The saga of mathematical objects
Seeing, manipulating, learning... Mathematical objects, whether they are instruments, games, tools, puzzles, supports, sculptures, works of art, are a privileged means of appropriating an abstract concept, or even a subtle notion... 'Making sense!' seems to be their reason for being, from the first among them, the Ishango bone, to the ordinary graduated ruler used by all schoolchildren. Some geometric models, beyond the wonder they can inspire, allow us to apprehend properties that are not always obvious… even from a simple cube!
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Objects that embody knowledge
A mathematical object is a concept arising from... mathematics. The objects featured in this saga are physical ones, of interest not only mathematically but also historically, educationally and aesthetically. They illustrate concepts and make them easier to understand.
The ruler: history of a measuring instrument
Let's rediscover this object we think we know...
The cube’s geometric tricks: cross-sections and symmetries
The cube is such a familiar object that few people know its formal name: the regular hexahedron. Yet that familiarity is deceptive... To see why, let’s slice a cube into sections: this old familiar shape still has a few surprises in store!
Making a sliced cube: net and assembly
Theory done—now for the hands-on part! Build your own sliced cube. A photo sequence illustrates each stage of the process step by step. Grab some glue and scissors, download and print the pieces to cut out, and... have fun!