ENGINEERING

BEHIND PRINGLES

Math in the Modern World

What makes them unique?
Hyperbolic Paraboloid
 Graphing!

Let's try to graph a hyperbolic

paraboloid based on the eq.
Hyperbolic Paraboloid
Hypar Advantages
[1] Easier stacking of chips

[2] Minimized chip-breaking

[3] Sure to be sturdy

Hypar Advantages
[1] Easier stacking of chips

[2] Minimized chip-breaking

[3] Sure to be sturdy

Why? They are doubly-ruled.

On each point, two lines intersect. The minimum and

maximum curvature meet at the saddle point.
 Thus, Pringles...

Double Curvatures Doubly-Ruled

 Thus, Pringles...

Pringles have double curvatures.

Opposing curves help the

chip perform under tension
and compression
Prevents the chip from
breaking when stacked
 Thus, Pringles...

Pringles are doubly-ruled.

Uniform intersecting lines all over

their surface
Maximum strength with minimal
materials
Widely used in architecture
 In Architecture

London Velodrome Scandinavium

 References
Gasparini, S., & Caglioti, V. (2011). Line localization from single catadioptric images. International
Journal of Computer Vision, 94(3), 361–374. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11263-011-0435-1
Liu, D. W. (2013). Physics and biology collaborate to color the world. CBE—Life Sciences
Education, 12(2), 133–138. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.13-03-0056
Myers, D. (2018, November 6). We Bet You Have No Idea What the Real Shape of Pringles Is.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/pringles-hyperbolic-paraboloids-203854998.html
Parc, S., O'Brian, D., & Lynch, P. (2014). The high-power hypar. In 50 Visions of Mathematics. essay,
Oxford University Press.
‌Van Hooker, B. (2021, February 9). We Asked Three Mathematicians to Calculate the Shape of a
Pringle. MEL Magazine. https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/mathematicians-pringles-chips-math