Skip to main content
Log in

Folding a surface to a polygon

  • Published:
Geometriae Dedicata Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A concept of folding for compact connected surfaces, involving the partition of the surface into combinatorially identical n-sided topological polygons, is defined. The existence of such foldings for given n and given surfaces is explored, with definitive results for the sphere and the torus. We obtain necessary conditions for the existence of such foldings in all other cases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Armstrong, M. A.: Basic Topology, McGraw-Hill, London, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Biggs, N. L. and White, A. L.: Permutation Groups and Combinatorial Structures, London Math. Soc. Lecture Notes 33, Cambridge University Press, London, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Robertson, S. A.: Polytopes and symmetry, London Math. Soc. Lecture Notes 90, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Saaty, T. and Kainen, P.: The Four Colour Problem: Assaults and Conquest, McGraw-Hill, London, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by Kuwait University Grant SM 043.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Farran, H.R., El Kholy, E. & Robertson, S.A. Folding a surface to a polygon. Geom Dedicata 63, 255–266 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00181416

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00181416

Mathematics Subject Classifications (1991)

Key words

Navigation