Chapter 6: Problem 21
A tetrahedron has three mutually perpendicular faces and three mutually perpendicular edges of lengths 2,3 . and 4 centimeters, respectively. Find its volume.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The volume of the tetrahedron is 2 cm³.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Tetrahedron
A tetrahedron is a solid that has four triangular faces, and in this case, it is a right tetrahedron with three mutually perpendicular edges meeting at a vertex. The given edges are of lengths 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm.
02
Recall the Formula for Volume
The volume of a tetrahedron can be determined using the formula: \[ V = \frac{1}{6} imes ext{Base Area} imes ext{Height} \]For a right tetrahedron with perpendicular base edges, the base area can be determined using the formula for the area of a right-angle triangle, which is \( \frac{1}{2} \times ext{Base} \times ext{Height} \).
03
Calculate the Base Area
In this tetrahedron, let's take the base as the triangle formed by the edges with lengths 2 cm and 3 cm. Calculate the area of this base triangle using:\[ \text{Base Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times 2 \times 3 = 3 \text{ cm}^2\]
04
Identify the Height
The height of the tetrahedron in relation to the base is the length of the edge perpendicular to this base, which is 4 cm.
05
Calculate the Volume
Plugging the base area and height into the volume formula:\[V = \frac{1}{6} \times 3 \times 4 = \frac{12}{6} = 2 \text{ cm}^3\]
06
Conclusion
Thus, the volume of the tetrahedron is calculated to be 2 cubic centimeters.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Volume Calculation
Calculating the volume of a tetrahedron is a methodical process that depends on understanding both the geometric properties of the shape and applying the correct formula.
In our case, the tetrahedron is right-angled, making the calculation more straightforward.
To find the volume, you need to know:
The base area involves calculating the area of the right-angled triangle formed by two perpendicular edges. This is given by:\[ \text{Base Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{Length}_1 \times \text{Length}_2 \]Here, Length\(_1\) and Length\(_2\) are mutually perpendicular edges.Once the base area is determined, multiply this by the length of the edge perpendicular to these two. Finally, encase the entire product within \( \frac{1}{6} \) to obtain the tetrahedron's volume.
In our case, the tetrahedron is right-angled, making the calculation more straightforward.
To find the volume, you need to know:
- The base area.
- The height of the tetrahedron relative to that base.
The base area involves calculating the area of the right-angled triangle formed by two perpendicular edges. This is given by:\[ \text{Base Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{Length}_1 \times \text{Length}_2 \]Here, Length\(_1\) and Length\(_2\) are mutually perpendicular edges.Once the base area is determined, multiply this by the length of the edge perpendicular to these two. Finally, encase the entire product within \( \frac{1}{6} \) to obtain the tetrahedron's volume.
Mutually Perpendicular Edges
Mutually perpendicular edges are a fundamental concept when dealing with three-dimensional geometry.
In a tetrahedron, these edges are the key to simplifying many calculations.
Let's break it down:
In a tetrahedron, these edges are the key to simplifying many calculations.
Let's break it down:
- When we say that three edges are mutually perpendicular, each one is perpendicular to the other two edges.
- This positioning creates a right-angle corner, like the corner of a room where two walls meet the floor.
- In our exercise, the lengths are 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm.
Geometry Concepts
Understanding broader geometry concepts is essential to tackle problems involving 3D shapes like a tetrahedron.
A tetrahedron is a type of pyramid with a triangular base and three additional triangular faces that all meet at a common vertex.
Here are fundamental ideas:
A tetrahedron is a type of pyramid with a triangular base and three additional triangular faces that all meet at a common vertex.
Here are fundamental ideas:
- The sum of the internal angles of any triangle is always 180 degrees.
- A right tetrahedron means it contains right angles, which simplifies things like figuring out areas and volumes.
- The base faces in such problems are often treated as 2D to calculate initial measures like area.