mathematical hearts

Möbius hearts are nice items to make from Möbius strips. Pictured here is what a set of Möbius hearts look like when you have completed them. All you need to make them are paper strips, scissors, a glue stick, and a little focus.

You will need two strips with little slits cut into each end.  Twist one of the strips “clockwise” and then glue it together at its ends. The other strip should be twisted “counter-clockwise” or “anti-clockwise,” depending on your location in the world, and glued together.

The strips should then be glued together at 90 degree angles. Next, take scissors and cut each strip through to the end. Your result, if worked properly, will be a set of functional Möbius hearts. Although this can be completed with simple steps and materials, this video is a great resource for more assistance.

For another mathematical heart, check out Wolfram|Alpha’s heart equation.

Finally, if you are not familiar with Jim Steinmeyer’s Impuzzibilities series, you should familiarize yourself with them. As a variation on his “Nine Card Problem,” remove any 9 of the hearts from a deck of cards and spell out the name of the card to arrive at it from the pack of chosen hearts.

References:

Heart equation from Wolfram|Alpha http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=heart+equation Accessed January 29, 2013

Mobius strip from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Möbius_strip Accessed January 29, 2013

Steinmeyer, J. (2002). Impuzzibilities: Strangely self-working conjuring. Burbank, CA: Hahne.