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Fold
the strip 3 times and join the magnets to form a six-sided coaster.
Flex it by squeezing one corner and opening it from the centre.
This animation shows Crafty Coaster being flexed to bring 3 different
surfaces to the top. Notice the large triangles that form in the
centre with each flex : blue, yellow and green. On the other side
of the coaster, pink, purple and red triangles are forming. Crafty
Coaster is six different drink mats in one!
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The
flexagon was discovered in 1939 by a British mathematics student
called Arthur Stone. Whilst idly folding a strip of paper, he found
he had created a flat, hexagonal structure which could be turned
inside out to reveal a new face from the interior. Being a brilliant
mathematician, he didn't stop there and had soon discovered an entire
family of structures with similar properties, which he called flexagons.
Crafty
Coaster is a trihexaflexagon, a six-sided figure with three faces.
It is formed from 36 wooden pieces on a strip of strong nylon ribbon,
with magnetic fasteners at each end. It can be flexed to produce
6 different colour combinations.
With
full instructions included, it is easy for a 5 year old to manage,
yet fascinating enough to charm any adult. You can even use it as
a drink mat for hot or cold drinks.
Crafty
Coaster is fun for fidgets. Serious puzzlers and mathematicians
might like to check out Kaleidoscope, which
is a higher order of flexagon.
Crafty
Coaster £5.00 (UK Pounds Sterling)
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This
animation show one way to fold crafty coaster from a strip into
a flexagon. The brown triangles at each end are magnetic rubber
plates which hold the ends together.
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