Editing Origami (section)

===Mathematics and practical applications===
[[Image:Origami spring.jpg|thumb|''[[Spring (device)|Spring]] Into Action'', designed by Jeff Beynon, made from a single rectangular piece of paper<ref>[http://www1.ttcn.ne.jp/~a-nishi/ The World of Geometric Toy], ''[http://www1.ttcn.ne.jp/~a-nishi/spring/z_spring.html Origami Spring]'', August, 2007.</ref>]]

{{Main|Mathematics of paper folding}}
The practice and study of origami encapsulates several subjects of [[mathematics|mathematical]] interest. For instance, the problem of ''[[flat-foldability]]'' (whether a crease pattern can be folded into a 2-dimensional model) has been a topic of considerable mathematical study.

A number of technological advances have come from insights obtained through paper folding. For example, techniques have been developed for the deployment of car [[airbag]]s and [[stent]] implants from a folded position.<ref>Cheong Chew and Hiromasa Suziki, ''Geometrical Properties of Paper Spring'', reported in Mamoru Mitsuishi, Kanji Ueda, Fumihiko Kimura, ''Manufacturing Systems and Technologies for the New Frontier'' (2008), p. 159.</ref>

The problem of [[rigid origami]] ("if we replaced the paper with sheet metal and had hinges in place of the crease lines, could we still fold the model?") has great practical importance. For example, the [[Miura map fold]] is a rigid fold that has been used to deploy large solar panel arrays for space [[satellites]].

Origami can be used to construct various geometrical designs not possible with [[compass and straightedge constructions]]. For instance paper folding may be used for [[angle trisection]] and [[doubling the cube]].