FINITE MATH
Content Domain: Geometry of Design
Content Standards: The learners demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Tilling and Tessellation
Learning Competencies:
The learners:
identify polygons that can tesselate the plane;
generate tessellations using geometric transformations;
construct Escher-type tessellations;
Tiling and Tessellations
Tilling- is the act of covering a flat surface using one or more shapes (tiles) with no gaps or overlaps. It is broader
than [Link] tessellation often implies a repeating geometric pattern, tiling can include both repeating
and non-repeating, regular or irregular, geometric or artistic designs.
Tessellations
In mathematics, tessellation involves covering a two-dimensional plane using one or
more geometric shapes, called tiles, that fit together perfectly. These shapes repeat
across the surface without leaving any gaps or overlapping. Tessellation in math helps
explore the properties of shapes, such as triangles and squares, and their ability to
transform through translation, rotation, and reflection. A tessellation pattern
highlights how these transformations can create uniform designs across a plane.
How do you know that a figure will tessellate?
If the figure is the same on all sides, it will fit together when it is repeated. Figures that tessellate tend to be regular
polygons. Regular polygons have congruent straight sides. When you rotate or slide a regular polygon, the side of the
original figure and the side of its translation will match. Not all geometric figures can tessellate. When you translate
or rotate them, their sides do not fit together.
Remember this rule and you will know whether a figure will tessellate or not! Think about whether or not there will
be gaps in the pattern as you move a figure.
Create a tessellation by repeating the following figure.
[Figure 3]
First, trace the figure on a piece of stiff paper and then cut it out. This will let you
perform translations easily so you can see how best to repeat the figure to make a
tessellation.
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This figure is exactly the same on all sides, so you do not need to rotate it to make the
pieces fit together. Instead, let’s try translating it.
Next, trace the figure. Then slide the cutout so that one edge of it lines up perfectly with
one edge of the figure you drew. Trace the cutout again.
Then, line the cutout up with another side of the original figure and trace it. As you add
figures to the pattern, the hexagons will start making themselves!
Check to make sure that there are no gaps in your pattern. All of the edges should fit
perfectly together. You should be able to continue sliding and tracing
the hexagon forever in all directions. You have made a tessellation!
Examples
Example 1
Earlier, you were given a problem about tessellating honeycomb.
To tessellate means that congruent figures are put together to create a pattern where
there aren’t any gaps or spaces in the pattern. Figures can be put side by side and/or
upside down to create the pattern. The pattern is called a tessellation. If you look at the
honeycomb, you can see that hexagons are tessellating.
Regular polygons will tessellate as long as one of their interior angles is a factor of
360°. To find the interior angles of a regular polygon, you use the formula:
Example 2
Draw a tessellation of equilateral triangles.
In an equilateral triangle each angle is 60°. Therefore, six triangles will perfectly fit
around each point to make a hexagon.
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[Figure 4]
Example 3
Does this figure tessellate? Why or why not?
[Figure 5]
First, look at the image. Notice that it is a right triangle. Two right triangles will fit
together to make a square.
Next, see if the right triangles will fit together with no gaps.
[Figure 6]
The answer is yes, the right triangle will tessellate.
Example 4
Does this figure tessellate? Why or why not?
[Figure 7]
First, look at the image. It is a circle.
Next, see if the circles will fit together with no gaps.
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[Figure 8]
The answer is no, circles will not tessellate. Notice that there are gaps in the diagram.
Example 5
Does this figure tessellate? Why or why not?
[Figure 9]
First, look at the image. Notice that it is a rectangle with an equilateral triangle on top.
Equilateral triangles do tessellate as do rectangles.
Next, see if the figure will fit together with no gaps.
[Figure 10]
The answer is yes, the figures will tessellate because it is made up of two shapes that
do tessellate.
Review
Will the following figures tessellate?
A regular pentagon
A regular octagon
A square
A rectangle
An equilateral triangle
A parallelogram
A circle
A cylinder
A cube
A cone
A sphere
A rectangular prism
A right triangle
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A regular heptagon
A regular decagon
Review (Answers)
Click HERE to see the answer key or go to the Table of Contents and click on the
Answer Key under the 'Other Versions' option.
Key Features of Tessellations
Repetition: The same shape or combination of shapes is repeated to cover the entire
surface, forming a tessellation pattern.
Geometric Shapes: Common polygons like squares, triangles, and hexagons are
frequently used to create tessellation examples.
Symmetry: Tessellations often exhibit different types of symmetry, such as rotational
or reflectional symmetry, adding to the design's mathematical beauty.
Types of Tessellations
1. Regular Tessellations
A regular tessellation is created by using only one type of regular polygon. A regular
polygon has equal sides and angles. In regular tessellations, only three shapes are
capable of completely covering a plane without gaps or overlaps:
Equilateral Triangles
Squares
Regular Hexagons
These shapes tessellate easily because their interior angles divide evenly into 360
degrees. This simple yet effective design makes regular tessellations a common
pattern in both math and art.
2. Semi-Regular Tessellations
Semi-regular tessellations consist of two or more different regular polygons arranged
in a repeating pattern. The key feature is that the same arrangement surrounds each
vertex. For example, a combination of triangles and squares or hexagons and
triangles can form a semi-regular tessellation. This type of tessellation provides more
complex and visually interesting patterns for design and geometry.
3. Non-Regular Tessellations
Non-regular tessellations are made from irregular polygons or a mixture of different
types of polygons. These can include both convex and concave shapes. A famous
example of a non-regular tessellation is the Penrose tiling, which uses two shapes to
create an aperiodic pattern that does not repeat.
Applications of Tessellations
1. In Nature
Tessellations are found in various natural structures. One of the most notable
tessellation pattern examples is the honeycomb, where hexagonal cells tessellate to
form a highly efficient and durable structure. The shells of turtles and certain fish
scales also form tessellated patterns, making them excellent tessellation examples in
nature. These natural tessellations highlight the practical use of geometry in creating
strong, efficient structures.
2. In Architecture and Design
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Tessellations are widely used in architecture and design. Many ancient civilizations,
particularly in Islamic art, utilized geometric tessellations to create intricate and
visually appealing designs. Modern architects often use tessellations to create both
functional and decorative surfaces. The regular repetition of polygons, like triangles
and squares, provides a simple yet effective design method that can be adapted in
numerous ways.
3. In Modern Technology
Tessellations also play a critical role in computer graphics and 3D modeling.
Tessellations help break down complex surfaces into smaller, tileable shapes for
easier rendering. This is essential in video games and simulations, where large-scale
models must be displayed with precision and efficiency. Computer scientists use
tessellation ideas to create more detailed and accurate visual models, making
tessellations vital in modern technology.
What Is a Tessellation?
A tessellation is the arrangement of shapes that fit together without leaving gaps or
overlaps. In mathematics, tessellations are particularly useful for studying symmetry
and geometry, as they demonstrate how shapes can fill a space evenly. Tessellations
can be regular, using only one type of polygon like squares or triangles, or irregular,
using multiple shapes. The study of tessellations helps explain the structure of various
natural and man-made patterns, from mosaic tiles to beehives.
Mathematical Properties of Tessellations
1. Angle Measures
For a tessellation to be possible, the interior angles of the shapes meeting at each
vertex must add up to 360 degrees. For instance, in a tessellation of regular
hexagons, three hexagons meet at each point, and each has an interior angle of 120
degrees, which sums to 360°. This property explains why certain polygons, like
squares and triangles, tessellate so easily.
2. Symmetry and Transformations
Tessellations often exhibit several types of symmetry:
Translational Symmetry: The pattern can be shifted along a plane without changing
its appearance.
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Rotational Symmetry: The pattern looks the same after being rotated by a specific
angle.
Reflectional Symmetry: The pattern can be reflected across a line or axis.
The study of symmetry in tessellations involves exploring how shapes can transform
and still fit together perfectly. Symmetry adds to the visual appeal and mathematical
meaning of tessellation patterns.
3. Tiling the Euclidean Plane
Tessellations in mathematics are directly related to tiling the Euclidean plane, which
is a flat, two-dimensional surface. This concept investigates which shapes can fill the
plane without gaps or overlaps. Aperiodic tilings, such as Penrose tilings, do not
repeat in a predictable pattern and are a fascinating area of study.
Tessellation Ideas for Exploration
There are countless tessellation ideas to explore, from creating simple geometric
patterns with squares or triangles to designing complex tessellation patterns inspired
by nature. Experimenting with a variety of polygons or even irregular shapes can lead
to unique tessellation ideas for art, design, or even mathematical study.
Conclusion
Tessellations are a fundamental concept in mathematics, combining geometry,
symmetry, and artistic expression. Whether found in nature, architecture, or
computer graphics, tessellations offer insight into how shapes interact with space. By
understanding tessellations, we can better appreciate both the beauty and utility of
geometric patterns. From tessellation examples in nature to innovative tessellation
ideas in design, the concept remains a rich field of exploration, allowing us to delve
into the intricate world of patterns and polygons.
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The illustration shown above (Figure [Link].1) is an unusual pattern called a Penrose
tiling. Notice that there are two types of shapes used throughout the pattern: smaller green
parallelograms and larger blue parallelograms. What's interesting about this design is that
although it uses only two shapes over and over, there is no repeating pattern.
Figure [Link].1: Penrose tiling represents one type of tessellation. (credit: "Penrose Tiling" by
Inductiveload/Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
In this section, we will focus on patterns that do repeat. Repeated patterns are found in architecture, fabric,
floor tiles, wall patterns, rug patterns, and many unexpected places as well. It may be a simple hexagon-
shaped floor tile, or a complex pattern composed of several different motifs. These two-dimensional designs
are called regular (or periodic) tessellations. There are countless designs that may be classified as regular
tessellations, and they all have one thing in common—their patterns repeat and cover the plane.
We will explore how tessellations are created and experiment with making some of our own as well. The
topic of tessellations belongs to a field in mathematics called transformational geometry, which is a study of
the ways objects can be moved while retaining the same shape and size. These movements are termed rigid
motions and symmetries.
M.C. Escher
A good place to start the study of tessellations is with the work of M. C. Escher. The Dutch
graphic artist was famous for the dimensional illusions he created in his woodcuts and
lithographs, and that theme is carried out in many of his tessellations as well. Escher became
obsessed with the idea of the “regular division of the plane.” He sought ways to divide the
plane with shapes that would fit snugly next to each other with no gaps or overlaps, represent
beautiful patterns, and could be repeated infinitely to fill the plane. He experimented with
practically every geometric shape imaginable and found the ones that would produce a
regular division of the plane. The idea is similar to dividing a number by one of its factors.
When a number divides another number evenly, there are no remainders, like there are no
gaps when a shape divides or fills the plane.
Escher went far beyond geometric shapes, beyond triangles and polygons, beyond irregular
polygons, and used other shapes like figures, faces, animals, fish, and practically any type of
object to achieve his goal; and he did achieve it, beautifully, and left it for the ages to
appreciate.
Tessellation Properties and Transformations
A regular tessellation means that the pattern is made up of congruent regular polygons, same
size and shape, including some type of movement; that is, some type of transformation or
symmetry. Here we consider the rigid motions of translations, rotations, reflections, or glide
reflections. A plane of tessellations has the following properties:
Patterns are repeated and fill the plane.
There are no gaps or overlaps. Shapes must fit together perfectly. (It was Escher who
determined that a proper tessellation could have no gaps and no overlaps.)
Shapes are combined using a transformation.
All the shapes are joined at a vertex. In other words, if you were to draw a circle around a
vertex, it would include a corner of each shape touching at that vertex.
For a tessellation of regular congruent polygons, the sum of the measures of the interior
angles that meet at a vertex equals 360∘.360∘.
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In Figure [Link].2, the tessellation is made up of squares. There are four squares
meeting at a vertex. An interior angle of a square is 90∘90∘ and the sum of four interior
angles is 360∘ In Figure [Link].3 , the tessellation is made up of regular hexagons.
There are three hexagons meeting at each vertex. The interior angle of a hexagon
is 120∘120∘, and the sum of three interior angles is 360∘360∘. Both tessellations will fill
the plane, there are no gaps, the sum of the interior angle meeting at the vertex is 360∘, and
both are achieved by translation transformations. These tessellations work because all the
properties of a tessellation are present.