THE MATHS IN
ARCHITECTURE
Aldara
Linares
WHY ARCHITECTURE?
For this project I wanted to explain the huge part maths has in Architecture as
many people only relate it with the creative side of this career.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
It is the art and the design
of building
Is a person who plans,
designs and oversees the
construction of buildings.
Requires a pile of data, info,
and you need to interpret it
A small designs, such as a
garage, or large designs,
such as a whole city.
VARIOUS MATHS SKILLS USED
Algebra
Geometry
Trigonometry
Convert units
Scales
Proportions
Expalin how
whith images
Menaing the
dimensions
REAL LIFE MATHS
Bridges
Sky scrapers
Arches
Weird shapes
Example in middle ages or
theegypt
QUALIFICATIONS
Every building you spend time in––schools, libraries, houses, apartment complexes, movie theaters, and even your
favorite ice cream shop––is the product of mathematical principles applied to design and construction. Have you ever
wondered how building professionals incorporate math to create the common structures you walk in and out of every
day?
Before construction workers can build a habitable structure, an architect has to design it. Geometry, algebra, and
trigonometry all play a crucial role in architectural design. Architects apply these math forms to plan their blueprints or
initial sketch designs. They also calculate the probability of issues the construction team could run into as they bring
the design vision to life in three dimensions.
Since ancient times, architects have used geometric principles to plan the shapes and spatial forms of buildings. In
300 B.C., the Greek mathematician Euclid defined a mathematical law of nature called the Golden Ratio. For more
than two thousand years, architects have used this formula to design proportions in buildings that look pleasing to
the human eye and feel balanced. It is also known as the Golden Constant because it manifests literally everywhere.
The Golden Ratio still serves as a basic geometric principle in architecture. You could even call it a timeless
archetype, as it evokes in human beings a universal sense of harmony when they see or stand in a building designed
with this principle. And perhaps not surprisingly, we see the Golden Ratio demonstrated throughout “architectures” of
the natural world. Read here to learn more!
Calculating ratio is essential, as well, when it’s time to construct a building from the architectural blueprints. For
example, it’s important to get the proportions right between the height and length of a roof. To do that, building
professionals divide the length by the height to get the correct ratio.
The Pythagorean theorem, formulated in the 6th century B.C., has also come into play for centuries to calculate the
size and shape of a structure. This theorem enables builders to accurately measure right angles. It states that in a
triangle the square of the hypotenuse (the long side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of
the other two sides. Read here to find out more about how builders use the Pythagorean theorem to make roofs!
The most remarkable ancient architecture of all may be the pyramids of Egypt, constructed between 2700 B.C. and
1700 B.C. Most of them were built and scaled at about a 51-degree angle. The Egyptians clearly and mysteriously
possessed knowledge of geometry, as evidenced by the accuracy of pyramid construction. Just in case you’re
curious about the geometry and triangle mathematics that ancient Egyptians applied to build their pyramids,
read here.
In the modern world, builders use math every day to do their work. Construction workers add, subtract, divide,
multiply, and work with fractions. They measure the area, volume, length, and width. How much steel do they need
for an office building? How much weight in books and furniture will the library floors need to bear? Even building a
small single-family home calls for careful calculations of square footage, wall angles, roofs, and room sizes. How
many square yards of carpet? How much water do you need to fill up a swimming pool?
THE IMPORTANCE
SAFETY
Spacial thinking
Logical thinking
Problem solving
