Our project was on shoes, and we looked at how we could graph two types of shoes, high heels and slides. Our slide was similar to the basic ones we often see Bryn Mawr students use as shower shoes, with an elliptical base and a strap to keep the toes in place. The high heel was more complex, with a stiletto heel and an open-toe look created by a chunky strap covering the top of the foot. We were inspired by the shoes we see around campus, and through that it would be interesting to see if we could graph them.
The mathematical concepts we used for this project were mainly the concepts of the saddle shape and the cylinder shape. Through the manipulation of these basic shapes, we could create our unique end products. Our main takeaways were that basic multivariable calculus equations could be used in such a way that they can translate ideas in design and fashion into real-life products. After completing this project, we are more intrigued to see how we could graph other types of shoes, such as wedge heels, sandals, or boots.
