Using Geogebra for Origami

This demonstration shows you some ways to use Geogebra (www.geogebra.org) to design, draw and animate origami.

The example images show some of the possibilities. In this session you will see some of the techniques used. View and edit these and more example files at https://www.geogebra.org/u/tung+ken+lam

• Waterbomb Corrugation: Animated 3D modelling of rigid origami (https://www.geogebra.org/m/ajhzqkws)
• Haga’s Turned Up Part (TUP): Virtually fold a corner of a square (https://www.geogebra.org/m/undpadhp)
• Boat Unit: Vary the proportions of the rectangle to see the next steps, unit and complete assembly (https://www.geogebra.org/m/r6dzk7mf)

If you have not used a Dynamic Geometry Software (DGS) program before, think of it as flexible vector drawing program. If you have, then you know that it is much more powerful than that.

These are some of the tasks that DGS can help with:

• Design
◦ test and check geometry: e.g. does that intersection of lines really locate the point that you think it does?
◦ generalise a design e.g. change from a square to an oblong, or change from a square to a regular pentagon or hexagon.
• Draw
◦ virtually fold a flap
◦ vary a design e.g. change the number of units and/or key angle used
◦ export to PDF for editing
◦ construct a 3D model and export it as an image or 3D file
• Animate
◦ use sliders to animate an action model
◦ export to animated GIF
◦ rotate a model in 3D

You will see Geogebra in use from beginner to advanced levels. You may wish to have a version of Geogebra running to try some of the functions yourself, but you are not expected to copy the demonstration step-by-step.