ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
FLEXAGON
A Flexagon is a hexagon that rotates and flexes. By folding Ellison’s strip of triangles, you can create a trihexaflexagon.
When you manipulate the trihexaflexagon, you will discover three different faces and can watch the Flexagon rotate.
Creating the Flexagon is as easy as 1,2,3!
1. Die-cut a Flexagon out
of construction paper
(Figure A and B).
2. Number each triangle
on the front side of the
strips as shown (Figure
A). Flip the strip over,
without rotating, and
number the back side
as shown (Figure B).
3
1
1
2
2
3
3
1
1
2
Front
Figure A
2
x
3
3
1
1
2
2
3
x
Back
Figure B
3. Begin to fold the strip into a Flexagon by folding the
bottom three triangles upward and across (Figure C).
4. Now fold the top four triangles behind and downward
so that the top triangle extends past the bottom half of
the Flexagon, and lies on top of the bottom triangle
with the number three on it (Figure D).
6. Now that you have created the trihexaflexagon, you
can begin manipulating it by flexing and rotating the
triangles. At first, the Flexagon will be stiff and difficult
to bend. With your right hand, pinch the two adjoining
triangles on the right, bending the Flexagon in half.
Then with your left hand, pinch the two adjoining
triangles on the left, pushing
them down to form a triangular
3-D object. Now, pushing
upward at the bottom, allow the
triangles to relax and open the
Fexagon like a flower, exposing
a new face. This process is
called “flexing” (Figure F).
Figure F
7. After practicing flexing and rotating the Flexagon, place
a paper clip or sticker on one of the triangles to use as
a marker. Continue to flex and rotate the triangles. You
will notice that the paper clip or sticker will disappear
and re-appear while it rotates (Figure G).
5. Fold the extending triangle backward so that it wraps
around the other triangle. Flip the Flexagon over; the
two triangles with x’s on them should now overlap.
Apply double stick tape or glue to secure the two
triangles together (Figure E).
x
1
3
2
1
2
2
1
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
Figure D
1
Figure C
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
Back
Front
Figure E
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Figure G