Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

McGovern, Warren Wm.

Abstract

The Problems of Antiquity, which have challenged and fascinated mathematicians for hundreds of years, include squaring the circle, trisecting the angle, and doubling the cube. Mathematicians of Ancient Greece attempted to solve these problems through the traditional construction methods involving a compass and straightedge. It was discovered in the nineteenth century, however, that these problems are impossible to solve using a compass and straightedge. Surprisingly, it is origami - the ancient art of Japanese paper folding - that holds the key to solving two of these classical problems. The development of the field of origami constructible numbers has led to modern axioms that, when coupled with traditional paper folding techniques, make trisecting the angle and doubling the cube possible. The applications of mathematical origami are seemingly endless, ranging from solving these ancient problems to designing folding space telescopes.

Comments

Thesis (B.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2023

Extent

45 p.

Identifier

FAUHT00285

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