Origami-Math Bibliography
The intersection between the subjects of origami and mathematics is rich
with interesting results and applications. It's also a field that's
becoming more and more popular, especially the use of origami in math and
science education.
Unfortunately, there are very few general, all-around, "it's all here"
references for the subject of origami-mathematics. The major sources in
this subject are scattered throughout the mathematical and educational
literature. Thus, I've tried to compile as complete a list of
origami-math references as possible. If you know of any that I've
missed, please let me know!
Also, just because I list a reference here doesn't mean I have it! Many
of the article and book references here were given to me by other people,
and I haven't gotten around to finding them yet.
Proceedings and Special Journal Issues
A number of proceedings books resulting from origami conferences have
been published, as well as a few special journal issues devoted to
origami-math. Click on the title for a table of contents and information
on obtaining copies.
Books
There are a few books devoted to origami mathematics, but most are hard
to find. For the below references that I've actually seen I've included
comments.
- Adams, M., Napkin Folding for the Geometrical
Gourmet, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, New York, 20 pp.
(1981)
Has anyone seen that? Is it mathematical at all?
- Husimi [or Hushimi], K. and M. Husimi [or Hushimi],
Origami no kikagaku [Geometry of Origami, in Japanese],
Nihon-hyoron-sha, Tokyo (1979, reprinted in 1984), currently out of
print.
I finally obtained a copy of this. While it's very interesting, and
contains a number of great puzzles, this book is a bit outdated
in terms of current research in origami geometry. It doesn't discuss
how to trisect angles using origami, for example.
- Johnson, D.A., Paper Folding for the Mathematics
Class, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Washington D.C.,
32 pp. (1957).
- Kasahara, Kunihiko and Toshi Takahama, Origami for
the Connoisseur, Japan Publications, New York (1987), currently out
of print.
This is more an origami book than a math book, but it contains many juicy
nibblets of origami-mathness.
- Olson, A., Mathematics Through Paper Folding,
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Reston, Virginia, 64 pp.
(1975).
- Row [Rao], T. Sundra, Geometric Excercises in Paper
Folding, first published in 1893 and reprinted numerous times, most
recently by Dover, New York, 148 pp. (1966).
This contains many origami versions of straight-edge and compass
geometric constructions.
- Smith, John, Patterns in Paper, Brithish
Origami Society Booklet No. 32, British Origami Society, 50 pp.
(1990).
This presents a non-rigorous attempt at modeling origami via mathematics.
Articles
There are an amazing number of articles dealing with the mathematics of
origami that have been published over the years. I've tried to break
them down into six subcategories.
Back to Origami Math page