Problem of the Week: Folding
Editor’s Note: The Department of Mathematics at Gettysburg College hosts a problem of the week challenge to determine each semester’s Paul Mugabi problem-solving award recipient(s). Each week’s entries are scored by a faculty judge, and winner(s) from each week will receive a Problem Of the Week (P.O.W.) button. The Gettysburgian is not involved in or responsible for accepting or evaluating students’ submissions to this contest.
THE RULES:
The contest is open to all Gettysburg College students. Up to three people may work together on a submission. Make sure your name is on your submission and that any sources are properly cited. Send solutions to bkennedy@gettysburg.edu. This problem was posted on Friday, October 1 and solutions are due on Friday, October 8 by 5:00 p.m.
THE PROBLEM:
Suppose you have a square piece of paper. Can you find a method to fold the paper, using only your hands (no rulers or pencils), into a shape whose area is exactly one-fifth the area of the original square? Describe your method, and how you know it works.
