Event Title

The Mathematics of Escher’s "Path of Life III"

Location

Burnell 110

Start Time

10-5-2012 11:15 AM

End Time

10-5-2012 11:45 AM

Description

M.C. Escher had very little formal mathematical training, yet he corresponded with one of the greatest geometers of his time. His works are strewn with mathematical impossibilities and intricacies. Path of Life III depicts fish and birds spiraling to and from a mysterious infinity at the center of the figure. How can we mathematically describe the shape these creatures swim or fly over? In this talk, we present several fascinating and mutually contradictory answers to this question. The mathematics describing the shapes in Escher's woodcut ranges from that found in high school geometry to complex conformal mappings. There will be something for everyone in this talk.

Comments

Moderator: Suanne Maurer-Starks

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May 10th, 11:15 AM May 10th, 11:45 AM

The Mathematics of Escher’s "Path of Life III"

Burnell 110

M.C. Escher had very little formal mathematical training, yet he corresponded with one of the greatest geometers of his time. His works are strewn with mathematical impossibilities and intricacies. Path of Life III depicts fish and birds spiraling to and from a mysterious infinity at the center of the figure. How can we mathematically describe the shape these creatures swim or fly over? In this talk, we present several fascinating and mutually contradictory answers to this question. The mathematics describing the shapes in Escher's woodcut ranges from that found in high school geometry to complex conformal mappings. There will be something for everyone in this talk.