Mathematic and art may seem very different at first sight; however, there are many similarities between them. Two major common grounds are the similar uses of dimensionality and perspective. A major connection between them is the golden ratio.

In mathematic, dimensionality is important because it can be used to solve real life problems. For example, an architect must understand basic shapes and their properties to be able to construct the strongest building using the least amount of supplies. In math, a given rectangle has a set amount of space and circumference. If a person take the same circumference and turn the shape in to a circle, the new shape would have more than fifty percent of the area than the rectangle. An architect can use this property to save a large amount of supplies while achieving the same result. In art, dimensionality is also important. An artist can create fascinating work through the use of different dimensions. Dutch graphic artist Mauritis Escher uses these different dimensions to draw the impossible constructions. One of his more famous work Drawing Hands illustrates two hands drawing themselves. When half of the picture covered, a person may thing that a hand is drawing a picture. The dark area under the hands simulates shadows and fools the audience that the hand is three dimensional. This is the example of how artist uses the advantage of two dimensions to simulate the things that are impossible in three dimension world.

Similar to dimensions, perspective has its place both in mathematic and artistic world. In reality, an object has three dimensions: length, width, and height. A paper, however, has only two dimensions: length and width. To give the audience the illusion of third dimension, artist uses vanishing point. The idea is that an object would gradually decrease in size as it moves farther away from the viewer. On paper, everything would become so small that they will disappear at one point. Thanks to Italian architect Brunelleschi’s vanishing point, many paintings look more realistic than the caveman’s paintings. Mathematicians also used this vanishing point to create many geometric shapes. Since it is impractical to draw in air, they use dotted lines and little tricks to illustrate a complicated three dimensional drawings.

A bridge between the artistic and mathematical worlds is the golden number. From ancient Greek until today, this number has been studied for more than 2400 years. To the mathematician it has interesting properties. To the artiest it is aesthetically pleasing. According to Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, he who has body that is closely resembled the golden ratio is very handsome or beautiful. Even the architect cannot escape from the golden number. The Parthenon in Athen is constructed very close to golden ratio. Dimensionality, perspective, and golden ratio are therefore the connection between artists and mathematicians.