A+portrait+of+the+Fallen+Gladiator

[[image:Joshua.JPG width="686" height="486"]]
==== A tessellation is a surface that is completely filled with one or more shapes. This pattern must not have any gaps or holes or any overlapping sections. Normally, tessellations use standard geometric shapes. But as long as the original area is maintained, alterations can make interesting and fun alternatives in a pattern or design. Tessellations are a fun thing to do in geometry. ====

==== For my tessellation, I did the rotation. This meant that the figure I cut out, would be rotated 90 degrees from one point. To begin with, get a big piece of square paper, and measure 2 inches, and put a dot on every 2 inch mark. After that, the first thing is to draw your your lines on piece of cardboard. First, you draw a line from the top right to the bottom left.-- Or you could do it a different way. This way is starting at the top left, drawing a line to the bottom right. After that, cut your cardboard out, but keep all the pieces, don't throw them away! Okay, now Slide the top piece down to the right side. Then slide the one on the left down to the bottom. Then tape it so nothing flies off. Then trace it on the piece of square paper. **Start from the middle and work outwards. ====

==== The pattern of my cardboard is very weird, and squiggly. I can't really see what it looks like. Since I couldn't really see something, I had other people look at it and see what they saw. But, in the end I picked between a puppy, a ghost, a woman, or a Roman gladiator. In the end, I decided to go with what I thought most popped out to me. One of them I just couldn't ignore. ====

==== The idea that popped out the most to me was the Roman gladiator. It was just the idea that I really wanted to see, and that I thought would come out the best. In this tessellation, I wanted to do something different. I drew a portrait on the outside, and did the rotation in the portrait. The portrait of the Fallen Gladiator is what I'm calling it. The gladiator is a girl, who pretended to be a man, so she could fight in the many wars. Her spirit was so intriguing. Her soul was destined to fight. ====

==== This tessellation was the funnest math project I've ever done. It was able to learn about the rotation of an angle, and draw! What else could be better? I started out not knowing what to do with my pattern. I started thinking, and re-tracing it. I then saw a Roman gladiator. It became one of my favorite projects. ====

-Joshua B.