Math in… Art and Perspective

When making 2D art appear 3D, artists use geometric perspective. For a figure drawn flat on the ground to appear to have a certain height, it likely needs to be drawn much shorter or longer on the ground, widening toward its top.

Such anamorphic perspective drawing makes the work look 3D from one specific angle, but viewing it from other angles will make it appear stretched, compressed, or otherwise distorted, breaking the illusion!