Useless fact
What is the mathematical shape of a Pringles chip?
The unique shape of a Pringles potato chip is mathematically known as a hyperbolic paraboloid.
The iconic saddle shape of Pringles chips was designed in 1956 by chemist Fredric Baur, who wanted to create a chip that wouldn't break, get stale, or leave greasy hands. To solve the problem of traditional chips breaking in bags, Baur designed the chips to be uniform in size and stackable. The specific geometric shape he utilized is a hyperbolic paraboloid, a doubly ruled surface characterized by its U-shaped curves. This mathematical structure distributes stress evenly across the chip, making it remarkably resistant to breaking when stacked inside the rigid cylindrical can, which was also designed by Baur. Furthermore, this aerodynamic shape prevents the chips from flying off the conveyor belt during manufacturing. Although Baur is credited with the design, supercomputers were later used by the brand's parent company, Procter and Gamble, to optimize the chip's aerodynamics so they would stack perfectly without catching air and cracking during high-speed production packaging.
Why this is true — The shape of a Pringles chip is a well-documented mathematical hyperbolic paraboloid, designed to prevent breakage and facilitate stacking.
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