Mathematical Illusions

A Lesson in the Math + Fun! Series

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 1

About This Presentation

This presentation is part of the Math + Fun! series devised
by Behrooz Parhami, Professor of Computer Engineering at
University of California, Santa Barbara. It was first prepared
for special lessons in mathematics at Goleta Family School
during four school years (2003-07). Math + Fun! material
can be used freely in teaching and other educational
settings. Unauthorized uses are strictly prohibited.
Behrooz Parhami
Edition

Released

First

Apr. 2007

Apr. 2007

Revised

Revised

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 2

Things May Not Be What They Seem

Do you see circles or spirals?

Apr. 2007

Are some of the squares bigger?

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 3

Activity 1: Appearances May Be Deceiving

1. Which of the two
vertical lines is longer?
2. Which of the two white
squares is larger?
3. Draw a 9 11 rectangle
and cut it along the dashed
line, as shown. Slide the
lower piece down and to the
left. Cut out the small
triangle that sticks out at the
lower left and use it to fill the
opening at the upper right.
You get a 10 10 square.

Apr. 2007

Explain how the area of the figure

increased from 99 to 100.

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 4

Activity 2: Does 64 Equal 65?

Cut out an 8 8 square as shown and rearrange the pieces to form

a 5 13 rectangle, thus proving 64 = 65. What is wrong with this?

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 5

Hiding Pictures Within Pictures

Find the mans face.

Whats hiding in the trees?

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 6

Morphing and Mutation

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 7

Morphing Images on a Computer

See Tiger Face Morph and other video clips at: http://creativesam.tfcentral.com/Animations.html

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 8

Illusion of Motion

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 9

Ambiguous Images

Do you see a vase

or two faces?

Man playing
saxophone
or girls face?

Apr. 2007

Stairs: top side

or bottom side?

Rabbit
or bird?

Mathematical Illusions

Is Point A
closer to us
than B or
further back?

Young woman
or old woman?

Slide 10

What Do You See in These Pretty Patterns?

Fix your stare at a specific point and describe what you experience.
Repeat the process, this time slowly moving your head back and forth.

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 11

Impossible Designs

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 12

Impossible Objects

Swedish stamp

How many legs does

this elephant have?

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 13

Illusion of Distortion

Horizontal lines appear slanted in

the middle portion of the diagram
Vertical lines appear crooked,
but they are perfectly straight

Apr. 2007

Which line on the left

is a continuation of
the one on the right?

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 14

3D Illusions

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 15

Illusion of Distortion or Deformation

The figure on the right
spins when you view
this page in a slide show.
Notice how the shape is
deformed as it spins.

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 16

Activity 3: Experiencing Distortion

In each of the following diagrams, use a ruler and pencil to connect the
black dots on either side using two horizontal lines. Explain what you see.

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 17

Activity 4: Where Does the Sixth Box Go?

Cut along the dashed line . . .

and shift the bottom half to left, as shown below.

What happened to one of the boxes?

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 18

Activity 5: Making People Appear and Disappear

1. Count the people in the picture to
the right and write the number down.

2. The upper half of the picture

is redrawn below. Cut out the
rectangular pieces 1 and 2 by
cutting along the dashed lines.

3. Now, put the two cut-out

pieces in reverse order on the
picture above, covering the
original pieces (piece 1 on the
right and piece 2 on the left).

4. Recount the number of people

and explain what happened.
3

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 19

Next Lesson
Late May or early June 2007

Apr. 2007

Mathematical Illusions

Slide 20