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PYTHAGOREAN RIPPLES
Every empty edge of each square forms the base of a triangle. There is a square on each empty edge of the new triangles and this pattern ripples outwards, theoretically going on for ever. Based on Pythagoras theorem.
You might call this Pythagoras Gone Mad. It was inspired by the work of a young teacher who gave his pupils a diagram of the centre of this design and asked them to complete it. They soon realised it was impossible to complete as they had to add ever smaller pieces and, if they had the physical means, could keep going for ever.
KNITTING INFORMATION
Four main colours are needed plus an extra colour for the background and another if you want to turn it into a square, rather than an afghan with a saw-
There are 65 squares and 108 triangles, each in 4 different sizes.
Any type of yarn can be used.
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Pythagorean Ripples
CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION
The squares are knitted individually and the triangles are knitted on to them by picking up stitches.
The pieces are then joined together.
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The design was inspired by Don’t let anyone tell you Maths isn’t beautiful -
Richard describes how he gave his pupils this task.
1. Draw a square.
2. On each side of the square draw a right angled isosceles triangle such that the hypotenuse of the triangle is the side of the square.
3. On each exposed side of a triangle draw a square.
4. On each exposed side of a square draw a triangle.
5. Go to step 3.
Each stage of the design was used for work relating to the areas of the combined shapes.
Richard goes on to describe the arguments between his pupils over such matters as whether this pattern would ever come to an end, whether a pencil would have enough lead to finish it and how it should be coloured.
He could also have used this as a multiple example of Pythagoras’ Theorem -
There is also a great deal of Maths to be found in looking at the relative sizes of the squares and why it is so easy to work out the correct number of stitches needed for each section, to make the pieces fit together.