercises graded into three categories
• Gives a glimpse of unsolved problems beyond the frontier