Stage: 5 Challenge Level: 
Why do this
problem?
It gives experience of using 3D coordinates, visualisation, and using the distance formula in 3D, and formulae for the area of a triangle.
Possible approach
A good diagram isessential. You might discuss and draw and label the diagram as a class effort and then the students could complete the calculatons independently.
Key questions
What are the coordinates of the vertices of the tetrahedron?
It gives experience of using 3D coordinates, visualisation, and using the distance formula in 3D, and formulae for the area of a triangle.
Possible approach
A good diagram isessential. You might discuss and draw and label the diagram as a class effort and then the students could complete the calculatons independently.
Key questions
What are the coordinates of the vertices of the tetrahedron?
Stage 5 - Reviewed 2012. Nets. Pythagoras' theorem. Coordinates - 3D. Cubes. Long problems. Surface and surface area. Visualising. Tetrahedra. Games.
Published December 2000.
Copyright © 2007. University of Cambridge. All rights reserved.
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project, which also includes the Plus and Motivate sites.
email: nrich@damtp.cam.ac.uk