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Tamil Nadu
Mathematical magic of dots and lines in kolams
Professor R. Kit Kittappa, professor of mathematics at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, sees more than just dots in the traditional kolam decorating the entrances of homes.
The mathematician, who was recently in the city, has authored a paper on the use of combinatorics and algebra to determine the number of possible kolams that could be drawn, given a rectangular layout of dots.
“As a child I was fascinated and intrigued by the designs, but did not look at it mathematically then,” he says.
He delivered a lecture at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences on the topic.
Imagining that there are mirrors outside the rectangular arrangement of dots, one has to draw lines around these dots, separating one from another. Every time the line is about to contact the mirror, it gets deflected and goes in the opposite direction. “Now everybody can try drawing kolams. It is very interesting,” he says.
With variations in the number of dots and the number of rows with such dots, the possibilities are infinite, he explains.
“It is amazing how the women draw huge kolams maintaining the proportion and symmetry,” he wonders.
The professor is now set to study the possible link between mathematics and certain aspects of Carnatic music. “That should be ready before my next visit to India,” he says.
Meera Srinivasan
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