OpenEuphoria

Re: Math Problem

• Posted by Roderick Jackson <rjackson at CSIWEB.COM> Dec 28, 1999
• 616 views

Dan B Moyer wrote:
<snip>
>"The Universal Encyclopedia of Mathematics", 1964 edition:  "There are only
>5 regular convex polyhedra, the "Platonic" solids."  They are:
>
>TETRAHEDRON, 4 equilateral triangles;
>CUBE, 6 squares;
>OCTAHEDRON, 8 equilateral triangles;
>DODECAHEDRON, 12 regular pentagons;
>ICOSAHEDRON, 20 equilateral triangles.
>
>It does seem counter-intuitive to me that there would only be these regular
>solids, but that's what it said.  And it didn't give any useful equation for
>generating those, just formulas for volume, surface area, and inscribed &
>circumscribed spheres.


Thanks Dan (and Jeffrey),

I was able to get a quick glance on the net right after
looking at this, and discovered it (I would have looked
before sending, but didn't know if I'd get the chance...)

I only hit two web sites, but one was fairly simple and
clear as to why only those 5 exist. *Sigh* it was such an
alluring idea... I might give the icosahedron a try, but
I doubt it'll be acceptable. Maybe I'll dig some more and
try to pull off a reasonable non-regular solid.


Rod Jackson