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Theorem

Kawasaki's Theorem

Geometry

Kawasaki's theorem, also called the Kawasaki-Justin theorem, is a result in the mathematics of paper folding that characterizes when a single-vertex crease pattern can be folded flat. It states that such a pattern is flat-foldable if and only if alternately adding and subtracting the angles between consecutive creases around the vertex produces a sum of zero. Crease patterns with more than one vertex do not follow this simple rule, and deciding whether they fold flat is an NP-hard problem.

Facts
Statement
A single-vertex crease pattern is flat-foldable if and only if the alternating sum of the angles of consecutive folds around the vertex is zero. 2
Classification
Statement Form
Characterization Theorem 1
Connections

Has Statement Form

Entity-backed identity for the statement-form enum value this theorem already carries, resolved to a mathematics concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The statement-form fact itself stays on the theorem unchanged.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Kawasaki's theorem
WikipediaLead section, statement-form reference
Quote, Lead section, statement-form reference
It states that the pattern is flat-foldable if and only if alternatingly adding and subtracting the angles of consecutive folds around the vertex gives an alternating sum of zero.
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2. Kawasaki's theorem (Wikipedia)
Statement
Quote, Statement
the pattern is flat-foldable if and only if alternatingly adding and subtracting the angles of consecutive folds around the vertex gives an alternating sum of zero.
View the Source
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