Circumscribing a hexagonal prism

Geometry Level 4

A right hexagonal prism with a regular hexagonal base of side length a = 10 a = 10 , and height h = 30 h = 30 , is to be inscribed in a regular tetrahedron of edge length A A , such that three alternating edges of the hexagonal top base of the prism are in contact with the three (non-horizontal) faces of the tetrahedron. Find A A .


The answer is 66.74.

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2 solutions

David Vreken
Jun 26, 2020

Label the diagram as follows:

Since B C = 1 2 A BC = \frac{1}{2}A and C B O = 30 ° \angle CBO = 30° , B O = 3 3 A BO = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}A and C O = 3 6 A CO = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}A .

Since B H = A BH = A and B O = 3 3 A BO = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}A , by the Pythagorean Theorem on B H O \triangle BHO , H O = 6 3 A HO = \frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}A .

Since G E C H O C \triangle GEC \sim \triangle HOC by AA similarity, C E E G = C O H O \frac{CE}{EG} = \frac{CO}{HO} . Substituting E G = 30 EG = 30 , C O = 3 6 A CO = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}A , and H O = 6 3 A HO = \frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}A and solving gives C E = 15 2 2 CE = \frac{15\sqrt{2}}{2} .

E O EO is the height of equilateral D F O \triangle DFO with a side length of D F = 10 DF = 10 , so E O = 5 3 EO = 5\sqrt{3} .

By segment addition, C O = C E + E O CO = CE + EO . Substituting C O = 3 6 A CO = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}A , C E = 15 2 2 CE = \frac{15\sqrt{2}}{2} , and E O = 5 3 EO = 5\sqrt{3} and solving gives A = 15 6 + 30 66.74 A = 15\sqrt{6} + 30 \approx \boxed{66.74} .

Eggz D
Jun 26, 2020

Extending the lines of the Hexagon will create a triangle of side length 3 a 3a

Fomula for Tetrahedron's heigt: H = A 6 3 H = \frac{A\sqrt6}{3}

Wich makes A = 3 H 6 A = \frac{3H}{\sqrt6}

The total height is the prism's height + the smaller tetrahedron's height (on top of the prism)

H = h + 3 a 6 3 H = h + \frac{3a \sqrt6}{3}

A = 3 ( h + 3 a 6 3 ) 6 = 3 h + 9 a 6 3 ) 6 = 66.74 A = \frac{3 ( h + \frac{3a \sqrt6}{3} ) }{\sqrt6} = \frac{3h + \frac{9a \sqrt6}{3} ) }{\sqrt6} = 66.74

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