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Flexagons Galore: Advanced Flexagon Fun

Are you a flexagon fanatic? Explore the fascinating world of flexagon making and paper puzzles with this online course from the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Duration

6 weeks

Weekly study

2 hours

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How it works

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Challenge your maths skills through the magical art of paper folding

Flexagons are twisted strips of folded paper which reveal their properties when flexed.

On this course, you’ll learn how to build flexagons ‘bottom-up’ and explore how this approach can significantly increase the number of flexagons that you’re able to build.

You’ll discover a tool created by Scott Sherman which will allow you to make an infinite number of flexagons and explore flexagon diagrams.

You’ll also learn how to create flexagon mazes, meet Ann Schwartz’s mind-boggling straight-strip flexagons, and even learn about Yossi Elran’s art of destroying flexagons.

Week 1
Introduction and first glimpse of flexagons
- Introduction. Who are we and what do we want?
  This activity is for us to get to know each other and set the stage for the course.
- The book flex and its associated flexagons
  In this activity we will make and study three non-cyclic flexagons that can be folded and then flexed using the “book flex”.
Week 2
Pinch flexagons
- The pinch flex, the tri-hexa-flexagon and the tetra-octa-flexagon
  In this activity we will fold and pinch flex, the fundamental tri-hexa flexagon and the tetra-octa-flexagon.
- The hexa-hexa-flexagon
  In this activity we will explore the hexa-hexa-flexagon.
Week 3
Flexagons, flex by flex
- Scott Sherman’s flexagon notation
  In this activity we’ll learn the basics of the language that Scott Sherman created for flexagons
- Prime flexes
  In this activity, we learn three, new, fundamental flexes: the flip flex, the twist flex and the tuck flex.
Week 4
Advanced flexes
- More flexes
  In this activity we’ll learn two advanced flexes
- Composite flexes
  In this activity we will learn about composite flexes
- Week summary
  In this activity you’ll be able to see how well you’ve learnt all the flexes and reflect on this week’s learning.
Week 5
Flexagon exploration
- Flexagonator
  Creating flexagons using flexagon language and Scott Sherman's flexagonator program.
- Ann Schwartz’s approach to flexagons
  In this activity we’ll learn about an experimentalists approach to flexagons.
Week 6
Les Pooks approach to flexagons and flexagon fun
- Les Pook's approach to flexagons - and connecting the dots
  In this activity we’ll take a look at Les Pook's approach to flexagons and connect the dots of the flexagon theories to give us a coherent picture.
- Fun with flexagons
  In this activity, we’ll look at flexagon puzzles and mazes, and take a look at Yossi’s art of destroying flexagons
- Course summary
  We finish the course with a final test and some reflection on what we've gone through…