‘The Mathematics of Origami’ topic of colloquium

The Idaho State University Mathematics Department will host a colloquium given by San Jose State Professor Dr. Roger Alperin on “The Mathematics of Origami” at 4 p.m. Nov. 16 in the ISU Physical Science Building Room 108.

Alperin will discuss how the combinatorics of origami alignments lead to rules for allowable folds. These rules can be interpreted as axioms for geometrical constructions in the plane. The geometry constructions are more powerful than Euclidean constructions by ruler and compass. This leads to questions about what is possible to construct with origami folds. Sidelights include aspects of numbers and curves, trisection of an angle, pentagons without a compass and solving cubic polynomial by geometry.

Alperin received his doctorate degree from Rice University. He has been a professor at San Jose State since 1987 and was previously a professor at the University of Oklahoma.

For more information, contact Cathy Kriloff at 282-3093 or krilcath@isu.edu.