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#MathArtChallenge Day 63: Super Tic-Tac-Toe

The challenge: This is another game (like sprouts). Great to play with a friend, can even be challenging for you to play against yourself! Lots of variety of how you decide who “wins”.

Materials needed: paper, pencil/pen
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: probability

Depending on how you use this activity, you may engage with different mathematical standards. I’ve listed possible connected math content above. Here are a few suggestions for how you might integrate the 8 mathematical practices. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments!

1.) Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. What strategy will most likely end with you winning? Do you want to start or go second?

8.) Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. If you play until all boards are filled, what is the expected number of 3 in a row?

#MathArtChallenge Day 62: Wobblers

The Challenge: Build yourself a wobbler. Wobblers are 2 circle (or 2 ellipse!) constructions that have a constant center of mass. Or rather, a center of mass that doesn’t move up and down as the wobbler rolls. Thus, resulting in a satisfyingly continuous “wobble”.

Materials Needed: cardboard, ruler, boxcutter or scissors
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: algebra, angles, circles, geometry, proportions/ratios, symmetry, vertices/intersections

#MathArtChallenge Day 61: Hilbert Curve

The challenge: Create a Hilbert curve.

Materials needed: Paper and pencil. Grid paper is helpful.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: exponents, fractals, geometry, sequences, symmetry, tessellations

#MathArtChallenge Day 60: Triangle Incenters ala Matt Henderson

An orange triangle with a large number of folds and lines drawn on it.

The Challenge: Create your own version of Matt Henderson’s triangle incenters.

Materials needed: Paper? Pencil? Origami? Graphing software? (There are lots of options here.)
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: angles, geometry, polygons, symmetry, vertices/intersections

#MathArtChallenge Day 59: Cellular Automata

6 different iterations of random assignment automata

The Challenge: Using rules from the “above row”, create a new row below.

Materials needed: grid (can be home made!) paper, pencil/pen.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: Probability, randomness, expected value

#MathArtChallenge Day 58: The Miura Fold

The Challenge: Fold a Miura fold. This was used on the Japanese “Space Flyer Unit” launched in 1995! (That website also has decent instructions.)

Materials needed: Patience, paper, some sort of pen/flat thing to sharpen creases.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: geometry, origami, symmetry

#MathArtChallenge 57: Islamic Geometry – Sheikh Zayed Masjid

A 10 petal flower made with compass and straight edge.

The Challenge: I’m seeing the trees start blossoming around here (MN) so this felt like a good time for this one. I used Samira Mian‘s instructions. If you’re interested in Islamic Geometry, I cannot recommend her enough. Here is my creation, followed by her youtube video.

Materials required: Compass, straight edge, pencil.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: circles, geometric construction, Islamic geometry, symmetry, vertices/intersections

#MathArtChallenge Day 56: Hyperbolic Crochet (all credit to Daina Taimina)

6 different hyperbolic crocheted planes.

The Challenge: Crochet your very own Hyperbolic Plane (or Pseudosphere?)

Materials Needed: Crochet hook, yarn.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: exponents, hyperbolic geometry, proportions/ratios, topology

#MathArtChallenge Day 55: Hyperboloid (George Hart & Elisabeth Heathfield)

Hyperboloid made from wooden skewers and rubber bands.

The Challenge: Build your own Hyperboloid

Materials needed: Skewers, Tiny rubber bands (I was able to get skewers at the grocery store and polybands from Target)
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: Angles, geometric construction, lines, symmetry, topology, vertices/intersections

#MathArtChallenge Day 54: Permutations

The Challenge: Represent a pattern of permutations

Materials Needed: ??? There are so many options here. I used paint, but you could draw, use yarn, legos… anything.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: combinations & permutations, counting