What is a tessellation pattern in math?
A pattern of shapes that fit perfectly together! A Tessellation (or Tiling) is when we cover a surface with a pattern of flat shapes so that there are no overlaps or gaps.
How is math used in tessellations?
A tessellation or tiling is the covering of a surface, often a plane, using one or more geometric shapes, called tiles, with no overlaps and no gaps. In mathematics, tessellation can be generalized to higher dimensions and a variety of geometries. A periodic tiling has a repeating pattern.
What is an example of tessellation?
A tessellation is a tiling over a plane with one or more figures such that the figures fill the plane with no overlaps and no gaps. Examples of a tessellation are: a tile floor, a brick or block wall, a checker or chess board, and a fabric pattern. The following pictures are also examples of tessellations.
Why are tessellations important in math?
Since tessellations have patterns made from small sets of tiles they could be used for different counting activities. Tiles used in tessellations can be used for measuring distances. Once students know what the length is of the sides of the different tiles, they could use the information to measure distances.
What is tessellation and its types?
There are three types of regular tessellations: triangles, squares and hexagons. Regular tessellations have interior angles that are divisors of 360 degrees. For example, a triangle’s three angles total 180 degrees; which is a divisor of 360. A hexagon contains six angles whose measurements total 720 degrees.
What shapes will tessellate?
Triangles, squares and hexagons are the only regular shapes which tessellate by themselves. You can have other tessellations of regular shapes if you use more than one type of shape. You can even tessellate pentagons, but they won’t be regular ones. Tessellations can be used for tile patterns or in patchwork quilts!
What shapes can tessellate?
In a tessellation, whenever two or more polygons meet at a point (or vertex), the internal angles must add up to 360°. Only three regular polygons (shapes with all sides and angles equal) can form a tessellation by themselves—triangles, squares, and hexagons.
