Discovery

Making a Simple Box

Dr M J Taylor

Here is something to test your dexterity or to fill the time while waiting turns at the latest computer game. Call it origami if you will, although this paper-folding exercise comes from a British book A Winter Night's Entertainment and are probably not of oriental origin. If you are mathematically inclined, you may like to consider how this design was produced -- was it by trial and error or a more rational approach?

Convenient paper is a square cut from an A4 sheet of paper, but thin pieces as small as a postage stamp can be used!

1. Crease both the diagonals of a square sheet of paper.

2. Fold a pair of opposite corners to the centre, then fold the new edges to the center line to form (A).

3. Fold backwards along the dotted line a-b, keeping the open folds on the outside.

4. Insert fingers at c and d, then open out and press flat to form (B). Turn over and repeat this step on the other side.

5. Fold the points c, d and e to meet at the centre, and repeat this on the other side, forming (C).

6. Fold upwards on the line f-g to produce a flap. Repeat this on the other side. Flatten all the creases firmly.

7. Open out the finished object to produce the the simple box.

Dr Michael Taylor lectures in Chemistry at the University of Auckland.