The Mathematics of Origami

By Joseph O'Rourke

When you see a paper crane, what do you think of? A symbol of hope, a delicate craft, The Karate Kid? What you might not see, but is ever present, is the fascinating mathematics underlying it. Origami is increasingly applied to engineering problems, including origami-based stents, deployment of solar arrays in space, architecture, and even furniture design. The topic is actively developing, with recent discoveries at the frontier (e.g., in rigid origami and in curved-crease origami) and an infusion of techniques and algorithms from theoretical computer science. The mathematics is often advanced, but this book instead relies on geometric intuition, making it accessible to readers with only a high school geometry and trigonometry background. Through careful exposition, more than 160 color figures, and 49 exercises all completely solved in an Appendix, the beautiful mathematics leading to stunning origami designs can be appreciated by students, teachers, engineers, and artists alike.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1009687387
• ISBN13: 9781009687386
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 208 Pages