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Geometric Model by A. Harry Wheeler, Hexagon Transformable into a Square, Plane Dissection

American History Museum

Plane Dissection, Three triangles, one quadrilateral, and one pentagon which can be arranged as a hexagon.
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Object Details

maker

Wheeler, Albert Harry

Description

The five pieces that form this model are arranged in an open box made from transparent plastic. The pieces are not hinged. They are stored as a hexagon, but may be rearranged to form a square.
A pattern for the model,part of 1979.3002.55, is entitled "Hexagon into a Square". This model is a mirror image of drawing. Two more drawings relating to this model are also part of 1979.3002.55.The dissection is attributed to the Belgian Paul-Jean Busschop.
In Wheeler's list of dissections, under 5HL, he lists a"Regular Hexagon into Square". Although, there is no drawing of this model there (see 1979.3002.43, folder 2). There is a drawing in 1979.3002.43, folder 3. Another sheet on this model is in 1979.3002.53, but the model namer is not given.
Compare MA.304723.818.
References:
E. Fourrey, Curiosités Géométriques, Paris: Vuiber and Nony, 1907, pp 133-134. Doesn't mention Busschop.
Greg N. Frederickson, Dissections Plane and Fancy, pp. 118-120. Frederickson attributes this dissection to Paul-Jean Busschop.
Busschopp, Paul, "Problèmes de géométrie," Nouvelle Corespondence Mathématique, 2 (1876), pp. 83-84.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of Helen M. Wheeler

date made

1932

ID Number

MA.304723.786

accession number

304723

catalog number

304723.786

Object Name

geometric model

Physical Description

red (overall color)
green (overall color)
plastic (overall material)
wood (overall material)
black (overall color)
yellow (overall color)
turquoise (overall color)
white (overall color)
cut and glued. (overall production method/technique)

Measurements

average spatial: 1.4 cm x 20 cm x 17.5 cm; 9/16 in x 7 7/8 in x 6 7/8 in

place made

United States: Massachusetts, Worcester

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Science & Mathematics
Plane Dissections

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Subject

Mathematics

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b3-dd14-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_1075126

Discover More

Wooden hinged dissection comprised of four trapezoids arranged in a square, a triangle, and a smaller square.

Geometric Models – Plane Dissections

Wooden hinged dissection comprised of four trapezoids arranged in a square, a triangle, and a smaller square.

Geometric Models – Plane Dissections

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