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Author Topic: DONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces  (Read 24403 times)

rmo

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DONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces
« on: February 29, 2012, 08:23 PM »
A really cool software for my workshop, should not be complex, I would not think.

Basically, I make tangram puzzle pieces. Wooden ones for kids and grownups alike to play with. But there has to be an easier way to figure out the piece sizes.

act2j.gif

What I would like to do is be able to input ONE number and all the pieces' side lengths are automatically calculated. So, I can make a tangram any size I want without having to take time to figure out the size of every single piece. If, say, I wanted to make the large square with a base of 10 inches, the program could figure all the lengths.

Here's the breakdown on size relationships, but the image shows it pretty well:

There are seven pieces to the puzzle, arranged in the image as shown to make a square: 5 triangles, 1 square and 1 parallelogram. The triangles are all isosceles, with 2 small ones, 1 middle size, and 2 large ones.

As you can see, the large triangles' hypotenuse is equal to one side of the whole square. The middle triangle's legs are 1/2 the length of the square. The small triangles' hypotenuse is 1/2 the length of the square. The small square's side is equal to 1/2 the middle triangle's hypotenuse, or the whole length of the small triangles' leg. The parallelogram's long side is equal to 1/2 the whole square's side, while the short side is equal to 1/2 of the hypotenuse of the middle triangle.

Is this doable?

Thanks!

Ron

skwire

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Re: DONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces
« Reply #1 on: February 29, 2012, 11:07 PM »
Here's a preliminary screenshot:

2012-02-29_230345.pngDONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces

Was this something like you had in mind?

Target

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Re: DONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2012, 12:56 AM »
FWIW there are apps around that do similar things, ie calculating 'best fits' for cutting the maximum number of pieces out of a flat plane.

are there likely to be any more variables, eg varying the number of pieces?

and a suggestion - I have no idea if this possible or not, but it may get someone thinking.  Instead of measuring the sides, how about a drawing type application that lets you pick and place the various shapes into a defined outline.  The resulting image could be printed out and used as a 'template' (stick it onto your chosen material and cut along the lines)

cranioscopical

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Re: DONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2012, 07:43 AM »
Was this something like you had in mind?
Nice work, and back in under three hours  :Thmbsup:
« Last Edit: March 01, 2012, 08:43 AM by cranioscopical »

rmo

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Re: DONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2012, 01:43 PM »
Here's a preliminary screenshot:
 (see attachment in previous post)
Was this something like you had in mind?

YES! Perfect!

skwire

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Re: DONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2012, 03:05 PM »
YES! Perfect!


Here you go:  Tangram Calc

rmo

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Re: DONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2012, 08:56 PM »
Thank you so much!

Now I can input some numbers for different size tangram puzzles to see which sizes are easiest to make. Works like a dream and I love that it can be more or less exact, depending on what decimal points I want.

Now if only it could sharpen my saw blades!  ;D

Thanks again!!

Ron

skwire

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Re: DONE: Automatically compute sizes of tangram pieces
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2012, 11:27 PM »
You're very welcome.  I'm glad you've found it useful.  =]