LESSON 3: POLYHEDRONS

A polyhedron (plural polyhedra or polyhedrons)

is a solid which is bounded by polygons joined at
their edges.

• A solid is any limited portion of space

bounded by surfaces or plane figures.

The dihedral angle is the angle formed between

two intersecting planes. In the figure shown, the two Volume and Surface Area of Solids
planes are called faces of the dihedral angle, and
• The volume of a solid is the amount of space it
the line of intersection between the planes is called
occupies. It has units of cubic length (i.e., cm3,
the edge of the angle.
m3, in3, ft3, etc.).

• The surface area is the area of a three-

dimensional surface.

• The lateral area of a solid considers only the

areas of the lateral or the side surfaces.

• The total surface area includes both the lateral

area and the area of the bases (top and
bottom). Thus, the total surface area may be
Polyhedral Angles
defined as the total area of all surfaces that
• A polyhedral angle is the angle formed by bound the solid.
three or more planes which meet at a common
• The Volume Addition Theorem
point.
The volume of the region enclosed by a solid may
• The common point is called the vertex of the
be divided into non-overlapping smaller regions so
angle. The intersecting planes are the faces of
that the sum of the volumes of these smaller
the polyhedral angle. The lines of intersection of
regions is equal to the volume of the solid.
these faces are called the edges. A plane which
cuts all the faces of a polyhedral angle (except • Polyhedrons are called regular polyhedra or
at the vertex) is called a section. platonic solids if their faces are congruent
regular polygons and their polyhedral angles
• A face angle is the angle at the vertex and
are equal.
formed by any two adjacent edges. A dihedral
angle of the polyhedral angle is the dihedral
angle formed by any two intersecting faces.
such as edge, height, etc.) of similar figures are
also proportional.

𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟐
• =
𝒚𝟏 𝒚𝟐

𝑨𝟏 𝒙 𝟐
• = ( 𝟏)
𝑨𝟐 𝒙 𝟐

𝑽𝟏 𝒙 𝟑
• = ( 𝟏)
𝑽𝟐 𝒙 𝟐

Facts About Regular Polyhedrons

• Regular Polyhedrons of the same number of

faces are similar.
1
• Number of edges: 𝑒 = 𝑛𝑝
2

where 𝑝 the number of polygons enclosing the

polyhedron and 𝑛 the number of sides in each
polygon.

Number of vertices: 𝑣 = 𝑒−𝑝+2

𝑛𝑝𝑠 2
Total Area: 𝑇𝑆𝐴 = Solids for which
4 tan(180°⁄𝑛 )
V = BH
Volume of a Regular Polyhedron
• A cube is a hexahedron whose 12 edges are all
In any regular polyhedron, where 𝑑 denotes the congruent.
dihedral angle between any two adjacent faces, 𝑓
the number of faces at one vertex, and 𝑛 the
number of sides in each polygon,

cos(180°⁄𝑓)
𝑑 = 2 sin−1 ( )
sin(180°⁄𝑛)

𝑛𝑝𝑠 3 tan(𝑑 ⁄2)

𝑉= ,
24 tan2 (180°⁄𝑛)

where 𝑝 denotes the number of polygons, and 𝑠 the

length of an edge. Cube

Similar Figures • Diagonal: 𝑑 = √3𝑠

• Two polyhedra are said to be similar if they • Surface Area: 𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 6𝑠 2

have the same number of faces that are • Volume: 𝑉 = 𝑠 3
similarly placed, and which corresponding
polyhedral angles are congruent.
Corresponding dimensions (lengths of lines
A rectangular solid, also known as rectangular 3. A solid concrete porch consist of 3 steps and a
parallelepiped is a polyhedron with two landing. The steps have a tread of 280 mm, a
rectangular bases and lateral edges that are rise of 178 mm and a length of 2.5 m. The
perpendicular to the bases. landing is 1.85 m by 2.5 m. How much material
was used in its construction?

Rectangular Solids

• Diagonal : 𝑑 = √𝑙 2 + 𝑤 2 + ℎ2

• Surface Area: 𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 2𝑙𝑤 + 2𝑙ℎ + 2𝑤ℎ

• Volume: 𝑉 = 𝑙𝑤ℎ

Sample Problems

1. One cube has a face equivalent to the total

area of another cube. Find the ratio of their
volume.

4. A packing box 0.65 m x 1.5 m x 1.68 m is to be

completely covered with tin. How much
material is needed to cover the box and what
will be the total cost, if tin cost $3 per square
meter.

2. Find the total area and volume of the largest

cube of wood which can be cut from a log of
circular cross-section whose radius is 24 cm.
LESSON 4: PRISMS AND CYLINDERS 𝐿𝑆𝐴 = 𝑃𝑒

Total Surface Area:

Solids for which 𝑽 = 𝑩𝒉
𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 2𝐵 + 𝐿𝑆𝐴
• A prism is defined as a polyhedron with two
congruent bases that lie in parallel planes, and where 𝐵 is the area of one base.
whose every section that is parallel to a base
Volume of Prism
has the same area as that of the base.

• A right prism is a prism whose lateral faces or

lateral edges are perpendicular to the two
Sample Problems
bases.
1. The bases of a triangular right prism are 12 cm.
• A regular prism is a right prism whose bases
apart. Find the volume and the total surface
are regular polygons. If the base is a regular
area of the prism if one side of the equilateral
polygon of n sides then the prism contains n
triangular base measures 6 cm.
number of congruent lateral faces which are
rectangles.

• An oblique prism is a prism whose lateral faces

or lateral edges are not perpendicular to its
bases. Its lateral faces are parallelograms.

• A right section of a prism is a section made by

a plane perpendicular to one of the lateral Solution:
edges.

• An oblique section is made by a plane oblique

to one of the lateral edges.

2. A trench in the shape of a trapezoid is 180 ft.

long and 12 ft. deep, 7 ft. wide at the top and 4 ft.
wide at the bottom. How many cubic yards of
earth has been removed?

Surface Areas

• The lateral area of a prism is the product of the

perimeter P of a right section and the length e
of a lateral edge.
3. One part of a quartz crystal is a hexagonal
prism with a right section of 1.29 sq. cm, an
edge of 2.31 cm, and a base of 1.41 sq. cm. Find
the altitude of the prism. Sample Problems

1. The lateral area of a right cylindrical tank is

48𝜋 m2 and its volume is 72𝜋 m3. Find the
altitude of the tank.

Cylinder

• A cylinder is the solid bounded by a closed

cylindrical surface and two parallel planes
cutting all the elements of the surface.

• A circular cylinder is one whose bases are

circles. It may also be thought of as a prism
with two equal circular bases.

• A circular cylinder is a right circular cylinder, if

the height or the line segment drawn through
the center of the bottom base connects the
center of the top base. Otherwise, the cylinder is
said to be oblique.
2. A cylinder with a volume of 576𝜋 m3 is
Surface Areas circumscribed about a square prism which has
𝐿𝑆𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟ℎ 𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 2𝐵 + 𝐿𝑆𝐴 one side of the base that measures 8 m. What
is the altitude of the cylinder?

Solution:

Volume of Cylinder

𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ

𝑉 = 𝐵ℎ = 𝑅𝑒
of height 12 cm and diameter 8 cm. How many
square meters of tin did this order require if 45
cm2 are allowed for waste and seams in each
can?

3. The outer protective smokestack of a

steamship is streamlined so that it has a
uniform elliptical section parallel to the deck.
Given the major axis 2.6 m and minor axis 2 m,
the length of the stack is 4 m , and the upper
end is horizontally 1.3 m from the lower end. Find
the volume enclosed by the stack.

4. A certain factory manufacture tin cans. It

received an order for 10,000 cylindrical tin cans
FORMULAS
Regular Polyhedrons Prisms and Cylinders
1
• Number of edges: 𝑒 = 𝑛𝑝 Solids for which 𝑽 = 𝑩𝒉
2

where 𝑝 the number of polygons enclosing the Prism

polyhedron and 𝑛 the number of sides in each
Lateral Area:
polygon.
𝐿𝑆𝐴 = 𝑃𝑒
Number of vertices: 𝑣 = 𝑒−𝑝+2
Total Surface Area:
𝑛𝑝𝑠 2
Total Area: 𝑇𝑆𝐴 =
4 tan(180°⁄𝑛 )
𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 2𝐵 + 𝐿𝑆𝐴
Volume: Volume:
cos(180°⁄𝑓)
𝑑 = 2 sin−1 ( )
sin(180°⁄𝑛)

𝑛𝑝𝑠 3 tan(𝑑 ⁄2)

𝑉= ,
24 tan2 (180°⁄𝑛)

Similar Figures: Cylinders

𝑥1 𝑥2 𝐿𝑆𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟ℎ 𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 2𝐵 + 𝐿𝑆𝐴

• =
𝑦1 𝑦2

𝐴1 𝑥 2
• = ( 1)
𝐴2 𝑥 2

𝑉1 𝑥 3
• = ( 1)
𝑉2 𝑥 2

Cube

• Diagonal: 𝑑 = √3𝑠

• Surface Area: 𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 6𝑠 2

• Volume: 𝑉 = 𝑠 3

Rectangular Solids

• Diagonal : 𝑑 = √𝑙 2 + 𝑤 2 + ℎ2

• Surface Area: 𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 2𝑙𝑤 + 2𝑙ℎ + 2𝑤ℎ

• Volume: 𝑉 = 𝑙𝑤ℎ