INTRODUCTION

Roughly speaking, a geometric dissection is when you take a polygonal shape in the plane, cut it into a finite number of pieces, and then reassemble the pieces to form another polygonal shape. As a mathematician with a life-long interest in geometry, it is not surprising that I feel drawn to this area of mathematics. I particularly appreciate the simplicity of some of the constructions, and the artistic beauty of many of the shapes.

I also understand the challenge of attempting to find dissections involving the smallest number of pieces, but I do not feel drawn to the complicated and sometimes unwieldy results that are required for such solutions.

However, I am interested in exploring how simple web techniques can be used to demonstrate the ideas and techniques of dissection theory. Hence this web site.

This site is very much an introduction to the topic. Viewers wishing to learn more are referred to the foundational book Geometric Dissections by pioneer Harry Lindgren (van Nostrand 1964), or the more readable historical survey Dissections : Plane and Fancy by Greg Frederickson (Cambridge 1997). Frederickson’s book contains an extensive bibiography.

Some of the activities involve dragging a graphic. I have found for these that a double click followed by ‘mouse down’ works best. Placing the cursor on one graphic so as to avoid a neighbouring graphic helps avoid ‘jamming’.

I would be glad to receive any comment on, or corrections to, this site. I hope you enjoy this encounter with this fascinating and sometimes exasperating (!) area of mathamatics.

Paul Scott

mail@paulscott.info

www.paulscott.info