Fold the paper in half? That is easy. Fold it in four? Also no problem. Fold the paper in thirds the same size? Now, folding the paper in thirds like this can be a little tricky for anyone who has ever folded an important letter. There are special tactics required to perform this task. Perfectly folded paper shows your professionalism and attention to detail. This can be done when you are writing a letter to a loved one, working on a Math project, or simply folding scrap paper into three equal parts.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Using the Intuitive Method
Step 1. Place the paper on a flat table
Believe it or not, there are many ways to fold paper into thirds. However, some methods will give a neater end result than others. Try this method if you don't need to fold the paper neatly - it's quick and often works well. However, the results are not always perfect.
- The advantage is that you won't need any tools if you use this method.
- Note that standard 21 × 29.7 cm A4 paper does not have to be perfectly folded in thirds to fit in an envelope. This makes it a good choice for correspondence.
Step 2. Roll the paper into a loose cylindrical shape
Make a large, loose roll of paper - about the same size as the rolled newspaper. Don't make any folds yet.
Step 3. Straighten the ends, then gently flatten the center
Look at the cylinder from the side - you want the end of the rolled up paper to be on the left, while the other end is directly opposite it on the right. Press down on the cylinder while you keep the sides even.
You want these three layers of paper folded to nearly the same size. To do so, place one end of the paper on the inside of the cylindrical fold and the other end of the paper on the top, parallel to the other fold. This activity requires more feeling than it sounds
Step 4. Flatten the entire cylinder when you can almost get the cylinder shape to fit
When the paper folds look almost flat, press against the sides to get a neat crease. Safe! Your paper triples almost perfectly.
At this point, you can still make adjustments, but avoid making more than one fold unless your paper folds are very uneven - this makes it look unprofessional
Method 2 of 5: Using the "Reference Paper" Method
Step 1. Fold the scrap paper into three parts
This method sacrifices one sheet of paper to help you fold the other paper properly. You will need two sheets of paper - one that will fold properly and one that will fold naturally. These two pieces of paper must be the same size.
Fold the scrap paper into thirds as you please - the intuitive method above or another method from this article will work as well. You can also experiment or trial-and-error until you get the results you want
Step 2. Refold the paper until the crease is accurate
Adjust the folds of the waste paper until the paper is almost perfectly folded in thirds.
Don't worry about how many times you try and how many folds you make - this paper doesn't count
Step 3. Use this scrap paper as a folding guide for good paper
Once you are satisfied with the folds in the waste paper, take this folded scrap paper. Then, place it parallel to the paper you want to fold nicely. Use this scrap paper as a blueprint for the folds you will make on the good paper.
Mark the fold position on good paper or use your eyes to visually compare the two papers
Step 4. Use straight objects to help you
Take a straight object (or something as simple as an envelope) and place it on top of both papers to help you mark the creases from the scrap paper on good paper. If you use a sturdy straight object such as a ruler, you can also use it to help the paper folding process better.
Save your scrap paper for note-taking or recycle when you're done. Do not throw paper that is still good in the trash
Method 3 of 5: Using the Eyeball Method
Step 1. Fold one side of the paper to the other
This folding method uses nothing but the human eye's ability to measure where we can fold the paper in thirds. However, this method is very effective. In fact, you can use this method to fold important papers once you've tried this method a few times.
Take one side of the paper and place it on the other side (as if you were going to fold it in half). Don't make any creases at all - the ends you want to fold should be circular
Step 2. Align the sides so that the sides cover half of the paper
Align the sides of the paper you are holding so that it covers only half of the remaining paper. The human eye performs better when used to measure paper that is divided by two rather than by three. So aligning the paper correctly in this step will be easier than if you tried to fold it in three right away.
When the sides of the paper are snug and aligned, fold the paper. Don't let the free side move while you make the fold
Step 3. Fold the remaining paper in half
The hardest part of this method is done. Now, you have to make one third of the last fold. Take the side of the paper that has not been folded, then fold this part inwards. Thus, this part will be under the fold. After that, make a second fold.
If you make an accurate crease, all sides of the paper will be aligned at this point. If the sides are not parallel, make minor corrections as necessary
Method 4 of 5: Using the Origami Method
Step 1. Fold the paper in half
This method uses a technique taken from origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, to achieve the perfect fold. While origami usually uses square-shaped paper, this method can also be used with standard 21×29.7 cm A4 paper you can find in the office. Fold the paper in half. Fold the paper in only one direction, so that when you fold it in thirds, you will still be folding it in the same direction.
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Notes:
If you don't want to make any extra creases on your paper, find the center of the paper and carefully mark it to divide it in half. The lines you draw must be perfectly straight to match the accuracy of the simple halves of the paper.
Step 2. Draw a line from the bottom left corner to the right side of the center
Position your paper so that the center crease you make will go from left to right. Use a ruler to draw a line from the bottom left corner to the end point of the center crease on the right side of the paper.
You can also do the same method, but start from the bottom right corner if you're drawing in the opposite direction. However, for convenience, we decided to provide only one set of instructions
Step 3. Draw a line from the top left to the bottom right
Use a ruler to draw a line from the top left corner of the paper to the bottom right corner. This line should meet the center crease and the line you first made on the right side of the paper.
Step 4. Make a fold at the point where the two lines meet
The point where the two lines meet indicates the place where you should make a third of the paper fold. Use a ruler to draw a line that goes through this point. This line also needs to be tangent to both sides of the paper at a 90 degree angle.
Fold the paper carefully along the edges. This folded end should divide the rest of the paper into two halves - otherwise you'll have to make slight adjustments so the paper will split in half.
Step 5. Make a second fold by inserting the other side of the paper inward
Finally, take the side that has not been folded, then fold it inward to the part that has been folded. Make a second fold when the previous side is folded in. Your paper is now divided into three.
Method 5 of 5: Folding Paper Using Math
Step 1. Find the length of one of the sides
Did the above methods not make you satisfied with the accuracy of the folds you made? Follow the steps in this section. The following steps should help you get the paper folds as precise as possible. You will need a measuring tool (such as a ruler) and a calculator or scrap paper to try this method. Start by measuring the length of the side you want to fold.
Step 2. Divide the number from the side measurement by three
The result of this calculation will be the width of every one-third of the paper fold.
For example, if you use standard A4 paper measuring 21 × 29.7 cm, then divide the side that is 29.7 cm into three by dividing 29.7 by 3. So 29, 7/3 = 9, 9 cm. That is, each fold should be 9.9 cm apart from each other.
Step 3. Mark this distance, measured from the edge of the paper
Using a ruler, then mark the part you measured the distance from the edge of the paper. Again, you will need to measure it along the side you will be folding.
In our example above, we used 21 × 29.7 cm paper. We will make measurements along the side that is 29.7 cm long and then mark it once every 9.9 cm
Step 4. Make a crease at this mark, then fold the remaining part of the paper
Make a crease through the mark perpendicular to both edges of the paper. This is one of the three folds you will have to make. The second fold is easy to make - fold the paper side down so that the side is inside the first fold (exactly the same as above)
Tips
- Quickly fold the paper to release your thoughts. Your mind doesn't have to be completely off the hook. Because if you focus too hard on getting the perfect crease, you'll end up making mistakes. Relax and go with the flow.
- If you cannot fold the paper evenly, before folding it, hold the end of the side to be folded against the top of the paper. This will simulate folding the paper without needing to actually do it. Make sure both ends are flush with the paper side.
- When trying the intuitive method, form a slack cylinder to minimize paper unevenness. Also, if the paper is slightly uneven, you will be able to make the folds a little smaller or larger. So your measurements will be quite accurate.
- Do not fold the paper too much or it will be difficult to fold perfectly.
