#euclidean-construction

Using a compass and straightedge enables precise geometric constructions, allowing for the creation of complex tessellations. To begin these constructions, a single starting point is sufficient. Circles, which represent a collection of points at a specific distance from the center, and straight lines, which represent a collection of points in a particular direction, are utilized for geometric constructions. In this short tutorial, we move on with the beginner-level drawing exercises. This time, I am drawing an irregular tiling with triangles…

Snub Square Tiling is a semi-regular tessellation of the plane, composed of two squares and three regular triangles at each vertex. The arrangement of these two regular shapes seamlessly covers the plane without any gaps or overlaps. It is one of the eight semi-regular tessellations known in geometry. The dual of Snub Square Tiling is Cairo Pentagonal Tiling, which we will explore later. In this short tutorial, I am drawing and constructing the Snub Square Tiling by using an abstract…

In Japanese, “kagome” refers to basket weaving, and the name of this tiling derives from the traditional basket-weaving craft of Japanese culture. In geometry, we know Kagome tiling as a semi-regular tessellation, Tri-Hexagonal Tiling. This tiling is composed of regular hexagons and triangles that cover the plane completely without gaps or overlaps. The dual of this tiling is the Rhombille Tiling. In this short tutorial, I am explaining the drawing of Kagome tiling in Rhinoceros. Thus, I am using some…

The Koch pentagon is a fractal shape that starts with a regular pentagon. Here, we divide each side of the pentagon into three equal parts. Then, we replace the middle with two sides of an outward-pointing equilateral triangle. We repeat this process for every new side in each iteration, creating a self-similar pattern. Helge von Koch (1870–1924) was a Swedish mathematician known for his analysis and number theory work. He is most famous for introducing the Koch snowflake, one of…

In geometry, “tangent” refers to a scenario where a line, curve, or surface touches another at exactly one point without crossing or leaving a gap. A tangent line to a circle is a straight line that touches the circle at only one point, and it is perpendicular to the radius at that point. Two circles can be tangent either internally or externally. Geometric constructions using a compass and straightedge can help accurately calculate tangent circles. Thus, the “constructing tangent circles”…

The geometric shapes constructed using only a compass and straightedge have significantly influenced the development of reasoning and logic that underpin modern science. This non-numerical approach is also known as the Synthetic Geometry. Before René Descartes introduced Analytic Geometry, this method was widely studied and practiced. In “Elements”, Euclid explores fundamental rules, such as ‘The straight line between two points is the shortest,’ and derives all geometric truths from simple, observable principles, built up step by step through logical deduction….

The practical geometry of the ancient Egyptian “rope-stretchers” delineated land after the annual flooding of the Nile River. Thus, the term “geometry” derives from the Greek words “gaia” (earth) and “metria” (measurement). Greek mathematicians used compass and straightedge to perform similar calculations on paper. This abstract thinking allowed for insights into the underlying logic, independent of the accuracy of hand tools. So, the abstract “circle” and “line” constructed by perfect compasses and straightedges can be seen as a reflection of…

In mathematics, “curve” describes one-dimensional objects or line shapes, regardless of their curvature. Straight lines, polylines, and curved lines all fall under the category of “curves.” You may remember working with equation graphs in high school math classes. For instance, a first-degree equation produces straight-line graphs, while higher-degree equations, like “x squared,” create curved graphs. In this context, we focus on degree-1 curves, drawing straight-line segments using the polyline command. In Rhinoceros, the software refers to all objects, whether curved…

The rhombitrihexagonal tiling is one of the semi-regular tessellations. It is composed of regular hexagons, squares, and triangles. It is a periodic tessellation since you can copy the fundamental unit and move it across the plane to generate the tiling. I use this quality of the tiling to draw and expand it in Rhinoceros software. This is a basic drawing exercise. At the same time, it is a nice exercise for the mind and sometimes for the soul. There are…

The snub square tiling is one of the semi-regular tessellations, where regular triangles and squares match perfectly to fill the plane without gaps or overlaps. The Euclidean construction of Snub Square tiling is possible by utilizing the basic compass and straightedge operations. I made this construction in Rhinoceros to show that there is no need for any numerical input to locate the points and draw the tiling. There are two major techniques explained there. One of them is the basic…