Magic Hexagons
Spatial
Numerical
Transversal
Magic Hexagons are relatively new discoveries - the first type  being found in 1887, the second in 2003. Hexagonia is a collection of articles and problems that have one common feature - the hexagon.

For the most part, the problems are taken from Naturally Mathematical Challenges, and as a result, the solutions provided are those sent in by participating teams. Other problems have been included to complete a picture of the broad range of possibilities that hexagons allow.

The types of material that we cover includes:

  1. Magic Hexagons - where all rows add to the same total.
  2. Spatial problems - cut up a hexagon into different shapes - make puzzles with the pieces
  3. Numerical problems - arrange numbers in a hexagon to have certain properties
  4. Transversal problems - place counters in rows of a hexagon such that there is exactly one in each row

There are two types of hexagon that we have been looking at. We call them the triangular hexagon (T-hexagon) and the hexagonal hexagon (H-hexagon). This is what the T-hexagon and H-hexagon of side 2 look like.


2 triangles along each side


2 hexagons along each side

Sharing ideas

This is going to be a dynamic part of the Natural Maths website. Any ideas or findings that you would like to share with us will be added to the collection. And, yes, there is still a lot to be found out about the Hexagon, which unlike its cousin the Square, is a relatively unexplored shape!

Looking forward to hearing from you at Hexagonia!

Yours, John Baker
Natural Maths