Study Schedule Topic Learning Outcomes Activities

Week 5 Geometric Design

Module 5.1 Transformation and Isometries
September 21-23, 1. Apply geometric concepts, Explore: Discover This!
2020 especially Isometries, in describing Engage: Let’s Try This!
and creating designs Explain: Clarify Your Lesson!
Elaborate: Challenge Yourself!
2. Contribute to the enrichment of the
Evaluate: Gauge Your Learning!
of the Filipino culture and arts using
concepts in Geometry
3. Describe patterns in nature in terms
of geometric concepts and
properties.

September 23, Completion of Let’s Try This and Gauge File your activity in your red
2020 Your Learning Activities long clear book.

Module 5: GEOMETRIC DESIGN

Overview

More than practical value, the aesthetic appeal of a geometric figure can stimulate
interest and motivation which leads students to subconsciously embrace mathematical
investigations. As a result, they do not only engage themselves into the mathematical
explorations but also a chance to understand society’s history and culture as well as social
systems.

Geometric designs flourish in nature and environment, either in 2 – or 3 – dimensional

forms or even higher dimensional. Naturally, geometric designs may appear, like the colorful
imprints in the wings o butterflies or the near perfect conical shape of Mt. Mayon, or occur
as man’s handicraft, like the pyramids of the ancient Egyptians and Islamic Textiles.

Geometric designs when used correctly can be visually effective, and highly flexible in
some cases, very functional. You can use them to bring vibrancy and life to your designs or a
softer elegance and style to them (https://www.canva.com/learn/geometric-design/). In
addition, Geometric patterns catch attention, on planning on using or combining a lot of
patterns, consider balancing with some less-busy elements.

Module 5.1: TRANSFORMATION AND ISOMETRIES

Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1. Apply geometric concepts, especially Isometries, in describing and creating

designs
2. Contribute to the enrichment of the of the Filipino culture and arts using concepts
in Geometry

93
 3. Describe patterns in nature in terms of geometric concepts and properties.

Introduction

This chapter focuses on the mathematical concepts involved in the design of what
appear as obvious art forms like paintings, sculptures and tiling and textile imprints. It deals
with geometrical concepts particularly the design principles. It discusses transformations
which are mathematical operations that preserve a given figure.

Let’s Try This!

A. Tell whether the dotted line on each shape represents a line of symmetry. Write yes
or no.

1. _____ 3. _____

4. _____
2. _____

B. Draw a line of symmetry on each shape.

5. 7.

6.
8.

C. Draw the second half of each symmetrical shape.

9. 10.

94
 11. 12.

Discover This!

According to Jennifer Beddoe, (2003) in geometry, transformation refers to the

movement of objects in the coordinate plane.
Geometric transformations involve taking a preimage and transforming it in some way
to produce an image. There are two different categories of transformations:
1. The rigid transformations, which does not change the shape or size of the preimage.
2. The non-rigid transformations, which will change the size but not the shape of the
preimage.

The four types of transformations in the plane are rotation, translation, reflection, and
dilation. Rotation turns a figure about a certain point in the plane. Colloquially, the geometric
transformations are the geometric operation/s that creates a new figure from one previously
given. This new figure is called the homologous of the original one. We can
classify the above-mentioned transformations under two big groups:

1. Direct (Translation): If the double preserves the orientation

of the original.

2. Inverse (Reflection): If the homologous has the opposite sense.

3. Isometric (Rotation): The homologous preserves the

distances and the angles. This group, is also
called movements in the plane.

95
Isomorphic (Dilation): The homologous preserves the
form and the angles. Therefore, proportionality exists
between the sides of the homologous and the original.

Isometries
There are four transformations but only three of them are isometries. These isometric
transformations are reflection, rotation, and translation. The characteristic of an isometry is
that the original figure and the resulting figure after a transformation are congruent. Dilation
is a result of stretching or shrinking of an object. Hence, the new figure is no longer congruent
to the original one. This makes dilation not an isometry.
Isometries are also formed from transformations consisting of any combinations of
the three operations. A combined translation and reflection are called glide reflection.
Examples:

Symmetry and Patterns

There are many objects in nature that are symmetric. The letter M for instance is
symmetric whereas the letter G is not. The following figures below also show symmetric:

96
 The combined isometric transformation of translation followed by reflection yields a
glide reflection. This transformation is actually a composition of two Isometries: a translation
followed by a reflection. This composition of Isometries is called symmetry. Mathematically,
it simply means mapping the pattern in the plane back onto itself. There are three broad
categories of symmetries. These are the rosette patterns, the frieze patterns, and the
wallpaper patterns.

1. Rosette Pattern has only reflections and rotations, and has no translations or glide
reflections.

2. Frieze patterns has reflections and rotation, it also contains translations and glide
reflections but only along one line.

97
 3. Wallpaper patterns, which has rotations, reflections, and glide reflections, this group
also has translations in two linearly independent directions.

Design, Arts and Culture

Each and every culture in the world evaluates art and how it relates aesthetically to
their surroundings and/or beliefs. Aesthetic understanding of an artwork is the combination
of the ability to see, interpret, and evaluate it. Therefore, one person might have a different
viewpoint of an artwork than someone from another culture
(http://www.math.wichita.edu/history/topics/geometry.html).
Furthermore, Greeks were believed to be the supreme culture. However, William M.
Ivins, Jr. studied the art of the Greeks and also their geometry. In his book, "Art and Geometry:
A Study in Spatial Intuitions,". According to Ivins, the Greeks were "tactile minded," meaning
that they created works of art that were perceived through the sense of touch. The Greeks
"tactile" world view is visible in their art by the lack of motion, emotional and spiritual
qualities.

Moreover, artists of the Renaissance period were the first to be successful in

perspective. In 1636, a man named Girard Desargues introduced his "perspective ladder." This
was used by artists as a tool for bringing perspective to their work.

98
 While in the Philippines, tradition has continuously the source of inspiration for
contemporary designers and artists. In the ethnic tradition of textile, a re-connection to a
people’s heritage, life ways, and belief systems is found through the motifs and patterns
present on the surface of the cloth. (https://yuchengcomuseum.org/art-exhibits/origins-
translations-philippine-textile-patterns-motifs/)

According to Jericho Paul S. Santos (2018), Islam as a religion has long been established
since the early A.D. 600s. Along with its emergence around the world, it also paved way for
the development of its own unique style of art. Islamic art place emphasis on creating an art
form that is built on the beauty and respect for the teachings of Islam
(http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/archives/115/islamic-art-in-the-philippines).

Furthermore, Clothing reflects the

style and colors of their ethnic background. A
design related to Islam that is used in the
Philippines is the batik cloth design. It contains
abstract themes with geometric and floral
design. However, human and animal depiction
is a rare motif in batik.

The art of tattooing was once an integral part of tribal culture in the Philippines.
Unfortunately, by the 1700s, the practice had all but fallen by the wayside due to the influence
of invaders such as the Spanish Conquistadors. Now, true Filipino tribal tattoos (called batek
in the Philippines) are a rarity, and a Filipino tattoo artist will only ink these designs on clients
of Filipino heritage. Many modern Filipinos frown on tattooing in general (Cornwell, B.)
In addition, Filipino tribal tattoos often draw inspiration from nature. Traditionally, an
artist tattooed scenes and symbols highlighting aspects of the area where they themselves
grew up. For example, if an artist grew up near a mountain range with a river running through
it, symbols depicting mountains and rivers would likely feature in their designs.

99
 Furthermore, Filipino tribal tattoos offered men protection, represented a tribe
member’s bravery in battle, or signified their tribe status. As with many forms of indigenous
tattooing, repetitive, meticulous patterns were commonplace, as opposed to the elaborate,
photo-realistic images often seen in modern Western tattooing.
Lastly, these patterns included circles, diamonds, as well as rudimentary shapes of
dogs, men and eagles. Armbands were popular choices as far as placement, as were full chest
pieces. All parts of the body except hands and feet were considered prime real estate for ink.

Clarify Your Lesson!

(Let’s Try This #2) Put a check mark inside the box if the given figure has a translation,
reflection, rotation or dilation and explain why.
Translation Reflection Rotation Dilation

100
 Translation Reflection Rotation Dilation

Challenge Yourself!

(Let’s Try This #3) Create a pattern of the three broad categories of symmetries.

1. Rosette Patterns

101
2. Frieze Patterns

3. Wallpaper Patterns

102
Gauge Your Learning!

Apply the four transformations to generate (i) a Frieze pattern and (ii) a wall paper design
using the given motif:

A.

1. Rotation
2. Translation
3. Reflection
4. Gide reflection

B.

1. Rotation
2. Translation
3. Reflection
4. Gide reflection

103