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Symmetric Strip Decorations of the Inca and Maori

The mathematics in strip decorations involve the repetitions, reflections, rotations and color variations needed to create them. All these strips require repeating some pattern. Some of the patterns involve horizontal or vertical reflections. Some have figures with rotational symmetry. Some involve repeating patterns but with the colors reversed. While the base figures are considerably different, the strip patterns of the Inca and Maori people use the same principles.

Incan Patterns	Maori Patterns
The Incan empire flourished in Peru and parts of Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina from about 1400 CE to 1560 CE. Their strip decorations reflect the angularity of the mountains where they lived.	The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. Their strip decorations reflect the waves of the sea srurrounding New Zealand.