Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum

Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum

Search
MENU
Learning Math Home
Session 9: Solids
 
Session 9 Part A Part B Part C Homework
 
Glossary
geometry Site Map
Session 9 Materials:
Notes
Solutions
Video

Session 9, Part A:
Platonic Solids

In This Part: Building the Solids | Naming the Solids

When working with three-dimensional figures, the terminology can get confusing. (What would you call a side?) It helps if everyone uses the standard names:

The Platonic solids are named for the number of faces they have.

Take it Further

Problem A6

 Solution

For each of the Platonic solids, count the number of vertices, faces, and edges. This is harder than it sounds! Think about how to "count them without counting them."

Solid

Vertices

Faces

Edges

Tetrahedron

Octahedron

Icosahedron

Cube

Dodecahedron


Counting vertices and edges can be tricky. Think about how to "count without counting." How many faces are there on the polyhedron? How many vertices on each face? How many faces meet at a vertex on the polyhedron? You can put all of this information together to "count" the number of vertices.   Close Tip
 

 

Problem A7

Solution  

Find a pattern in your table. Express it as a formula relating vertices (v), faces (f), and edges (e).

 

Problem A8

Solution  

Does your pattern hold for solids other than the Platonic solids? Build several other solids. Count the vertices, faces, and edges, and find out!


video thumbnail
 

Video Segment
In this video segment, the participants build solids and start to make conjectures about the relationship between angles, edges, and faces needed to build them. Watch this segment after you've completed Problems A6-A8.

How many solids were you able to build? Were you convinced that there are only five Platonic solids?

If you are using a VCR, you can find this segment on the session video approximately 5 minutes and 40 seconds after the Annenberg Media logo.

  

Next > Part B: Nets

Learning Math Home | Geometry Home | Glossary | Map | ©

Session 9: Index | Notes | Solutions | Video

Home | Catalog | About Us | Search | Contact Us | Site Map

| Follow The Annenberg Learner on Facebook

© Annenberg Foundation 2013. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy