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The angles meeting at a point must sum to 360 degrees so as to leave no gaps nor result in overlaps.

For a regular shape, therefore, each vertex must be a factor of 360 degrees. The only such values are 60 deg (triangle), 90 deg (square) and 120 deg (hexagon). There is more scope with irregular shapes.

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10y ago
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14y ago

Because overlaps and gaps within the plane aren't allowed, by definition. Think of the simplest example of a non-tessellating shape, a circle. How could you fill up a 2-D plane with no overlaps or gaps with just circles? Even using fractal analysis you can't since both the Apollonian gasket and the 5 circles inversion fractal have Hausdorff dimensions less than 2, which would be the number needed to fill a 2-D plane.

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Q: Why do some shapes tessellate and others don't?
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How do you create a quilt only using geometric shapes?

Select a shape that tessellates. Some shapes will tessellate by themselves, others will tessellate in pairs (octagons and squares), or larger groups. See the link for a flavour.


How 3D shape tessellate?

Some 3D shapes will tessellate as for example a brick wall


Why can only some shapes tessellate?

Shapes can tessellate only if a number of them can meet at a point and cover 360 degrees without overlap. For regular shapes this requires that the angles of the shape are a factor of 360 degrees. For non-regular shapes it is necessary that the angles of the shapes can be grouped so that they sum to 360 degrees.


What is the secret that allows some regular polygon to tessellate and not others?

If their exterior angles are factors of 360 then they will tessellate.


What shapes do not tessellate?

Shapes such as circles, regular pentagons, and heptagons.Most regular polygons will not tessellate on their own. Only triangles, squares and hexagons will.With irregular polygons there is more of a choice. All isosceles or scalene triangles, parallelograms, trapeziums and kites will tessellate as will some higher order polygons.


Does an octagon tessellate?

An octagon cannot tessellate because when you put about 4 together, there are gaps in between the shapes, which is not allowed in a tessellation. When you put together 5 octagon's, some of them are overlapping and there still are gaps. Therefore, an octagon cant tessellate.


Why do all quadrilaterals tessellate?

In geometry, when quadrilaterals tessellate, they fill a finite or infinite space with no overlaps or gaps between shapes. All quadrilaterals tessellate because they can all be linked together side by side in some shape or form with no overlaps. In geometry, when quadrilaterals tessellate, they fill a finite or infinite space with no overlaps or gaps between shapes. All quadrilaterals tessellate because they can all be linked together side by side in some shape or form with no overlaps.


Can an arrow tessellate?

Certain arrow shapes will tessellate the plane. See the related links for some images or google: Arrow Tessellation Images


Is a hexagon tessellates?

No, a hexagon is not a tessellation. Some hexagons can tessellate a plane, others will not.


Can some one give me a haiku about polygons?

Shapes with many sides, Polygons tessellate well, Geometry fun.


Why do some shapes tessellate and some don't?

Tessellation is repeating a pattern over and over and filling an area with no overlaps and no gaps. Some shapes can't do this, because they don't fit with themselves without leaving big gaps between the parts.


Can a hexagon be tessellated?

A regular hexagon and some irregular ones will tessellate, But in general they will not.