Thread: math project Vitruvian Man ??

I have a math project due in a few weeks. I've decided that I want to do a presentation on the math surrounding the Vitruvian man.
Does anyone know what the name of this math would be?

also...this is where "string wrapped around your wrist x times = the length of your arm" (i chose this so that my whole class would be involved rather than just drooling beasts) does anyone know where I can find all the various and accurate formulas for the different body parts? I don't want to just measure myself and then be way off.

I'm supposed to be doing this in a group, but one person said "you have to do this around my schedule" then walked off...and the other person just comes off as someone getting a free ride. I pretty much have to present all the formulas, steps and such in powerpoint...

yeah...I need help! I have a good handle on this, but since I don't know the name of the actual math used (ie: vitruvian man) i'm kinda in a corner. thanks in advance! ~Oub

Behold! (Give wikipedia and google some love and attention )

- a palm is the width of four fingers
- a foot is the width of four palms
- a cubit is the width of six palms
- a man's height is four cubits
- a pace is four cubits
- the length of a man's outspread arms is equal to his height
the distance from the hairline to the bottom of the chin is one-tenth of a man's height
- the distance from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin is one-eighth of a man's height
- the maximum width of the shoulders is a quarter of a man's height
- the distance from the elbow to the tip of the hand is one-fifth of a man's height
- the distance from the elbow to the armpit is one-eighth of a man's height
the length of the hand is one-tenth of a man's height
- the distance from the bottom of the chin to the nose is one-third of the length of the head
- the distance from the hairline to the eyebrows is one-third of the length of the face
- the length of the ear is one-third of the length of the face

I'd say the kind of maths used are euh fractions and geometry? (Edit: In the above explanation obviously <_<)

Originally Posted by Oubliette

I have a math project due in a few weeks. I've decided that I want to do a presentation on the math surrounding the Vitruvian man.
Does anyone know what the name of this math would be?

also...this is where "string wrapped around your wrist x times = the length of your arm" (i chose this so that my whole class would be involved rather than just drooling beasts) does anyone know where I can find all the various and accurate formulas for the different body parts? I don't want to just measure myself and then be way off.

I'm supposed to be doing this in a group, but one person said "you have to do this around my schedule" then walked off...and the other person just comes off as someone getting a free ride. I pretty much have to present all the formulas, steps and such in powerpoint...

yeah...I need help! I have a good handle on this, but since I don't know the name of the actual math used (ie: vitruvian man) i'm kinda in a corner. thanks in advance! ~Oub

The most interesting piece of mathematics from the Vitruvian Man imho is the Golden Section, also known as the Golden Ratio, the Divine Proportion, or (phi).

I'd strongly advise reading the Da Vinci Code. There is a chapter all about it and will get you hooked. There's also a huge amount of information around.

both of you are great....I kind of feel like a fool for not thinking of wikipedia! but that's okay...I obviously needed some fresh minds to help me out with that.

phi might be a little too much for a small presentation, but I'm going to at least mention it. (and definitly educate myself on it in case the Instructor decides to play tough with me )

Thanks guys... ur both great!
~Oub~