In the last few weeks I have both moved into a new house and constructed hexaflexagons in celebration of Martin Gardner’s birthday. If you don’t know what I’m talking about then you must go and watch Vi Hart’s videos on the exciting topic. This unusual combination of activities led me to discover a remarkable Ikea-hack: the flat-pack hexaflexagon. Excitingly, this product is available at all Ikea stores completely free of charge! It is cleverly disguised as an appallingly practical paper measuring tape, but a small amount of construction will transform the strip into an entertaining mathemagical toy.
- Step 1: Collect your complimentary flat-pack hexaflexagon from Ikea.
- Step 2: Construct two folds to get an equilateral triangle.
- Step 4: Select a length with enough triangles for the hexaflexagon design you have in mind.
- Step 3: Continue folding onto the triangle shape.
- Step 5: Tape or glue the ends to complete your hexaflexagon. Numbering the faces is an optional extra, and many other decorations are similarly possible.