Make your own free website on Tripod.com
TESSELLATIONS!!!!

Geometry Project
                Jeff Stange and Katherine Orfao

Tessellations areee ..... A repeating Pattern of a shape or tile, often seen in mosaics.

Okay so there are 3 kinds of tessellations Regular, Semi- Regular and Demi Regular
 
Lets start with regular:
REGULAR TESSELATIONS

The three rules of making regular Tessellations are:

Rule 1: Tessellations must tile infiniti without any gaps or overlapping

Rule 2: The Tiles must be regular polygons and the same polygon

Rule 3: Each Vertex must look the same 

*this will not work with polygons with more than 6 sides

SEMIREGULAR TESSELLATIONS

Uses two or more different regular polygons, the same rules apply

DEMIREGULAR TESSELLATIONS

Uses exactly two or three regular polygons to make exact arrangements

 

tnlizard0.gif

The types of Symmetry found in Tessellations are:
 
Translational -  moving an object without rotating it or reflecting it
 
Rotational - To turn the Tessellation around every tessellation
 
Glide Reflection - combines a reflection with a translation along the direction of the mirror line

tess1.gif

FAQ
 
Q: Which Regular polygons can form tessellations
A: Squares Triangles and Hexagons
 
Q: How can a student Determine if a regular polygon will work?
A: The angle measures have to equal 360 degrees also see the rules of Regular Tessellations Above
 
Q: Will the following Tessellations work One Hexagon, One Square and One dodecagon?
A: No they will overlap they do not equal 360 degrees
 
Q: In order to create a semi- regular tessellation composed entirely of hexagons and triangles, how many hexagons and how many triangles must meet at a vertex?
A :  2!!!!!!
 
Q: Where can I find Tessellations outside the classroom?
A: Floor Tiles, Ceiling Tiles, Epicot Center in Disney World!