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Example of a Persian design with wallpaper group type "p6m"

A wallpaper group is a mathematical concept used to classify repetitive designs on two-dimensional surfaces, such as floors and walls, based on the symmetries in the pattern. Such patterns occur frequently in architecture and decorative art. The mathematical study of such patterns reveals that exactly 17 different types of pattern can occur.

Wallpaper groups are examples of an abstract algebraic structure known as a group. Groups are frequently used in mathematics to study the notion of symmetry. Wallpaper groups are related to the simpler frieze groups, and to the more complex three-dimensional crystallographic groups.

Picture of the month

Orthographic projection of the Great grand 120-cell a star polychoron with Schläfli symbol {5,5/2,3}. It is one of 10 regular Schläfli-Hess polychora.

The Schläfli-Hess polychora are the complete set of 10 regular self-intersecting star polychora (four-dimensional polytopes). They are named in honor of their discoverers: Ludwig Schläfli and Edmund Hess. Each is represented by a Schläfli symbol {p,q,r} in which one of the numbers is 5/2. They are thus analogous to the regular nonconvex Kepler-Poinsot polyhedra.

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Did you know...

• ...that the six permutations of the vector (1,2,3) form a hexagon in 3d space, the 24 permutations of (1,2,3,4) form a truncated octahedron in four dimensions, and both are examples of permutohedra?
• ...that Ostomachion is a mathematical treatise attributed to Archimedes on a 14-piece tiling puzzle similar to tangram?
• ...that some functions can be written as an infinite sum of trigonometric polynomials? This sum is called the Fourier series of that function.
• ...that outstanding mathematician Grigori Perelman was offered a Fields Medal in 2006, in part for his proof of the Poincaré conjecture, which he declined?
• ...that a regular heptagon is the regular polygon with the fewest number of sides which is not constructible with a compass and straightedge?
• ...that the Gudermannian function relates the regular trigonometric functions and the hyperbolic trigonometric functions without the use of complex numbers?
• ...that the Catalan numbers solve a number of problems in combinatorics such as the number of ways to completely parenthesize an algebraic expression with n+1 factors?
• ...that a ball can be cut up and reassembled into two balls the same size as the original (Banach-Tarski paradox)?
• ...that it is impossible to devise a single formula involving only polynomials and radicals for solving an arbitrary quintic equation?

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