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As I remember from my math reading somewhere, a tesseract is a four dimensional cube or then again a cube in 4 dimensions. Bob Anibal ----- Original Message ----- From: Roger Buxton <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 7:31 PM Subject: Non-PD - Re: TESSERACT > Hans van der Genugten wrote: > > > (What is TESSERACT?) > > The word is evidently derived from the Latin 'tessera' (which later > became 'tessella'), which was a small rectangular piece of wood or stone > used for making mosaic patterns. The word has become adapted more > recently into the verb 'tessellate', meaning to 'divide a surface into > repeating regular shapes' (without any gaps). A branch of mathematics > has evolved to deal with this issue where, of course, one is not limited > to merely two or three dimensions. > > One of the most imaginative and successful practioners of the art of > tessellation in recent times was your own countryman Maurits Escher. His > beautiful illustrations of interlocking fish, birds, dogs, horsemen, and > other assorted shapes continue to amaze and delight the world. L'emgle's > idea (as reported by Hilary Blue) is another manifestation of a fertile > imagination born of geometry. > > Roger Buxton >