The Cuboctahedron

Rabby Ahmed -- Nick Lovell

GAT/IDS 9B
Mrs. Gravel and Mr. Acre
2 March 2017
 Ahmed -- Lovell 1

The Cuboctahedron

The Cuboctahedron, commonly abbreviated as Cubo, is one of many unique three

dimensional figures found in geometry. It consists of 6 square faces as well as 8 equilateral

triangles on each corner. In order to form this figure, one must cut off each corner of a cube from

midpoint to midpoint. This will create the figure, but if examined closely it can be noticed that it

includes 2 different geometrical figures such as a square prism as well as 4 rectangular pyramids

in which the length of the base of the pyramid will be congruent with the height of the square

prism. Placing the pyramids along the side of the prism will not only create the Cuboctahedron,

but it will also help find many mathematical properties. In this project, the measure of one side

of the original cube before cutting the corner is 14.4 units which will guide the way to find both

Surface Area as well as the Volume of the Cuboctahedron.

 Ahmed -- Lovell 2

Finding the Length of One Edge and the Total Surface Area

Figure 1.

In order to find both the volume and the surface area of the Cuboctahedron, it is

necessary to find the dimensions of the square face as well as the tetrahedron face on the figure.

In this case, the dimensions of the square case will be found by using a 14.4 un. by 14.4 un. piece

of paper.

Figure 2.

Now, find the midpoint of each side which will give a length of 7.2 un. This will be the

same all around the square.

 Ahmed -- Lovell 3

Figure 3.

Connecting all the adjacent midpoints will create 4 congruent right triangles. But if

examined more closely, one can identify that each triangle is a 45-45-90 triangle. Also, it can be

noted that each hypotenuse of these triangles form to create a square, which is the same square as

the square face on the Cuboctahedron.

Figure 4.

Since the triangles are all 45-45-90 triangles, it is possible to find the dimensions of the

square face. In order to do this, one must understand that the general rule to find the hypotenuse
 Ahmed -- Lovell 4

of this right triangle is to multiply the length of one leg by 2. In this case, the length of one leg

is 7.2 un. and therefore the hypotenuse is 7.22 un. long. Since the square is made up of 4

hypotenuse the square face of the Cuboctahedron has a dimension of 7.22 un.by 7.22 un.

Figure 5.

In order to find the surface area of the Cuboctahedron, it is also necessary to find the

dimensions of the equilateral triangular face on the figure. In this case, the triangular face shared

a side with the square face and since it is equilateral, all sides of the triangle have a length of

7.22 un.
 Ahmed -- Lovell 5

Figure 6.

When splitting the equilateral triangle in half using a perpendicular bisector, it can be

noticed that two new congruent 30-60-90 special right triangles are formed which can help lead

to finding the height of the triangles. When splitting the triangle in two the hypotenuse has the

same length of 7.22 un, the base has half the base length of the original triangle which is 3.62

un.and in order to find the missing length of the leg of the right triangle, which is also the height

of the original, you must multiply the new base with the 3 which will give 3.66.
 Ahmed -- Lovell 6

Figure 7.

When examining the Cuboctahedron, it can be noticed that all the sides have the same

dimensions of 7.22 un.

Finding the Surface Area of the Cuboctahedron

Surface Area=6(L)(W) Formula to find Surface Area of Square Faces

Surface Area=6(7.22)(7.22) Substitution Property

Surface Area=622.08 un2 Multiplication Property

Figure 8. Surface Area of Square Faces

Figure 8 above show the formula in order to find the total surface area of all the square

faces using the formula Length*Width which will give a measurement of 103.68 un2. Then it will

be multiplied by 6 since there are 6 square faces on the figure which will give a measurement of

622.08 un2.

Surface Area=8(.5)(B)(H) Formula to find Surface Area of Equilateral

Triangles

Surface Area=8(.5)(7.22)(3.66) Substitution Property

Surface Area=103.6812 un2 Multiplication Property

Figure 9. Surface Area of Equilateral Triangles
 Ahmed -- Lovell 7

Figure 9 above shows the formula in order to find the total surface area of all the

equilateral triangles using the formula .5*Base*Height which gives a measurement of 12.9612

un2. Then it will be multiplied by 8 since there are 8 triangular faces on the figure giving a

measurement of 103.6812 un2.

TSA=SAsquare+SAtriangle Formula to find Surface Area of

Cuboctahedron

TSA=622.08+103.6812 Substitution Property

TSA=622.08+103.6812 un2 Addition Property

Figure 10. Total Surface Area of Cuboctahedron

Figure 10 above show the equation to find the total surface area of the Cuboctahedron.

Adding both the surface areas of all square faces as well as the surface area of all triangular faces

will give the total surface area of the figure. The total surface area of the Cuboctahedron is

622.08+103.6812 un2.
 Ahmed -- Lovell 8

Finding the Volume of the Cuboctahedron through Corner Pyramids

Figure 11.

There are many ways to find the volume of the Cuboctahedron. One way in particular is

to visualize the Cuboctahedron is as a cube that has its corners removed. These corners are

pyramids, and they all have the same area. Because of this, we can use the volume of the original

cube and subtract the volume of 8 corner pyramids since cubes have 8 vertices.

Figure 12.

To find the dimensions of the corner pyramid, the dimensions of the original cube must

be found. In this case, each side of the cube has a congruent measurement of 14.4 un.
 Ahmed -- Lovell 9

Figure 13.

The pyramid above is one of the 8 corners of the original cube. When the corners are

removed, the remaining figure is the Cuboctahedron. The Pyramid has 3 congruent right triangles

for faces in which the legs are all half the length of the original cube giving the length 7.2 un.

When examining these right triangles, it can be noticed that they are all special 45-45-90

triangles which means their hypotenuse is the length of one leg multiplied with the 2 giving the

length 7.22.

To find the volume of the corner pyramid, it makes it easier to change the base from an

equilateral triangle to one of the isosceles triangles. This turns one of the right triangles into the

base and the remaining two isosceles triangles as well as the equilateral triangles faces of the

corner pyramid. Since the base and two faces of the triangle are both congruent isosceles

triangles, the height is the same measure as one leg of the base. The measurement is 7.2 un

It is also necessary to find the area of the base to find the volume of the corner period.

Since the base is a right triangle, the formula to find the area is (L*W)/2. When plugging in the

numbers for the equation, the area is 25.92 un2.

 Ahmed -- Lovell 10

Finding the Volume of the Cuboctahedron through the Corner Pyramid

V=()(B)(H) Formula for the Volume of the Corner

Pyramid

V=()(25.92)(7.2) Substitution Property

V=62.208 un3 Multiplication Property

Figure 14. Volume of the Corner Pyramid

Using the formula (1/3)(Area of Base)(Height), the volume of the corner pyramid can be

found. The volume is 62.208 un3. Subtracting the volume of all the 8 corner pyramids from the

original cube will result in the volume of the Cuboctahedron.

V=S3 Formula for the Volume of the Original Cube

V=(14.4)3 Substitution Property

V=2985.984 un3 Multiplication Property

Figure 15. Volume of the Original Cube

Using the formula (Length of Side)3, the volume of the original cube can be found. The

volume is 2985.984 un3.

V=Vcube-8(Vcornerpyramid) Formula for Volume of Cuboctahedron

V=(2985.984)-8(62.208) Substitution Property

V=(2985.984)-(497.664) Multiplication Property

V=2488.32 un3 Subtraction Property

Figure 16. Volume of Cuboctahedron

When using the formula from figure 16, it is possible to find the volume of the

Cuboctahedron. Since the Cuboctahedron is a Cube with its corner cut off from midpoint to

midpoint, you must find the volume of all the corner pyramids and subtract it from the volume of

the original cube. The volume of the Cuboctahedron is 2487.336 un3.

 Ahmed -- Lovell 11

Finding the Volume of the Cuboctahedron through the Square Prism and Rectangular

Prism

Figure 17.

The volume of the Cuboctahedron can also be thought of as the volume of a square prism

along with the the volume of four congruent rectangular pyramids attached on the lateral faces of

the square prism. The sum of the volumes of the right square prism and the volumes of the four

pyramids is the volume of the Cuboctahedron.

Figure 18.

The dimensions of the square prism is based off of the length of one edge of the Cubo.

Since one edge length is 7.22 un, the edges of the square faces of this prism are 7.22 un. The

height of this prism is the same length as the length of an edge on the original cube. Since the
 Ahmed -- Lovell 12

measurements for one side length of the original cube was 14.4 un, the height of the square prism

is also 14.4 un.

Figure 19.

The square prism and the rectangular pyramids have a common face, therefore the base

for the pyramids have identical dimensions to the lateral faces of the square prism. This means

that the base of the pyramid has a dimension of 14.4 un.by 7.22 un.

Figure 20.
 Ahmed -- Lovell 13

The rectangular pyramid also has two pairs of lateral faces. One set are equilateral

triangles, which have a side length of 7.22 un.since their sides are congruent with the edges of

the Cuboctahedron. The other set of faces are 45-45-90 isosceles right triangles. The base of

these triangles are 14.4 un.since they are the same length as the height of the Square Prism.

When splitting the triangle in half using a perpendicular bisector, it can be noticed that another

45-45-90 isosceles right triangle is formed. On further speculation, it can be seen that half the

base as well as the height of the original triangle are both legs of the 45-45-90 triangle while the

remaining side is the hypotenuse. Since both legs are congruent to one another, that means the

height of the triangle is 7.2 un.long.

Figure 21.

In order to find the height of the pyramid, a right triangle must be made where the

hypotenuse is the height of the isosceles right triangle, one leg is the height, and the last leg is the

connection between the hypotenuse and the other leg. When looking at the hypotenuse, the

measurement 7.2 un.is already given. The leg connecting the height and the hypotenuse is 3.62

un. long since it is half the distance across the base. With these numbers the Height of the

pyramid can be found using the pythagorean theorem.

A2+B2=C2 Pythagorean Theorem

(3.62)+B=(7.2) Substitution Property

 Ahmed -- Lovell 14

25.92+B2=51.84 Multiplication Property

B2=25.92 Subtraction Property

B=25.92 Simplification
Figure 22. Formula to Find Height of Pyramid

Figure 22 shows the Pythagorean Theorem in which using the height of the isosceles

triangle as well as half the length of the length of one side of the equilateral triangle, the height

of the pyramid can be solved. The length of the height is 25.92.

V=()(B)(H) Formula to Find the Volume of a Rectangular

Pyramid

V=()(7.22*14.4)(25.92) Substitution Property

V=34.5651.84 un.3 Multiplication Property

Figure 23. Volume of Rectangular Pyramid

Figure 23 shows the formula ()(Area of base)(Height) in order to find the volume of the

rectangular pyramid. The volume of this figure is 248.832 un3.

V=(B)(H) Formula to Find the Volume of the Square

Prism

V=(103.68)(14.4) Substitution Property

V=1492.992 un.3 Multiplication Property

Figure 24. Volume of Square Prism

Figure 24 shows the formula (Area of Base)(Height) in order to find the volume of the

square prism. Since both side lengths of the base is 7.22, it is possible to just multiply the legs

together to find the area of the base which is 103.68 un2. Thereafter multiplying it with the height

of the prism will give you the volume. The volume of the square prism is 1492.992 un3.

V=4(Vrectangularpyramid)+(Vsquareprism) Formula to Find Volume of Cuboctahedron

V=4(34.5651.84)+(1492.992) Substitution Property

 Ahmed -- Lovell 15

V=995.328+1492.992 Multiplication Property

V=2488.32 un.3 Addition Property

Figure 25. Volume of Cuboctahedron

When using the formula from figure 25, it is possible to find the volume of the

Cuboctahedron. Since the Cuboctahedron is a Cube composed of four rectangular pyramids and

one square prism, you must find the volume of the rectangular pyramids and add it to the volume

of the square prism. The volume of the Cuboctahedron is 2487.336 un3.

Finding the Volume of the Cuboctahedron Through Tetrahedrons and Square

Pyramids

Not only can the Cubo be perceived as a cube with corners cut off or as a prism with four

pyramids attached, but it can also be visualized as eight tetrahedrons and six regular square

pyramids.

Figure 26.
 Ahmed -- Lovell 16

The tetrahedrons visible face is isometric to a triangular face of the Cubo. Given the fact

that the figure is a tetrahedron it can be assumed that all sides are the same length. This length is

7.22 un.

Figure 27.

In order to calculate the height of the tetrahedron, the height of one of the sides needs to

be found first. By bisecting the triangle though a vertex, two 30-60-90 special right triangles are

created. By using the base of one, which is now 3.62 un., the height of the triangle can be found

by multiplying the base by 3 to result in the other leg, or the height. This length is 3.66. The

area of the base can now be found.

Area=(.5)(B)(H) Formula to find Area of Equilateral Triangles

Area=(.5)(3.66)(7.22) Substitution Property

Area=12.9612 un.2 Multiplication Property

Figure 28. Surface Area of Equilateral Triangles

The formula above displays how to find the area of a equilateral triangle by multiplying

(.5)(Base)(Height). The area of the base of the tetrahedron is 12.9612 un.2.

 Ahmed -- Lovell 17

Figure 29.

Using the height of one of the faces, the height of the tetrahedron can be found. The two

thirds method states to multiply the height of the triangular face by two thirds to give the length

of a leg (results in 2.46 un.) which can be used with the height of any face of the tetrahedron in

the Pythagorean Theorem to find the height of the tetrahedron.

A2+B2=C2 Pythagorean Theorem

(2.46)+B=(7.22) Substitution Property

34.56+B2=103.68 Multiplication Property

B2=69.12 Subtraction Property

B=69.12 un. Simplification

Figure 30. Height of Tetrahedron

Using two thirds of the height of a triangular face as one leg and the length of one of the

other height as a hypotenuse, the Pythagorean Theorem can be used to find the side of the

missing leg, or in this case the height of the tetrahedron. The height is 69.12 un.
 Ahmed -- Lovell 18

Now that both the height and the area of the base have been found, the volume of the

tetrahedron can be found.

V=()(B)(H) Formula to Find the Volume of a Tetrahedron

V=()(12.9612)(69.12) Substitution Property

V=4.32829.44 un.3 Multiplication Property

Figure 31. Volume of Tetrahedron

Figure 32.

The square pyramids also shares a face with the Cubo. The base of the square pyramids

are isometric to the square faces of the Cubo. Given the fact that they are regular pyramids, all of

the side lengths are the same. The lengths are all 7.22 un.

The area for the base of the pyramid can be found easily, since it is a square. Multiplying

the length and width will result in this quantity.

Area=(L)(W) Formula to Find the Area of Squares

Area=(7.22)(7.22) Substitution Property

Area=103.68 un.2 Multiplication Property

Figure 33. Area of Square Base
 Ahmed -- Lovell 19

Figure 34.

Similar to the tetrahedron, the height of the pyramid can be found by using the height of

one of the triangular faces, but this time as the hypotenuse of a triangle. Since the triangular

faces connect with the tetrahedrons triangular faces, they must be congruent thus making the

height the same as before at the length of 3.66. The leg for this figure can be found by bisecting

the square into two isometric rectangles, each having a width of 3.62 un., half of the length of a

side of the square. Using this as one of the legs along with the hypotenuse as an input into the

Pythagorean Theorem will result in the second leg, the height of the pyramid.

A2+B2=C2 Pythagorean Theorem

(3.62)+B=(3.66) Substitution Property

25.92+B2=77.76 Multiplication Property

B2=51.84 Subtraction Property

B=51.84 un. Simplification

Figure 35. Height of Square Pyramid

Now that both the height and the area of the base have been found, the volume of the

pyramid can be found.

 Ahmed -- Lovell 20

V=()(B)(H) Formula to Find the Volume of a Square

Pyramid

V=()(103.68)(51.84) Substitution Property

V=34.5651.84 un.3 Multiplication Property

Figure 36. Volume of Square Pyramid

Using the volume of the tetrahedron and the and the volume of the pyramids, the volume

of the Cubo can be found. The sum of the volumes of the shapes multiplied by their respective

quantities results in the volume of the Cubo.

V=8(Vtetrahedron)+6(Vsquarepyramid) Formula to Find Volume of Cuboctahedron

V=8(4.32829.44)+6(34.5651.84) Substitution Property

V=34.56829.44+207.3651.84 Multiplication Property

V=2488.32 un.3 Addition Property

Figure 37. Volume of Cuboctahedron
 Ahmed -- Lovell 21

Conclusion

While finding the surface area and the volume of parts of the Cuboctahedron, some issues

arose. Many calculators round decimals and/or square roots to the nearest hundredths place. This

led to some calculations of volume being off enough to, which proves that even the smallest

fraction of a number matters. This can lead to problems with comparing the three methods of

finding the volume of the Cubo. Fortunately, the mistake was easy to find in the arithmetic and

the discrepancies resolved. It was found that the total surface area of the Cubo was

622.08+103.6812 un2, and volume was 2488.32 un.3 throughout all three methods.

In addition, it was also found that there are three different methods for finding the volume

of the Cuboctahedron, and that each method should yield the same result they each had a

common origin, which was the length of one edge of the Cubo: 7.22 un.

As long as the steps are followed in the correct order, and the measurements and answers

are correct, it is possible to find the surface area and volume of the cube in a cube. Although to

many the figures purpose seems rather arbitrary, it introduces a new level of finding the volume

of a figure.
 Ahmed -- Lovell 22

Works Cited

Ivaldi, Philippe. Asy - Polyhedron. Asy - Polyhedron, Asymptote, 26 June 2011,

www.piprime.fr/files/asymptote/modules/polyhedron_js/index.html. Accessed 1 Mar.

2017.

"Paper Cuboctahedron." Paper Cuboctahedron. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.