Object Details
maker
Wheeler, Albert Harry
Description
The hinged dissection has three hinged pieces (two of the triangles and the small square are glued together). They may be arranged as a large square or as two rectangles and a smaller square. If the side of the large square is c and the sides of the triangles are a and b (a longer than b), then the area of the small square is (a-b)2. The area of each of the four triangles is 1/2ab. Hence c2 = (a-b)2 + 4(1/2)ab. Hence c2 = a2 + b2, as the Pythagorean theorem would indicate. The model resembles Wheeler's 6SI (square into gnommon), but has only five pieces and is quite different from MA.304723.763, which is labeled as an example of that model.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Helen M. Wheeler
ID Number
MA.304723.767
catalog number
304723.767
accession number
304723
Object Name
geometric model
Physical Description
plastic (overall material)
wood (overall material)
metal (overall material)
gold (overall color)
red (overall color)
black (overall color)
green (overall color)
yellow (overall color)
cut, glued and hinged (overall production method/technique)
Measurements
average spatial: 1.3 cm x 15.6 cm x 15.6 cm; 1/2 in x 6 5/32 in x 6 5/32 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
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_1074343