Geometry Kite project

Math Monday: Geometry Takes Flight

by Glen Whitney

Math Mondays is back from spring break with some mathematical ideas that are perfect for March’s winds: you can make a kite with any number of pure geometric forms. First off, the very word “kite” has its own specific mathematical meaning: any quadrilateral with two pairs of equal adjacent edges. So while not every mathematical kite will create a physical kite that will actually fly (I dare you to try to fly a kite shaped like
this one), any time you make a classic diamond kite
you are exploring the properties of the mathematical kite shape. (Ironically, the word “diamond” is generally taken to mean “rhombus” mathematically, so while all diamonds are (math) kites, almost no (flying) kites are in fact diamonds..) Bonus points for making a -shaped kite.

Turning to more complicated kite designs, here are a few more you might want to try. gives very complete directions for building a lovely tetrahedral kite.
Now this is a project that can be taken to extremes, as and her classes of fourth-grade students have found out over the years
Finally, other polyhedral shapes are possible as well, as this photo of a design by shows
Anyone up for building an icosahedral kite? Send photos of your FMOs (Flying Mathematical Objects) to mondays@momath.org — and may the wind be always in your sails.