The idea for MathHappens to work with tessellating pentagons originated from intern Jason Gorst’s suggestions for future projects on his final report. A tessellation describes an arrangement of shapes that tiles a plane with no gaps or overlaps.The challenge of finding all possible tessellating pentagons was issued in 1900 by David Hilbert at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Paris
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We had an amazing time at Austin Nature and Science Center! Photo Gallery to come! At ANSC, we shared with the public ways to understand math through art. We brought out our tessellating pentagons and regular shapes (squares, rectangles, etc.) and invited the public to go through the history that brought us to the 15 irregular tessellating pentagons that we
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In this photo Ximena Mercado Garcia has items from each Museum Day math station on the table to share with Univision and their viewers. Las matemáticas también pueden ser divertidas. ¡Únete y descúbrelo tu mismo! Sarah Bacca is sending this note with all the details to teachers, principals and schools. We hope everyone gets the word! Dear Math Enthusiasts,
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Visitors today created a butterfly puzzle that can stay at the ANSC. Each one made a butterfly piece and together they are a tribute to famous mathematician Marjorie Rice’s work on the tessellating pentagon problem. Its a great way to end our summer series! See you next summer!
To build on the exhibit already in place at the Austin Nature and Science Center, visitors were able to stop by our table and make their own golden ratio calipers. Alongside this activity, guests were given the opportunity to color in their own golden ratio spiral, which could then be made into a necklace. This ratio (1: 1.618…) is present
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Visitors learn about the Fibonacci Sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8…) and how it relates to bee genetics. The visitors center has an actual beehive in the entryway. Visitors could color in their own bee. The bee family tree is etched on the back.
Visitors learn about Mercator maps and why the compass rose is important for navigation. There are four decorative compass roses on this map and numerous rhumb lines. Outside the visitors center is a human sunclock!
Ben Duong presenting Curve Stitching! Straight lines make parabolas and conics! Favorite Quote: “I have to buy this! All three of my grandkids are totally quiet.”
MathHappens is excited to announce that there will be math at the Austin Nature and Science Center every Saturday for Summer 2019 from 10 am to 2pm in the Visitor Center! Favorite Quote: “Kids, if you don’t finish at the math table soon you are going to miss out on the water park.”
