Math – in Three Dimensions!

I came across an article this morning that made me wish 3D printing had been around when I was in school. I always loved algebra with it’s step by step, linear thinking. That worked well for me. When I got to geometry and trigonometry, with their 3D shapes and in-tangible tangents, not so much. One of the things that I love about 3D printing is that it pulls a 3D dimensional science  from the two dimensional pages of a textbook and brings it to life! When I can touch it and see it in real space, it is so much more real (and understandable!). 

Fred Hohman, a graduating senior at the University of Georgia, was inspired to take on this challenge after attending a presentation titled “Making Mathematics Real: Knot Theory, Experimental Mathematics, and 3D Printing” by Dr. Laura Taalman. With her guidance, he was able create the code and render the design to make this shape possible. It was quite a complex process, probably one that the resident Chief Maker and Mad Scientist would understand, but that I will admit, is most likely lost on me! 

One of the reasons we love using 3D design and printing with kids is that it gives them a real world application of the book math they are learning in school. It helps them feel connected and engages them with math concepts they may not understand from reading alone. Fred is a great example of what can happen with a student takes on a math challenge… the 3D way!  

You can download Fred’s designs at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:243260 or read the full article at  http://3dprint.com/28780/math-3d-printed-trefoil-knot/.