Really cool.
Really cool.
via Sarah Rios
Originally shared by rare avis
Marjorie Rice was housewife and she never went beyond a high school education, but she solved a mathematical enigma that had befuddled genius geometrists for decades.
Rice made her discovery in a most unusual way — after reading an article in her son’s Scientific American magazine about geometric tessellations. These are shapes that can cover or “tile” a flat surface in an endless, repeating pattern.
Squares and triangles were no mystery but the tessellation of irregular five-sided shapes known as convex pentagons remained elusive. In 1975, when Rice read the article that triggered her imagination, nine complex pentagon tiling patterns had been identified, but more were believed to exist.
She began doodling with convex pentagons and studying shapes in nature — bees in clover, butterflies, roses, hibiscus blooms and shells.
Her “doodles” were sent to tessellation expert Doris Schattschneider, who concluded the stay-at-home mom had discovered, not one, but four new patterns. She helped get the findings published in 1977.
Two more patterns were subsequently identified, bringing the total to 15. Last July, a French mathematician using a super computer confirmed no more existed.
Rice quietly died that same month, at age 92
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/columnists/diane-bell/sd-me-bell-20171128-story.html
via Sarah Rios
Originally shared by rare avis
Marjorie Rice was housewife and she never went beyond a high school education, but she solved a mathematical enigma that had befuddled genius geometrists for decades.
Rice made her discovery in a most unusual way — after reading an article in her son’s Scientific American magazine about geometric tessellations. These are shapes that can cover or “tile” a flat surface in an endless, repeating pattern.
Squares and triangles were no mystery but the tessellation of irregular five-sided shapes known as convex pentagons remained elusive. In 1975, when Rice read the article that triggered her imagination, nine complex pentagon tiling patterns had been identified, but more were believed to exist.
She began doodling with convex pentagons and studying shapes in nature — bees in clover, butterflies, roses, hibiscus blooms and shells.
Her “doodles” were sent to tessellation expert Doris Schattschneider, who concluded the stay-at-home mom had discovered, not one, but four new patterns. She helped get the findings published in 1977.
Two more patterns were subsequently identified, bringing the total to 15. Last July, a French mathematician using a super computer confirmed no more existed.
Rice quietly died that same month, at age 92
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/columnists/diane-bell/sd-me-bell-20171128-story.html
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