How to Draw an Impossible Triangle

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The "rule of three", where arrangements of triplets have a pleasing effect on the eye, makes this triangle an intriguing shape to ponder and to create. It appears frequently in the art of MC Escher. It is also known as a Penrose triangle or Penrose tribar .

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Starting with an Inverted Triangle

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
    Sketch an inverted equilateral triangle . This will be the center of your triangle.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
    The lines should be equally spaced. Take caution that your lines are drawn straight.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
    Your sketch should look like three triangles nested together.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
    Extend one end of that straight line until it reaches the "middle" triangle.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
    Extend one end of that straight line, in the same direction as before, until it reaches the "outside" triangle.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
    Each edge of this "3-D" shape should look like a reverse "L".
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
    These short segments will finish off the outside points.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Extending a Triangle

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Draw an Impossible Triangle
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Starting from an Irregular Hexagon

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    Three sides should be long and three short, alternating short and long sides. This can easily be done by constructing an equilateral triangle and "chopping" off the corners.
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  • Question
    Who made the triangle?
    Community Answer
    The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, or the impossible triangle, was first created by the Swedish artist Oscar Reutersvärd in 1934.
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  • Question
    What other things is Oscar Reutersvard famous for?
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    Oscar Reutersvard is famous for inventing 'impossible figures', which are 3D objects that cannot be feasibly constructed.
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  • Question
    Is this type of optical illusion found in other shapes as well?
    Community Answer
    Yes, optical illusions like this have been done with all kinds of shapes.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Draw an impossible triangle by drawing an equilateral triangle and chopping off its corners. This will leave you with a hexagon with three long, and three short sides. Draw a smaller equilateral triangle in the middle of that hexagon. Then draw a line from one corner of the hexagon until it just passes the small triangle. Extend one side of that triangle to meet the other line and repeat for the other two sides. When you are done, it should look like there are three L’s fitted together to form a 3D triangle with a triangular hole in the middle. If you want to learn how to start your drawing with an inverted triangle, keep reading the article!

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      • Bob Stevens

        Oct 8, 2016

        "With this type of triangle I personally found it easier to use the extending a triangle method easier than the ..." more
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