Revision Topic 3

1. There are five Platonic solids. Built a table the list the characteristics of these solids.
Then from the information from the table write a relationship between the characteristics.
Subsequently, from the information from the table explain the concept “duals”.
Platonic solid Faces Edges Vertices Schlafli Polygon Dual
Symbol
Tetrahedron 4 6 4 {3,3} Equilateral Self-dual
3.3.3 Triangle

Hexahedron 8 12 8 {4,3} Square Octahedron

(Cube) 4.4.4

Octahedron 6 12 6 {3,4} Equilateral Cube

3.3.3.3 Triangle

Dodecahedron 12 30 20 {5,3} Regular Icosahedron

5.5.5 Pentagon

Icosahedron 20 30 12 {3,5} Equilateral Dodecahedron

3.3.3.3.3 Triangle

a) Relationship between the characteristics of the platonic solids

F = Number of faces
E= Number of edges F=E+2-v
V= Number of vertices
b) Schlafli symbols are used to describe polytopes, but can also be used to describe more
general objects through the use of flags. In particular, some information can be readily 'read-
off' from a Schlafli symbol (like the number of edges in a face). The Schläfli symbol of a
regular polyhedron is {p,q} if its faces are p-gons, and each vertex is surrounded by q faces
(the vertex figure is a q-gon).

c) Concept “Duals”
Every polyhedron has a dual polyhedron with faces and vertices interchanged. As an
instance, the cube and the octahedron form a dual pair and the dodecahedron and the
icosahedron form a dual pair. If a polyhedron has Schläfli symbol {p, q}, then its dual has the
symbol {q, p}. Indeed, every combinatorial property of one Platonic solid can be interpreted as
another combinatorial property of the dual. Connecting the centers of adjacent faces in the
original forms the edges of the dual and thereby interchanges the number of faces and
vertices while maintaining the number of edges.

2. Archimedean solids can be built from Platonic solids. With examples and aid of
diagrams explain how you can build Archimedean solids from Platonic solids.

Platonic Solid –Octahedron Archimedean Solid – Truncated Octahedron

Truncated Tetrahedron is constructed by cutting the vertices of the Tetrahedron.

1. Firstly, 6 vertices of octahedron should be truncated at one third of the edge length.
2. A truncated octahedron is constructed from a regular octahedron with side length by
the removal of six right square pyramids, one from each point.
3. These pyramids have both base side length and lateral side length, to form equilateral
triangles.
4. Finally, a Truncated Octahedron is constructed.
 3. Give example of a Platonic solid and another example of Archimedean solid. Then
compare and contrast between these solids.
Platonic solid Archimedean solid

Hexahedron Truncated Hexahedron

SIMILARITIES
- Both are convex solids.
- Faces are made up of regular polygons.
- Vertices have the same vertex configuration.
DIFFERENCES

Platonic solid Archimedean solid

Convex solid Semi-regular convex solid
The Schlafli Symbol is {4,3}. The Schlafli Symbol is t {4,3}.
The vertex configuration is 4.4.4 The vertex configuration is 3.8.8
It has 8 faces, 8 vertices, and 12 edges It has 14 faces, 24 vertices, and 36 edges

4. Give an example of Platonic solid and an example of Kepler-Pointset solid.

Compare and contrast between both solids.
Platonic solid Kepler-Pointset solid

Icosahedron Great Icosahedron

SIMILARITIES
- Both have same number of faces (20), vertices (12), and edges (30).
- Made up of regular polygons.
- The vertex configuration is the same for each vertex.
DIFFERENCES

Platonic solid Kepler-Pointset solid

Convex solid Concave solid
Made up of equilateral triangle Made up of isosceles triangle
Meet at the same vertex that build from 5 Build up from 9 triangles each and totally made
equilateral triangles out of 180 parts of faces
 The Schlafli Symbol is {3,5} The Schlafli Symbol is {3,5/2}
The vertex configuration is 3.3.3.3.3 The vertex configuration is 3.3.3.3.3/2

5. With aid of diagrams, explain why there are only 5 Platonic solids.
Answer: Platonic solid, any of the five geometric solids whose faces are all identical, regular
polygons meeting at the same three-dimensional angles. Also known as the five-regular
polyhedral, they consist of the tetrahedron (or pyramid), cube, octahedron, dodecahedron,
and icosahedron.
Platonic solid Faces Edges Vertices Schlafli Degree of each
Symbol vertex of polygon
Tetrahedron
{3,3} Equilateral triangle
4 6 4 3.3.3 = 3 ×60▫ = 180▫

Hexahedron
(Cube) {4,3}
8 12 8 4.4.4 Square
= 3 ×90▫ = 270▫

Octahedron
{3,4}
6 12 6 3.3.3.3 Equilateral triangle
= 4 ×60▫ = 240▫

Dodecahedron
{5,3} Regular pentagon
12 30 20 5.5.5 = 3 ×108▫ = 324▫

Icosahedron
{3,5} Equilateral triangle
20 30 12 3.3.3.3.3 = 5 ×60▫ = 300▫

Conclusion: A Platonic solid requires at least 3 faces to form together in order to form a
solid with no gaps. Furthermore, the interior angle of each polygon that meet at the same
vertex must be less than 360°. For the polygons such as hexagon, heptagon, octagon and
more, the interior angle of three faces that meet at the same vertex must be more than 360°,
so that the shape will be flattening out.