Polyhedra

  • Tet-Trouble
    problem
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    Tet-Trouble

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Is it possible to have a tetrahedron whose six edges have lengths 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 units?

  • Tetra Perp
    problem
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    Tetra Perp

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Show that the edges $AD$ and $BC$ of a tetrahedron $ABCD$ are mutually perpendicular if and only if $AB^2 +CD^2 = AC^2+BD^2$. This problem uses the scalar product of two vectors.

  • Pythagoras for a Tetrahedron
    problem
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    Pythagoras for a Tetrahedron

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    In a right-angled tetrahedron prove that the sum of the squares of the areas of the 3 faces in mutually perpendicular planes equals the square of the area of the sloping face. A generalisation of Pythagoras' Theorem.

  • Reach for Polydron
    problem

    Reach for Polydron

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    A tetrahedron has two identical equilateral triangles faces, of side length 1 unit. The other two faces are right angled isosceles triangles. Find the exact volume of the tetrahedron.
  • Magnetic personality
    problem

    Magnetic Personality

    Age
    7 to 16
    Challenge level
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    60 pieces and a challenge. What can you make and how many of the pieces can you use creating skeleton polyhedra?
  • Lighting up time
    problem

    Lighting Up Time

    Age
    7 to 14
    Challenge level
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    A very mathematical light - what can you see?
  • Tetra Square
    problem

    Tetra Square

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    ABCD is a regular tetrahedron and the points P, Q, R and S are the midpoints of the edges AB, BD, CD and CA. Prove that PQRS is a square.
  • Rhombicubocts
    problem

    Rhombicubocts

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Each of these solids is made up with 3 squares and a triangle around each vertex. Each has a total of 18 square faces and 8 faces that are equilateral triangles. How many faces, edges and vertices does each solid have?
  • Sliced
    problem

    Sliced

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    An irregular tetrahedron has two opposite sides the same length a and the line joining their midpoints is perpendicular to these two edges and is of length b. What is the volume of the tetrahedron?
  • A Mean Tetrahedron
    problem

    A Mean Tetrahedron

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Can you number the vertices, edges and faces of a tetrahedron so that the number on each edge is the mean of the numbers on the adjacent vertices and the mean of the numbers on the adjacent faces?