Tessellation

Part ofMathematics and NumeracyShape and spaceYear 1

What is tessellation?

Tessellation is when shapes fit together in a pattern with no gaps or overlaps.

These squares make a tessellating pattern.

Squares forming a tessellating pattern. The squares sit diagonally on top of each other making 7 rows of squares.

You can make a tessellating pattern from just one type of shape or a number of different types of shapes.

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Quiz: Tessellation

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Tile patterns

Many tile patterns are made with squares and rectangles.

4 rectangles and 4 squares in a line.

Squares and rectangles both tessellate.

They fit together leaving no gaps.

2 sets of floor tile patterns, 1 is made with squares and the other rectangles.
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Tessellating triangles

This is a pattern made with triangles, but is it a tesselation?

3 rows of 6 triangle with the top of the triangle facing upwards. There are gaps between the triangles.

There are gaps, so it is not a tessellation.

When the gaps are filled with the same triangle, but upside-down, it tessellates!

Same pattern as previous picture but with gaps filled with inverted triangles.
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Tessellation with two shapes

You can make tessellation patterns with two shapes.

Here is a hexagon and a triangle.

Look at this tessellation made with hexagons and triangles.

3 rows of hexagons with triangles filling the gaps between the hexagons.
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Example

4 rows of 7 circles

Is this a tessellation?

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