Math Monday: Make Designs in the Snow

Math Monday: Make Designs in the Snow

By George Hart for the Museum of Mathematics

Math_Monday_banner02_600px.jpg

If you are looking for a giant canvas on which to make mathematical patterns, how about fields of snow? Simon Beck has been stomping out giant patterns for years with just snow shoes. Here are some of his more mathematical examples: a Koch curve, a Sierpinski triangle, and the pattern of overlapping circles that everyone likes to make with a drawing compass.

All you need to make your own is some fresh snow and imagination.

More:
See all of George Hart’s Math Monday columns

4 thoughts on “Math Monday: Make Designs in the Snow

  1. Bob says:

    A human made these with snow shoes? Nonsense! Impossible! It must’ve been aliens who travelled here across hundreds of light years so they could … uh … play in the snow .. or … uh … cut down wheat fields … or something like that.

  2. Al Gore says:

    Snow? What snow?

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

View more articles by Gareth Branwyn

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK