#2             99. A REGULAR HOLIDAY PASTIME           


Holidaying on Dunk Island, Ian was idly playing with the Christmas streamers.

“This is interesting,” he commented to no-one in particular. “If I make a simple knot in this streamer, pull it tight, flatten it carefully and tuck the ends in behind, I get a perfect pentagon.” (See figure at right.)

“That’s easy,” laughed David. “We learned that at school. But can you make a regular hexagon from your streamers in the same sort of way?”

Ian frowned, and some time later his frown had deepened.

“You should be able to do it here of all places,” joked David rushing off for a swim.

Ian smiled thoughtfully, and then made his hexagon. Can you?
HINT 1

The pentagaon is made by tying a knot.
HINT 2

What is the point of David’s hint? What might you expect to find at a tropical island resort?
SOLUTION

Take two strips of peper this time, and with them tie a reef knot. Left over right, then right over left. Tuck the ends behind, and there you have it.
EXTENSIONS

You might try constructing other regular polygons in this fashion.

Then of course there is the whole field of origami! Explore this on the internet.