There is a formula for decorating your Christmas tree
There's much more to decorating a Christmas tree than simply using up every bauble you have accumulated over the years, as fun as that can be.
A group of maths students from the University of Sheffield has decided to tackle this very problem, coming up with a formula that can be followed to produce a perfectly decorated Christmas tree.
Once you have visited your local Christmas tree farm and selected the perfect spruce, it's all a matter of following the equation — they have called it 'Treegonometry'.
The formula has been published by the group of students. The University of Sheffield
You simply enter the height of your tree and it will tell you just how many baubles you should use, evenly spaced out.
In addition to this, the formula will tell you just how big the star or fairy on top should be. It even tells you how much tinsel to use and the length of lights that will suit.
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To preserve the fun of decorating your Christmas tree with your kids, you could count out the required amount of baubles and lengths of tinsel and lights before calling them in to join in.
The formula works for any size Christmas tree. Getty Images/iStockphoto
George Amos, president of the department, says the formula is a "brilliant way of showing an applicable side of maths".
"This equation - which was created by two former students and SUMS members a few years ago - is a nice and easy equation to get people involved in maths, as well as a bit of good, festive fun," he says on the site.
The formula has been described as a 'bit of good, festive fun'. The University of Sheffield
Not only does the formula let you know the quantity of baubles and size of your tree topper, it also gives advice on colour choices, with four deemed to be the perfect balance by South African mathematician Francis Guthrie in 1852.
He noticed the use of four colours on maps and applied this to decorating, including Christmas trees.
With most families planning to put up their Christmas trees in the next two weeks ahead of December 1, this advice is perfectly timed.
The formula also gives advice on how many colours to use. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Or, you can just haphazardly throw up every bauble you own and every length of tinsel. Sometimes this result proves charming! (At least, that's what many families tell themselves.)
Merry Christmas!
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