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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

More Cube Problems, 8

Category: Solid Geometry

"Published in Newark, California, USA"

Show that (a) the total surface of a cube is twice the square of its diagonal, (b) the volume of a cube is 1/9 √3 times the cube of its diagonal.

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to draw the figure as follows

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday Life

Consider the lower base of a cube. Use Pythagorean Theorem in order to solve for the hypotenuse or the diagonal of the lower base as follows






If all the faces of a cube are perpendicular to each other, then all edges are perpendicular to each other also. Since c is located at the lower base of a cube, then c is perpendicular to x. 

Use Pythagorean Theorem in order to solve for the diagonal of a cube as follows







The total area of a cube is


The volume of a cube is


Therefore, 

(a)




(b)