A typical declare states {that a} sheet of paper can’t be folded in half greater than seven occasions. However is that this true? What number of occasions are you able to fold a chunk of paper?
In 2002, Britney Gallivan, then a junior in highschool in Pomona, California, folded a single piece of paper in half 12 occasions. She presently holds the Guinness World Record (opens in new tab) for probably the most occasions to fold a sheet of paper in half.
“Previous to my endeavor, it was the accepted perception that folding a chunk of paper in half greater than eight occasions was not possible and 7 folds was the generally accepted folding restrict,” Gallivan advised Stay Science in an electronic mail. “I used to be the primary individual to ever fold paper in half 9, 10, 11 and 12 occasions.”
Gallivan did not simply set a world document; she additionally got here up with equations to calculate what number of occasions any piece of paper may be folded in half in a single route or a number of instructions. She detailed these equations in her guide “How to Fold Paper in Half Twelve Times (opens in new tab)” (Historic Society of Pomona Valley, 2002).
The immediate that led Gallivan to perform these feats was an extra-credit problem in math class to fold something in half 12 occasions, according to the Historical Society of Pomona Valley (opens in new tab). She folded a sheet of skinny gold foil 12 occasions. The trainer then modified the problem to folding one thing thicker: a chunk of paper.
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“I started engaged on the issue by spending many hours attempting to fold paper sheets, newspapers, and some other flat materials I may discover,” Gallivan mentioned. “That is the primary strategy most individuals use to aim to resolve the issue. It was very irritating, as I had many unsuccessful makes an attempt at attempting to fold totally different papers in half. I started to query if all those that had tried the issue earlier than me had been right that folding paper in half greater than eight occasions may very effectively be not possible.”
Nonetheless, “I couldn’t settle for that folding in half could possibly be restricted,” Gallivan recalled. “I knew I wanted to both accomplish the problem or perceive what was limiting the folding development.”
The equations that Gallivan got here up with calculated what number of occasions a sheet of paper could possibly be folded. She discovered that to be able to fold a chunk of paper in half many occasions, an extended skinny sheet is required — the extra a sheet is folded, the thicker the ensuing stack turns into, and as soon as the stack turns into thicker than it’s lengthy, there may be nothing left to fold. She in the end set her document with a sheet of tissue paper she discovered on-line that was 4,000 toes (1,219 meters) — greater than three-quarters of a mile, or over a kilometer — lengthy, Guinness World Data famous. Setting the document took about eight hours crawling in an extended hall in a shopping center in California, she recalled.
“Engaged on the issue took an incredible quantity of effort and time,” Gallivan mentioned. “As irritating because it was at occasions, it was a enjoyable and exhilarating endeavor. I discovered an immense quantity from the expertise, which has been beneficial to me all through my life in additional capacities than one would count on.”
Since Gallivan set her document, others have made claims of folding a sheet of paper greater than 12 occasions.
“I applaud the efforts of others trying to tackle the problem, as I do know very effectively how troublesome trying it may be,” Gallivan famous. “Nonetheless, among the strategies used have included stacking separate items on high of each other, taping items collectively, chopping paper, tearing paper, and pleated fan folding as an alternative of folding in half. These efforts to interrupt the document haven’t adhered to the necessities of the problem, as they circumvent the rules of the mathematical geometric development of paper folding and reveal a misunderstanding of why the problem was considered not possible.”
Nonetheless, “I anticipate that my present document will likely be surpassed,” Gallivan mentioned. “I want everybody the very best success with their paper-folding endeavors however need to make certain the inspiration of the problem, and what makes this downside so marvelous, will not be misplaced within the course of.”
Anybody who does search to interrupt Gallivan’s document ought to count on an extremely thick stack of paper. For instance, after 42 folds, a sheet about 0.003 inch (0.1 millimeter) thick could be greater than 273,280 miles (439,800 kilometers) excessive — larger than the typical distance between Earth and the moon, in keeping with Boundless Brilliance (opens in new tab), a Los Angeles-based STEM schooling nonprofit.
All in all, Gallivan hopes others “shoot for the moon and even the solar, which they are going to attain after the fiftieth fold!”
