aa ones ‘wt FLEXAGONS %THE MAGIC OF FLEXAGONS David Mitchell Flexagons are curious objects made by folding paper in special ways. They offer a whole range of interesting puzzles and demanding challenges to try. Hidden inside a flexagon are a number of concealed faces and the challenge is to discover how to flex them into view smoothly and with confidence. If you see an experienced ‘flexer’ flexing a flexagon with just this confidence, then it seems a little like magic. Patterns and colours appear and disappear and what seems to be the same sequence of move- ments can produce very different results. In addition to the eleven challenge flexagons there are also four pastel coloured flexagons to use for experiment and investigation. Make up and explore all fifteen to become a champion flexer yourself. Remarkably, there are only a few basic techniques to learn and using them, all the hidden faces can be exposed to view. It is best to begin at the beginning and to work through the flexagons in roughly the order in this book. Some of the later challenges will seem very difficult if you have not tackled the earlier ones first. Cut the pieces of the chosen flexagon from this book and then score, fold and glue them into shape using the instructions below. For each flexagon, a Datafile Card is provided which shows on one side how to fold the flexagon into shape and on the other side gives the solutions to the challenges. The cards also draw attention to interesting features of the flexagons. www.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.cot Eleven Challenge Flexagons Four Flexagons for Investigations ‘Twelve Datafile Cards Making the Flexagons 1. Start by cutting out the Datafile Cards at the centre of the book. These cards are numbered and these numbers show the suggested order to try the challenges. Assleeve, to keep the Datafile Cards in, is provided on page 23. 2. Choose which flexagon you wish to make and cut out all the pieces. 3. Score lightly along all the dotted fold lines. Use a ruler and ball point pen which has run out of ink, but do not press too firmly. Then crease along all the scored lines, first one way, then the other. These folds become the hinges so care taken at this stage is well repaid later on. 4. Follow the instructions on the appropriate Datafile Card to assemble each flexagon. Before glueing, check that the letters and symbols on the front and back match the illustrations exactly. If they do not, something has gone ‘wrong, 50 refold and try again. Then glue the letered grey faces together in order. The type of glue that you use is not 4s important as it is for three-dimensional models, but be careful to spread it smoothly over the whole grey surface. Ifyou find that a flexagon is reluctant to flex a first, gently persuade it, being careful not to tear the hinges. Every time that you arrive ata different flat form, flatten it ight down and sharpen the creases with yout fingernail. After a ‘while al the hinges will work smoothly and easily. ©2008: David Mitchell ©1998: First Edition ISBN: 1899618287 Design: Magdalen Bear Printing: Progress Press, Co. Lid Malta All rights reserved ‘Tarquin Publications 99 Hatfield Road St Albans, Herts, ALL AJL United Kingdom wwwitarquinbooks.comaoburajirujin.blogspot.com This classic flexagon is just about as simple as flexagons get, which is why it is such a good one to start with. It has four rectangular faces, each made up of four smaller rectangles. The challenge isto flex all four faces into view at the front, one after the other, increasing and decreasing the number of red and blue bands from zero to three and from three to zero. Also, use the numbered version below for investigating what happens to the faces as this flexagon is flexed. Flexagon A Introducing the ‘book-flex’ information and suggestions for making use of this and the other three Flexagons to Investigatea aa RRwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com This flexagon flexes in a similar way to the simple tetraflexagon, but there isa crucial difference. One of the satershed. This face will flex in two different di lea few further flexes, to four noughts and the other to four crosses. Look for a ‘way property. The challenge is to flex continuously and smootily from t ‘nougts tothe A Oe Flexagon B Introducing the ‘dual book-flex’ Flexagon C Introducing the ‘pinch-flex’www.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Se ae ae ae nd +ooeoe and + Saad and 5 an a nd nd +ooooe tooo Sn nn a ae hand + and aa 5 an an in an ++ oooewww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Flexagon D Intraducing the ‘tube-flex’ Sa aee e aes Pa aes ee es OO. OO ade a ° ip ad ‘See also page 3 Flexagon C Introducing the ‘pinch-flex’ See also page 3. a nFjirujin bura www.origamijapao -blogspot.com +o oooe sp +a > 5 an anand 5 a and tHoooe +ooooe tooooe Se a ed 5 a ae ad + oe + DY a” a +orrooewww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.comwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot:com A A A v v 4 vv v v <> <> <>en il ‘cielnzienn ‘These two hexagonal flexagons are identical in construction, but appear to be different because of the way they are coloured. The challenge isto find a way to flex smoothly in sequence throught all the faces. The Star Hexaflexagon has three and the Kaleidoscope has six: The Kaleidoscope Hexaflexagonwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.comwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com a; AVAVAYwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com A Short History of Flexagons ‘The word ‘flexagon’ was coined in 1939 by a young Englishman, Arthur Stone, then studying mathematics at Princetown University in the USA. He used it to describe an odd and intriguing ‘toy’ that he had chanced upon while idly folding a strip of paper. What he had done was to weave the strip into a flat hexagonal shape and to glue the loose ends together. Some of the paper strip was of course hidden inside the weave, but to his surprise, Stone found that the hexagon could be flexed’ to bring, these hidden surfaces into view. He shared his discovery with close friends and being mathematically minded, they set out to find and analyse the new topic of ‘flexigation’. Unfortunately this analysis has never been published and now appears tobe lost. Suggestions have been made in mathematical circles that the paper on which it was written had been folded into a very special kind of flexagon and disappeared within itself, never to be seen again! ‘Two versions of Stone's original flexagon are included in this collection as the ‘simple hexaflexagons’ on page 9. In addition, itis fair to say that the simple tetraflexagon on page | and the two-way tetraflexagons on pages 3 & 5 have now attained the status of classics. All the others in this collection are my own discoveries although its likely, and in the case of the double layer flextube certain, that other people in other times and places may have discovered them for themselves. What then isa flexagon? Well itis an odd and curious object . in fact, a very odd and very curious object. So odd that almost everything you can say about flexagons is untrue, or atleast, not true about every flexagon all the time. Experiment by making all the flexagons in this collection and solving the challenges which have been set. Then see what you can discover for yourself. Some brief notes on how to make maps of flexagons are given overleaf. Simple Tetraflexagon Cut out both pieces on page 1. Score lightly and crease them firmly both ways along the fold lines. ‘Then follow these instructions to fold and glue the pieces together to make this flexagon. 2. Fold rightwards again. — = The Challenge Note that both pieces are the same To discover how a flexagon flexes, then to shape and are folded the same way. oe flex the too hidden faces into view. To “ ditinguish easily Bettcen the four Kinds ie of face, identify the numberof blue rn 3. Slide the lettered squares underneath 1. Fold rightwards as shown. as he ere aes ‘See overleaf for the solution. ‘Two-way Tetraflexagon Cut out the two pieces on pages 3 & 5, mo score lightly and then crease them firmly x + |= both ways along the fold lines. Then {follow these instructions to fold and glue . +l + EB a ‘the pieces together to make this flexagon. besstch nel pace etreeees ; ront Back [3] [A] “a a The Challenge fo] [o, doing fur comms woe song +] fe so 4. Then rightwards. {four noughts and then back again. He a Fin Se 5. Slide the A’s and B’s underneath 2,Fold downwards as indicated. and glue them face to face. See overleaf for the solution.www.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Making Maps of Flexes and Flexagons There is no accepted standard way of mapping flexagons, so you are entirely at liberty to invent a method of your own. Several different w: 's are explored on the back of the other Datafile Cards. You might care to investigate their advantages and disadvantages and here are four points to consider when constructing such diagrams. 1 ‘undo’, it is best to show routes between faces using, double-headed arrows. 2. Sometimes you can move between the same two faces in several ways using different combinations of flexes. Therefore you may prefer to use different types of double headed arrow for different types of flex. For the final flexagon in the collection, the Harlequin Flexagon, it has so far proved impossible to find a map or diagram which covers all the possibilities. There are so many. However if you are the person to succeed, please let us know! To flex this flexagon 1. Arrange the flexagon so that the face with all blue rings is facing you, like this. 2. Fold both the right and left sides forwards until they meet at the front. | 3. Separate the layers at the back and open them out to rightand left until the flexagon is flat again. ‘A map of ths flexagon looks like this + te it wi core Rania cea na { nought fold the right and lft edges together infront and open atthe back Do this twice. This brings the face with red dots into view atthe front Fold the top and bottom edges 4 backwards to continue and open at the front. Do this twice. The noughts appear and the puzzle is solved. aflOl olo ince all flexes are reversible, by what can be called an 3. Usually it is necessary to record both front and back faces in combination, rather than simply the front face. 4. Two appearances of a face may appear, at first sight, to be identical while in fact they are not. The segments of the face may be arranged in a different orientation, Marking one corer of each segment with a dot or letter is often a help in determining this. 4. You will see that one of the hidden faces has appeared. The design on the front now shows two blue rings and one red. 5. Repeat this basic flex again to find the other hidden face. 6. You can now reverse these moves to return to the face with all blue rings. Even this simple flexagon is more complex than it seems. Can you find a way to bring all the faces to the front in ‘sequence without turning the flexagon over? ‘The face with the red dots acts as a kind of watershed. It will open in two different directions, one leading to the noughts and the other to the crosses. If you play with this flexagon enough you may however discover that this face won't always flex in two directions. You can work out why this is by experimenting with the equivalent numbered flexagon, Flexagon B. In particular, investigate what happens to face 3.www.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Hidden Aces Flexagon Cut out the single piece on page 7, removing the to interior rectangles marked ‘remove’. Score lightly and then crease firmly both ways along all the fold lines. ‘Then follow these instructions to {old it into shape. No glue is needed. 1. Fold the top row of cards downwards. 2. Fold the right row leftwards. 3. Fold the’ bottom row upwards, * Ke 4. Fold the left row rightwards, and slip between the layers. ¢ ! a e|¢ 1a ale le AG Frost The Challenges To flex through all four suits in turn and then to flex itso that there are ‘backs’ on both sides and all the aces are hidden away inside. ‘See overleaf for the solutions. Star Hexaflexagon Cut out the two pieces on page 9. Score lightly and then crease firmly both ways along all the fold lines. Then follow these instructions to fold it into shape. The two pieces are first glued together to make a longer strip. Wa ™ 1.Glue the A’s. 2. Fold the outside two triangles ‘on each side inwards. _ 3. Turn over. inl 4. Fold in half diagonally upwards and slip the final triangle underneath. e 5. Glue the B's. Front Back The Challenge This flexagon hs three aces each a differen colour. The challenge i to flex smoothly, sequence, hrgh ll the ju ‘See overleaf for the solution. Cut out the two pieces on page 9. Score lightly and crease firmly both ways along all the fold lines, Then follow these instructions. Although this flexagon is essentially the same as the Star Hexaflexagon, itis not coloured in the same symmetrical way. It therefore offers more kaleidoscopic possibilities. CORA 1. Glue the A's, Aare 2. Fold the last two triangles on teach side inwards Kaleidoscope Hexaflexagon 3. Turn over. 4. Fold in half diagonally upwards and slip the final triangle underneath. - 5. Glue the B's. y Front Back The Challenge This lexagon ha ix feces, each of whic thous a diferent pattern. The challenge Ietojiex mecca tn sequence frough al the faces, See overleaf for the solution. nnywww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com ‘The four suits form a simple ring of _1, Begin with the blue backs towards you, flexes like this. Fold the long edges backwards until they meet. Now open up the 3, Open up to reveal the pink backs. By flexing the Spades face the other way you can find the blue backs. It appears to be a dead end but isn't. F F centre to form a tube. alo] s 4 ! or" 4 i 4 4 4.The Aces are hidden. 2. Keep pulling the centre apart so that the tube flattens in the opposite ‘There is another route back to the direction Spades face. Can you find it? Hexaflexagons are like a wheel with six spokes. Only. alternate spokes will open. To flex the Star Flexagon pinch both sides of one of these open spokes together, Here is a map of the Star Hexaflexagon. then push in the opposite edge. Now allow the centre to open up. Anew face of a different colour will appear. You can perform this pinch flex again, and again, Which way you go round the cycle depends on which and again ... side is uppermost when you begin. As this map shows, the pinch flex cycles through two Here is a way of flexing between these two cycles without different sets of faces depending on which side of the appearing to turn the flexagon over. flexagon is uppermost when you start. ‘i a ee, avy Pull the comers marked A towards the front comer marked B and flatten the side triangles. ‘You will then find that the hexaflexagon opens at the top, revealing a pattern from the other cycle. By combining this move with the pinch flex you can flex quickly through all the faces and confuse any observer! oodwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Colour Mix Hexaflexagon (Cut out the three pieces on page 11, score lightly and then crease them firmly both ways along the fold lines. Then {follow these instructions to fold and glue ‘the pieces together to make this flexagon. a A 1. Glue the A’s and B's to join the three pieces into a long strip. MTT 2. From the left, fold in turn between the pairs of triangles of the same colour. ‘The result is a red /blue/ yellow strip. 3. Turn over and fold between the yellow triangles. 4. The resiilt looks like this. Turn over. 5. Then fold again between the yellow triangles, and slip the grey triangle under the blue. ee 6. Glue the C's, Front Back The Challenge Flex to show the result of adding the colours om the front and back faces. ‘Show in turn that red + blue = purple, blue + yellow = green and yellow + red yrange. What happens when you flex along the lines marked with - - signs ? ‘See overleaf for the solution. Double Cross Flexagon Cut out the two pieces on page 21, score lightly and then crease them firmly both ‘ways along the fold lines. Then follow these instructions to fold and glue the pieces together to make this lexagon. Both pieces are the same shape and are folded in the same way. [¥) + a 2. Slide the two pieces together so that the lettered squares are on top. rh aa ‘E 1. Fold the three lefthand squares rightwards. 3.Glue the A’s. 4. Glue the B's, rar Lb Front Back The Challenge Rearrange this double cross tetraflexagon to show its double medical connection. When you have succeeded it will have a _green cross like the one for a pharmacy (om one side and a red cross on the other It is not easy, but it can be done. See overleaf for the solution. Magic Square Flexagon Cut out the two pieces on pages 23 & 25, score lightly and then crease them firmly both ways along the fold lines. ‘Then follow these instructions to fold ‘and glue the pieces together. ty Ae fold in the four outside squares. 2 On wet piece, fold in the 4 & 6, then the 2 & 8. SY Open (ies) 7. — 3. Place the H piece onthe strip. 'E. a, 4. Glue the A’s, B’s, C’s and D's. 17; The Challenges This flexagon offers two separate and different challenges. One isto flex the ‘magic square open so that the totals of the numbers on either side ofthe split ‘appear inside. The other is to tur it into a decorative bracelet which will fit over even quite a large wrist. See overleaf for the solutions.www.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Amap of this flexagon can be drawn like this If you pinch flex on the spokes which are not marked with + signs, you will find that you can cycle through the three primary colours red blue yellow If you pinch flex along the spokes marked with + signs, you will find that: red + blue blue + yellow yellow + red purple green ange If you pinch flex along the spokes marked with - signs on these new faces you will send the flexagon into a different three phase cycle. You can only escape from this, new cycle by flexing along a spoke not marked with a + sign on one of the primary colours. Each of the primary colours turns up tw Are both occurances of each colour identical? 1. Fold in half upwards. rt 2. Pull the front and rear layers gently apart at the bottom until the flexagon forms a hollow tube. 3. Two opposite sides of the tube are formed of pairs of flaps marked with red L’s. Interlock the pair on one side, then the pair on the other. The tube will still look much the same but its structure will have changed. ALT splh te magi aquare B: To make the bracelet wT, 4. Flatten the tube to look like this, then fold the front upwards 5. Open out the flexagon and the challenge is solved. seal ales oun oon oon Make a simple flex along these lines to expose the 30 and 15, Note how the sum of the six numbers on one side of the split add up to 30 and the three numbers on the other side add up to 15, Notice also that itis impossible to split along both lines at the same time. 1. Fold the top and bottom rows inwards. 2. Ease one set of flaps inside the layers of the other. 3. Flatten down completely. 4. Gently pull the two layers apart to make the bracelet 5. To return to the magic square, close the bracelet with the 15 and 30 face to face and ther carefully remove one set of flaps from inside the other. ESwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Flexitube Cut out the three pieces om pas score lightly and then crease them firmly both ways along the fold lines. Then follow these instructions to make this pair of flexitubes. A: To make the flexitube from the single piece. 1. Fold the left hand end inwards and then the right hand end. 2. Glue the A's. B. B: To make the flexitube from two pieces. > a> 3. Glue the B's. 5. Glue the C's. a) The Challenge Take the flexitube which has blue outside and flexi inside out. The to fexitubes then become ident. Then flex the others tha hey Become diferent agin ‘See overleaf for the solution. Double Layer Flexitube Cut out both pieces on page 29, score lightly and then crease them firmly both ways along the fold lines. Then follow ‘these instructions to make this flexagon. A lue A to make a single longer strip. h 2. Fold the three triangles on the left down to the right and the two on the right up to the left. 3. Fold the five triangles on the left down to the right and the four ‘on the right up to the left. yd 4. Fold the triangle on the right to the left, a ‘The front and back are identical Squeeze gently to achieve the tube. Front The Challenge exitube is turquoise on the outside ‘and blue on the inside. Flex it so that it becomes red on the outside and ochre on the inside. It is also possible to make the tube ochre outside and blue inside or blue ‘outside and Once you know the secret you will be able to predict the combination in advance. leaf for the solution. Harlequin Flexagon Cut out both pieces on page 31, score lightly and then crease them firmly both ways along the fold lines. Then very carefully follow these instructions +. 1. Fold the bottom four triangles on ich piece up to the right. Wh “WO a 2. Fold two triangles up to the left re Rr 3. Tur over, then fold up to the left Place the pieces > tt Za} Glue the B's first, then the A’s. S Front Back The Challenge This flexagon has more different shapes than any of the others. Flex it so that it ‘becomes an eight triangle square which is completely black on both sides. Then make it into a second eight triangle square with a red/yellow harlequin on one side and a blue/green harlequin on the other. Gog overleaf for the solution. 19www.origamijapaoburajiru in.blogspot.com There are many ways to turn this flexitube inside out, but this is probably the simplest. First flatten the tube, then fold both top corners behind. ay 2. Gently push inwards to open it up and then reach inside to pull out Se a: Plog the > ores — Kester sy arc oper up into a large triangle. 1, Flatten the tube. Then pull up top layer at A. @ 4 2. Turnover Sor (On this simple map, the front and back of the starting position are shown in the centre. The two challenges you 3 it opens out into a flat square. Tum over sideways. 5. Open out the flaps behind. 6. The challenge is complete. 4. Tuck the top point down inside the pocket. 8. Pull os 5. Insert finger at D, and open into a large squai 7. Squeeze the points together so that E opens up. ‘The result isa small square. 6. Fold along, the opposite diagonal 9, Turn over from stage 5, sideways. 10. Pull out the top layer at G. 11, Open toa tube, The Sages Souplened Begin with the flexagon in the starting position, with the black side facing you and the red/ yellow side behind. are asked to achieve are shown on either side. The red arrows show the routes between the front and back faces using the flex explained here. 1. Pinch along the central line, to make a 3-D star shape. * 2. As the four diagonals meet at the bottom it opens at the top to expose the other black face. 20a uble C com This is not such a simple flexagon as it appears to be at first. The challenge is to rearrange the green and red L-shaped pieces so that a red cross appears on one side ‘and a green cross on the other.www .origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Oe Vvae sania com The nine sq ‘h make up the front of this flexagon are in the form of th famous Lo on eit umns and diagonals add flex open in > reveal numbers which are the sunt of the mu difficult pening large enough for an i lenge isto find side of the opening. This is ensy but it into an arm-band or bracel nd to pass through urn it 3 x 3 magic square shape Datafile Sleeve To hold the twelve datafile cardswww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.comwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Magic Square Flexagonwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com 26www.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com at the pair become identical ifferent again,www.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Double Layer Flexitube with different at both colours disappear and two new ones Like the Flexitube, when first made, this flexagon is in the form of colours inside and out. The challenge i app de. When you have truly discovered an nce which of the replace them, one on the inside and the other on the outwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.comwww.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.comFlexagons to Investigate FFlexagons are fun to experiment with and explore as well as being interesting to play with and puzzle over. To help you investigate their properties, while avoiding ruining the chal- lenge flexagons by drawing all over them, four smaller Flexagons to Investigate are provided. See pages 1,3 & 5. ‘The diagrams below show how to assemble them. You will, notice that these flexagons are identical in form to the first four of the challenge flexagons. Flexagon A is like the Simple ‘Tetraflexagon, Flexagon B is like the Two-way Flexagon, Flexagon C is like both Simple Hexaflexagons and Flexagon Dis like the Hidden Aces Flexagon. Making Flexagon A Feu fon Making Flexagon B 2 Front www.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com Making Flexagon C VAAN ABA VARA 3. 4. 0 Front Back Making Flexagon D GF i &. rom PS] mo FS] ‘You will see that each face is numbered. This makes it easier to track exactly how the faces move with the operation of each kind of flex. The four flexagons can be distinguished by their colours. The pairs of dotted lines are there to show you which folds will flex open and which will not. Since many of the squares or triangles rotate during a flex, it is interesting to track exactly what happens. You might care to add small marker letters to some of the comers of the faces and note where they go to after a flex. If you wish to design flexagons of your own, then such information is very helpful. Investigating the Flexes 1. The Book Flex or Basic Flex Use Flexagon A to investigate this flexing technique. Like any other flex, a basic flex can immediately be undone in the opposite direction. 2. The Dual Book Flex or Two-Way Flex Use Flexagon B to investigate this two-way technique. ‘On Flexagon B the 4’s face can flex in two directions, leading, 105 & 6 oF to2 & 1. Notice that face 4 will not flex two ways. unless the dotted lines form a cross in the centre. 3. The Pinch Flex Use Flexagon C to investigate this technique. ‘The pairs of dotted lines mark the spokes which will open. 1.Pinch inch one of these pairs and then push the opposite comer e— inwards. The flexagon then 2Push ‘opens from the centre. 4. The Tube Flex Use Flexagon D to investigate this technique. Starting from face 4 open the flexagon into a hollow tube, then squash it flat the other way. Then open it up to gain access to face 6, which cannot otherwise be made to appear. If you have enjoyed this book there may well be other Tarquin books which would interest you, including ‘Mathematical Origami’ also by David Mitchell. Also, you might find the ‘Make Shapes ’ and the ‘Mathematical Curiosities’ series of interest. They are available from Bookshops, Gift shops, Art/craft shops or in case of difficulty directly from the publishers. Alternatively, if you would like our latest printed catalogue please contact us by email: info@tarquinbooks.com phone: 0870 143 2568 or ‘write to us at Tarquin Publications, 99 Hatfield Road, Herts, ALI AJL, United Kingdom. For our full range of books on our secure ‘website at wwwetarquinbooks.comTHE MAGIC OF FLEXAGONS www.origamijapaoburajirujin.blogspot.com | 1SBN 1-899618-28-7 tl > Tarquin 9