Mathematical analysis of regular pentagonal right antiprism

Harish Chandra Rajpoot

Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai,
Maharashtra, India-400076

[email protected]

Abstract
A regular pentagonal right antiprism is a convex polyhedron which has 10 identical vertices all lying on a sphere,
20 edges, and 12 faces out of which 2 are congruent regular pentagons, and 10 are congruent equilateral triangles
such that all the faces have equal side. This paper presents, in details, the mathematical derivations of the analytic
formula to determine the different parameters in term of side, such as normal distances of faces, normal height,
radius of circumscribed sphere, surface area, volume, dihedral angles between adjacent faces, and solid angle
subtended by each face at the centre, using the known results of a regular icosahedron. All the analytic formulae
have been derived using simple trigonometry, and 2-D geometry which are difficult to derive using any other
methods. A paper model of regular pentagonal right antiprism with edge length of 4 cm has been made by folding
the net of faces made from a A4 white sheet paper.

Keywords: Regular pentagonal antiprism, volume & solid angle, model of pentagonal antiprism

1. Introduction
A regular icosahedron has 20 congruent equilateral triangular faces, 12 identical vertices, and 30 edges [1]. When
two vertically opposite and identical right pyramids each with a regular pentagonal base are cut removed from a
regular icosahedron then the remaining part is a regular pentagonal right antiprism which has the same edge length
as that of the original or parent icosahedron (as shown in the Figure-1 below).

Figure-1: Two vertically opposite right pyramids with regular pentagonal

base (parts 1 & 2 labelled with pink color) have been cut removed from a
regular icosahedron to obtain a regular pentagonal antiprism (part-3 labelled
with gray color).

After transformation of a regular icosahedron into a regular pentagonal antiprism, 10 regular triangular faces
remain unchanged, and two new regular pentagonal faces are generated while 10 edges & 2 opposite vertices are
eliminated by cut removing 10 regular triangular faces from an icosahedron. Thus, after aforementioned truncation
of regular icosahedron, the resultant solid i.e. regular pentagonal right antiprism has the following parameters

1
 Number of faces, F = 10 + 2 = 12

Number of vertices, V = 12 − 2 = 10

Number of edges, E = 30 − 10 = 20

The above geometric parameters of a regular antiprism duly satisfy the Euler’s formula for convex polyhedron:
𝐹 + 𝑉 = 𝐸 + 2 [2].

Now, let’s consider a regular icosahedron of edge length 𝑎 (as shown in the Figure-2 below). All the important
parameters of a regular icosahedron are given by HCR's or H. Rajpoot's Formula for Regular Polyhedron [3,4] as
follows

𝒂√𝟏𝟎 + 𝟐√𝟓
Radius of circumscribed sphere, 𝑹𝒐 = = Distance of each vertex from the centre
𝟒

(𝟑 + √𝟓)𝒂
Radius of inscribed sphere, 𝑹𝒊 = = Normal distance of each face from the centre
𝟒√𝟑

𝟓
Volume of icosahedron, 𝑽𝒐 = (𝟑 + √𝟓)𝒂𝟑
𝟏𝟐
4𝜋 4𝜋 𝝅
Solid angle subtended by each face at the center of icosahedron, 𝝎𝑻 = = = sr
No. of faces 20 𝟓

Figure-2: The edge length of regular pentagonal antiprism (middle part on right) is 𝒂 i.e. the same as
that of the original icosahedron after truncation. The vertices P and Q are the end points of a body
diagonal passing through the center O of the regular icosahedron (left).

2. Derivations of parameters
Let’s consider a regular pentagonal right antiprism which is obtained by cut removing two identical and vertically
opposite right pyramids from a regular icosahedron of edge length 𝑎 (as shown in the above Figure-2) such that

2
𝐻 = Normal height i.e. the normal distance between the regular pentagonal faces of the right antiprism

𝐻𝑃 = Normal distance of each regular pentagonal face from the centre of the right antiprism

𝐻𝑇 = Normal distance of each of 10 congruent regular triangular faces from the centre of the right antiprism

𝑅𝑜 = Radius of circumscribed sphere i.e. distance of each of 10 identical vertices from the centre of the antiprism

𝐴𝑠 = Surface area of the antiprism

𝑉 = Volume of the antiprism

𝜃𝑇𝑇 = Dihedral angle between any two adjacent equilateral triangular faces sharing a common edge

𝜃𝑇𝑃 = Dihedral angle between equilateral triangular and regular pentagonal faces sharing a common edge

𝜔 𝑇 = Solid angle subtended by each regular triangular face at the centre of the right antiprism
𝜔𝑃 = Solid angle subtended by each regular pentagonal face at the centre of the right antiprism

2.1. Normal height of regular pentagonal pyramid cut off from icosahedron

Let ℎ𝑝 be the normal height of regular pentagonal pyramid having vertex P and regular pentagonal base ABCDE
with each side 𝑎. Now, the circum-radius of regular pentagon ABCDE with centre F (see the above Figure-2) is
given as

𝑎 𝜋 𝑎 10 + 2√5
𝐹𝐴 = 𝐹𝐵 = 𝐹𝐶 = 𝐹𝐷 = 𝐹𝐸 = cosec = √
2 5 2 5
In right ∆𝑃𝐹𝐴 (see top left diagram in the above Figure-2), applying Pythagorean theorem as follows

2
𝑎 10 + 2√5 20 − 10 − 2√5 10 − 2√5
𝑃𝐹 = √(𝐴𝑃)2 − (𝐹𝐴)2 = √(𝑎)2 − ( √ ) = 𝑎√ = 𝑎√ = ℎ𝑝
2 5 20 20

𝟓 − √𝟓
⇒ 𝒉𝑷 = 𝒂√ ≈ 𝟎. 𝟓𝟐𝟓𝟕𝟑𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟐𝒂 … … … … … … (1)
𝟏𝟎

The above analytic formula is used to find out the normal height of right pyramid with regular pentagonal base
cut off from a regular icosahedron with edge length 𝑎 to obtain a regular pentagonal antiprism.

2.2. Normal distance of regular pentagonal face from the centre

The normal distance of each regular pentagonal face from the centre O of antiprism (see the above Figure-2) is
given as

𝐻𝑃 = 𝑂𝐹 = 𝑂𝑃 − 𝑃𝐹 = 𝑅𝑜 − ℎ𝑃

𝑎 √10 + 2√5 5 − √5
= − 𝑎√ (Substituting values of 𝑅𝑜 & ℎ𝑃 )
4 10

3
 2
10 + 2√5 5 − √5
= 𝑎 √( √ −√ )
16 10

10 + 2√5 5 − √5 (10 + 2√5)(5 − √5)

= 𝑎√ + − 2√
16 10 16 × 10

50 + 10√5 + 40 − 8√5 − 80 𝑎 5 + √5
= 𝑎√ = √
80 2 10

𝒂 𝟓 + √𝟓
⇒ 𝑯𝑷 = √ ≈ 𝟎. 𝟒𝟐𝟓𝟑𝟐𝟓𝟒𝟎𝟒𝒂 ……………… (2)
𝟐 𝟏𝟎

The above formula is used to compute the perpendicular distance of each regular pentagonal face from the centre
of the antiprism.

2.3. Normal height of regular pentagonal antiprism

The normal height 𝐻 of the regular pentagonal antiprism i.e. perpendicular distance between its two regular
pentagonal faces is given as

𝑎 5 + √5 5 + √5
𝐻 = 2(𝑂𝐹) = 2( 𝐻𝑃 ) = 2 ( √ ) = 𝑎√
2 10 10

𝟓 + √𝟓
⇒ 𝑯 = 𝒂√ ≈ 𝟎. 𝟖𝟓𝟎𝟔𝟓𝟎𝟖𝟎𝟖𝒂 ……………… (3)
𝟏𝟎

2.4. Normal distance of equilateral triangular face from the centre

The normal distance say 𝐻𝑇 of each of 10 equilateral triangular faces from the centre of antiprism remains the
same as that in the original icosahedron after the truncation, which is equal to the radius of inscribed sphere of
original icosahedron and is given as follows

(𝟑 + √𝟓)𝒂
𝑯𝑻 = 𝑹𝒊 = ≈ 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓𝟓𝟕𝟔𝟏𝟑𝟏𝟒𝒂 ……………… (4)
𝟒√𝟑

2.5. Radius of circumscribed sphere of regular pentagonal antiprism

The radius of circumscribed sphere is the radius of the smallest sphere which circumscribes a regular pentagonal
antiprism i.e. the radius of the smallest spherical surface on which all 10 identical vertices of the regular
pentagonal antiprism lie or it is the distance of each of 10 identical vertices from the centre of the regular
pentagonal antiprism. It is worth noticing that the distance of each vertex from the centre remains unchanged after
truncation. Therefore the radius of circumscribed sphere of antiprism is same that of the original regular
icosahedron with edge length 𝑎, which is given as

𝒂√𝟏𝟎 + 𝟐√𝟓
𝑹𝒐 = ≈ 𝟎. 𝟗𝟓𝟏𝟎𝟓𝟔𝟓𝟏𝟔𝒂 ……………… (5)
𝟒

4
2.6. Surface area of regular pentagonal antiprism

The total surface of a regular pentagonal antiprism consists of two identical regular pentagonal faces and 10
identical equilateral triangular faces all with an equal side 𝑎. Therefore the total surface area of the regular
pentagonal antiprism with edge length 𝑎 is the sum of all its 12 faces, which is given as follows

𝐴𝑠 = 2(Area of regular pentagonal face) + 10(Area of regular triangular face)

1 𝜋 1 𝜋
= 2 ( 𝑛𝑎2 cot )| + 10 ( 𝑛𝑎2 cot )| (Where, 𝑛 = number of sides in a regular polygon)
4 𝑛 𝑛=5 4 𝑛 𝑛=3

1 𝜋 1 𝜋
= 2 ( ∙ 5𝑎2 cot ) + 10 ( ∙ 3𝑎2 cot )
4 5 4 3

1 5 + 2√5 1 1 1
= 2 ( ∙ 5𝑎2 √ ) + 10 ( ∙ 3𝑎2 ) = 𝑎2 (√25 + 10√5 + 5√3)
4 5 4 √3 2

Therefore, the total surface area of regular pentagonal antiprism having edge length 𝑎, is given as follows

𝟏
𝑨𝒔 = (𝟓√𝟑 + √𝟐𝟓 + 𝟏𝟎√𝟓) 𝒂𝟐 ≈ 𝟕. 𝟕𝟕𝟏𝟎𝟖𝟏𝟖𝟐𝒂𝟐 … … … … … … … … (6)
𝟐

2.7. Volume of regular pentagonal antiprism

The volume of regular pentagonal antiprism can be obtained by two different methods as mentioned below.

2.7.1. Method-1: The volume of the cut off right pyramid with regular pentagonal base of edge length 𝑎 and
vertical height ℎ𝑃 is given as

1
𝑉𝑐𝑢𝑡 = (Area of regular pentagonal base)(Vertical height)
3

1 1 2 𝜋
= ( 𝑛𝑎 cot ) (ℎ𝑃 ) (Where, 𝑛 = number of sides in polygon)
3 4 𝑛

1 1 𝜋 5 − √5
= ( ∙ 5 ∙ 𝑎2 cot ) (𝑎√ ) (Substituting the corresponding values)
3 4 5 10

1 1 5 + 2√5 5 − √5
= ( ∙ 5 ∙ 𝑎2 √ ) (𝑎√ )
3 4 5 10

𝑎3 (5 + 2√5)(5 − √5) 𝑎3 15 + 5√5 𝑎3 30 + 10√5

= √ = √ = √
12 2 12 2 12 4

2
𝑎3 √(5 + √5) 𝑎3 (5 + √5) (5 + √5)𝑎3
= = ∙ =
12 4 12 2 24

Above is the formula to find out the volume of regular pentagonal pyramid cut off from a regular icosahedron of
edge length 𝑎 to obtain the regular pentagonal antiprism of edge length 𝑎.

5
Now, the desired volume 𝑉 of regular pentagonal antiprism can be found out by subtracting the sum of volumes
of two identical right pyramids with regular pentagonal base cut off from the original regular icosahedron (as
shown in the above Figure-2) as follows

𝑉 = Volume of original icosahedron − 2(Volume of cut off regular pentagonal pyramid)

5 (5 + √5)𝑎3 1 𝟏
= 𝑉𝑜 − 2𝑉𝑐𝑢𝑡 = (3 + √5)𝑎3 − 2 ∙ = (15 + 5√5 − 5 − √5)𝑎3 = (𝟓 + 𝟐√𝟓)𝒂𝟑
12 24 12 𝟔

2.7.2. Method-2: The regular pentagonal antiprism is a convex polyhedron therefore it can be divided into 12
number of elementary right pyramids out of which 10 have regular triangular base and two have regular pentagonal
base. The sum of volumes of all 12 elementary right pyramids is equal to the volume of original antiprism [3].
Now, consider a regular pentagonal antiprism with edge length 𝑎. The side of base of all elementary right pyramids
is 𝑎 and the vertical heights of regular triangular and pentagonal right pyramids are 𝐻𝑇 and 𝐻𝑃 respectively (as
shown in the Figure-3). The volume of regular pentagonal antiprism is given as follows

Figure-3: A regular pentagonal antiprism has 10 identical elementary right

pyramids each with regular triangular base (left) and 2 identical elementary
right pyramids each with regular pentagonal base (right).

𝑉 = 10(Volume of regular triangular pyramid) + 2(Volume of regular pentagonal pyramid)

1 1 𝜋 1 1 𝜋
= 10 ( ( 𝑛𝑎2 cot ) (𝐻𝑇 )) + 2 ( ( 𝑛𝑎2 cot ) (𝐻 )) (where, 𝑛 = no. of sides in polygon)
3 4 𝑛 𝑛=3 3 4 𝑛 𝑛=5 𝑃

1 1 𝜋 (3 + √5)𝑎 1 1 𝜋 𝑎 5 + √5
= 10 ( ( ∙ 3𝑎2 cot ) ) + 2 ( ( ∙ 5𝑎2 cot ) √ ) (Substituting the values)
3 4 3 4√3 3 4 5 2 10

1 1 1 (3 + √5)𝑎 1 1 5 + 2√5 𝑎 5 + √5
= 10 ( ( ∙ 3𝑎2 ) ) + 2 ( ( ∙ 5𝑎2 √ ) √ )
3 4 √3 4√3 3 4 5 2 10

𝑎3
= (5(3 + √5) + √2(5 + 2√5)(5 + √5))
24

𝑎3
= (15 + 5√5 + √70 + 30√5)
24

6
 𝑎3 2 𝑎3 𝑎3 𝒂𝟑
= (15 + 5√5 + √(5 + 3√5) ) = (15 + 5√5 + 5 + 3√5) = (20 + 8√5) = (𝟓 + 𝟐√𝟓)
24 24 24 𝟔

It’s worth noticing that the volume of a regular pentagonal antiprism obtained from both the above methods are
equal.

Therefore, the volume of regular pentagonal antiprism having edge length 𝑎, is given as follows

(𝟓 + 𝟐√𝟓)𝒂𝟑
𝑽= ≈ 𝟏. 𝟓𝟕𝟖𝟔𝟖𝟗𝟑𝟐𝟔𝒂𝟑 … … … … … … … … (7)
𝟔

2.8. Dihedral angle between any two adjacent regular triangular faces sharing a common edge

Let’s consider any two adjacent regular triangular faces PQB and PQC sharing a common edge PQ (as shown in
the top view in the Figure-4). Drop the perpendiculars OM and ON from the centre O of the antiprism to the
triangular faces PQB and PQC, respectively which meet the faces at their in-centres M and N, respectively. Now,
the inscribed radius 𝑟 of each of two adjacent regular triangular faces each with side 𝑎 is given by generalized
formula of polygon as follows

𝑎 𝜋 𝑎 𝜋 𝑎 1 𝑎
𝑟= (cot ) = (cot ) = ( ) =
2 𝑛 𝑛=3 2 3 2 √3 2√3

In right ∆𝑂𝑀𝐴 (see the front view in the Figure-4),

𝑂𝑀
tan ∠𝑂𝐴𝑀 =
𝐴𝑀

𝜃𝑇𝑇 𝐻𝑇 ∠𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝜃𝑇𝑇

⇒ tan = (∵ ∠𝑂𝐴𝑀 = = )
2 𝑟 2 2

(3 + √5)𝑎
𝜃𝑇𝑇 4√3 3 + √5
tan = 𝑎 =
2 2
2√3

3 + √5
𝜃𝑇𝑇 = 2 tan−1 ( )
2

Therefore the dihedral angle 𝜃𝑇𝑇 between any two

adjacent regular triangular faces sharing a common edge
Figure-4: (a) Two adjacent regular triangular faces
in a regular pentagonal antiprism is given as sharing a common edge PQ (b) The perpendiculars
drawn from the center O to the triangular faces fall at
their in-centers M & N, and their in-circles touch each
other at the mid-point A of common edge PQ.

𝟑 + √𝟓
𝜽𝑻𝑻 = 𝟐 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( ) ≈ 𝟏𝟑𝟖. 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟔𝟖𝟓𝟏𝒐 … … … … … … … … (8)
𝟐

2.9. Dihedral angle between regular triangular and pentagonal faces sharing a common edge

Let’s consider any two adjacent regular triangular and pentagonal faces PQB and PQRST sharing a common edge
PQ (as shown in the top view in the Figure-5 below). Drop the perpendiculars OM and ON from the centre O of

7
the antiprism to the triangular face PQB and pentagonal face PQRST, respectively which meet the faces at their
𝑎
in-centres M and N, respectively. The inscribed radius of equilateral triangular face PQB is 𝑟 = .
2√3

In right ∆𝑂𝑀𝐴 (see the front view in the Figure-5),

𝑂𝑀 𝐻𝑇
tan ∠𝑂𝐴𝑀 = ⇒ tan 𝜃1 =
𝐴𝑀 𝑟

(3 + √5)𝑎
4√3 3 + √5 𝑎
tan 𝜃1 = 𝑎 = (∵ 𝑟 = )
2 2√3
2√3

3 + √5
𝜃1 = tan−1 ( )
2

Now, the inscribed radius 𝑟 of regular pentagonal face

PQRST with side 𝑎 is given by generalized formula of
polygon as follows

𝑎 𝜋 𝑎 𝜋 𝑎 5 + 2√5
𝑟= (cot ) = (cot ) = (√ )
2 𝑛 𝑛=5 2 5 2 5

Figure-5: (a) Two adjacent regular triangular and

𝑎 5 + 2√5 pentagonal faces sharing a common edge PQ (b) The
𝑟= √ perpendiculars drawn from the center O to the faces fall
2 5
at their in-centers M & N, and their in-circles touch each
other at the mid-point A of common edge PQ.
In right ∆𝑂𝑁𝐴 (see the front view in the Figure-5)

𝑂𝑁 𝐻𝑃
tan ∠𝑂𝐴𝑁 = ⇒ tan 𝜃2 =
𝐴𝑁 𝑟

𝑎 √5 + √5
tan 𝜃2 = 2 10 = √ 5 + √5 (Substituting the corresponding values)
𝑎 √5 + 2√5 2(5 + 2√5)
2 5

2
(5 + √5)(5 − 2√5) 15 − 5√5 3 − √5 6 − 2√5 √(√5 − 1) √5 − 1
tan 𝜃2 = √ =√ =√ =√ = =
2(5 + 2√5)(5 − 2√5) 2(25 − 20) 2 4 4 2

√5 − 1
𝜃2 = tan−1 ( )
2

Now, the total dihedral angle 𝜃𝑇𝑃 between regular triangular and pentagonal faces is the sum of dihedral angles
𝜃1 and 𝜃2 (see the front view in the above Figure-5) as follows

3 + √5 √5 − 1
3 + √5 √5 − 1 +
𝜃𝑇𝑃 = 𝜃1 + 𝜃2 = tan −1
( ) + tan−1 ( ) = 𝜋 + tan−1 2 2
2 2 3 + √5 √5 − 1
1−( )( )
2 2
( )

8
 √5 + 1 2(√5 + 1) 2(√5 + 1)
= 𝜋 + tan−1 ( ) = 𝜋 + tan−1 ( ) = 𝜋 − tan−1 ( )
√5 + 1 1 − √5 √5 − 1
1−
2

2(√5 + 1)(√5 + 1) 2(6 + 2√5)

𝜃𝑇𝑃 = 𝜋 − tan−1 ( ) = 𝜋 − tan−1 ( ) = 𝜋 − tan−1 (3 + √5)
(√5 − 1)(√5 + 1) 4

Therefore the dihedral angle 𝜃𝑇𝑃 between any two adjacent regular triangular and pentagonal faces sharing a
common edge in a regular pentagonal antiprism is given as

𝜽𝑻𝑷 = 𝝅 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 (𝟑 + √𝟓) ≈ 𝟏𝟎𝟎. 𝟖𝟏𝟐𝟑𝟏𝟕𝒐 … … … … … … … … (9)

It’s worth noticing that the dihedral angle 𝜃′ 𝑇𝑃 between any two adjacent regular triangular and pentagonal faces
sharing a common vertex in a regular pentagonal antiprism is supplementary angle of 𝜃𝑇𝑃 which is given as

𝜽′𝑻𝑷 = 𝝅 − 𝜽𝑻𝑷 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 (𝟑 + √𝟓) ≈ 𝟕𝟗. 𝟏𝟖𝟕𝟔𝟖𝟑𝟎𝟒𝒐 … … … … … … … … (10)

2.10. The solid angles subtended by faces at the centre of regular pentagonal antiprism

A regular pentagonal antiprism has two types of faces in form of regular polygons i.e. regular triangle and regular
pentagon. The solid angle subtended by any polygonal plane, having 𝑛 no. of sides each of length 𝑎, at any point
lying on the perpendicular axis passing through the centre of polygon at a distance ℎ is given by the generalized
formula from HCR’s Theory of Polygon [5] as follows

𝜋
2ℎ sin
𝜔 = 2𝜋 − 2𝑛 sin−1 𝑛
𝜋
√4ℎ2 + 𝑎2 cot 2
( 𝑛)

2.10.1. Solid angle subtended by equilateral triangular face at the centre

Now, substituting the corresponding values i.e. ℎ = 𝐻𝑇 = normal distance of regular triangular face (𝑛 = 3 sides)
from the centre O of the antiprism (as shown in the above Figure-3), the solid angle 𝜔 𝑇 subtended by each regular
triangular face at the centre is obtained as follows

𝜋 (3 + √5)𝑎 √3
2𝐻𝑇 sin 2∙ ∙
3 4√3 2
𝜔 𝑇 = 2𝜋 − 2(3) sin−1 = 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1
𝜋 2
√4𝐻𝑇 2 + 𝑎2 cot 2 (3 + √5)𝑎 1 2
( 3) √4 ( ) + 𝑎2 ( )
( 4√3 √3 )

3 + √5 3 + √5 3 + √5
= 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1 = 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1 = 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1
√14 + 6√5 + 1 √18 + 6√5 √6 + 2√5
(4 12 3) (4 12 ) (4 4 )

9
 3 + √5 3 + √5 (3 + √5)(√5 − 1)
= 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1 = 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1 ( ) = 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1 ( )
2 2(√5 + 1) 2(√5 + 1)(√5 − 1)
(√5 + 1)
4√
( 4 )

2 + 2√5 √5 + 1 3𝜋 3𝜋 𝜋
= 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1 ( ) = 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1 ( ) = 2𝜋 − 6 sin−1 (sin ) = 2𝜋 − 6 ( ) = 𝑠𝑟
2(4) 4 10 10 5

Alternatively, the solid angle subtended by each triangular face at the centre of regular pentagonal antiprism is
equal to the solid angle subtended by each regular triangular face at the centre of original icosahedron which is
given as

Total solid angle 4𝜋 𝜋

𝜔𝑇 = = = 𝑠𝑟
Number of identical faces in regular icosahedron 20 5

Both the above values of solid angle 𝜔 𝑇 are equal. Therefore, the solid angle subtended by each regular triangular
face at the centre of regular pentagonal antiprism is given as

𝝅
𝝎𝑻 = ≈ 𝟎. 𝟔𝟐𝟖𝟑𝟏𝟖𝟓𝟑 𝒔𝒓 … … … … … … … … (11)
𝟓

2.10.2. Solid angle subtended by regular pentagonal face at the centre

Similarly, substituting the corresponding values i.e. ℎ = 𝐻𝑃 = normal distance of regular pentagonal face (𝑛 = 5
sides) from the centre O of the antiprism (as shown in the above Figure-3), the solid angle 𝜔𝑃 subtended by each
regular pentagonal face at the centre is obtained as follows

𝜋 𝑎 5 + √5 √10 − 2√5
2𝐻𝑃 sin 2∙ √ ∙
𝜔𝑃 = 2𝜋 − 2(5) sin −1 5 = 2𝜋 − 10 sin −1 2 10 4
𝜋 2 2
√4𝐻𝑃 2 + 𝑎2 cot 2
( 5) √4 (𝑎 √5 + √5) + 𝑎2 (√5 + 2√5)
( 2 10 5 )

√(5 + √5)(5 − √5)

80 √20 1
−1 −1 80 −1 2
= 2𝜋 − 10 sin = 2𝜋 − 10 sin = 2𝜋 − 10 sin
√5 + √5 + 5 + 2√5 √15 + 5√5 √6 + 2√5
10 5 ( 10 ) ( 4 )
( )

1 1
2 1
= 2𝜋 − 10 sin −1
= 2𝜋 − 10 sin −1
( 2 ) = 2𝜋 − 10 sin−1 ( )
2 √5 + 1 √5 + 1
√(√5 + 1) 2
( 4 )

√5 − 1 √5 − 1 𝜋
= 2𝜋 − 10 sin−1 ( ) = 2𝜋 − 10 sin−1 ( ) = 2𝜋 − 10 sin−1 (sin )
(√5 + 1)(√5 − 1) 4 10

𝜋
= 2𝜋 − 10 ( ) = 2𝜋 − 𝜋 = 𝜋 𝑠𝑟
10

10
Alternatively, since the pentagonal face of a regular pentagonal antiprism is generated by cutting a regular
pentagonal right pyramid from a regular icosahedron (see the above Figure-1). Therefore, from the postulate, the
solid angle subtended by each pentagonal face at the centre of regular pentagonal antiprism is equal to the solid
angle subtended at the centre of original icosahedron by the cap in form of five identical regular triangular faces
(i.e. cut off regular pentagonal right pyramid as shown in the above Figure-1 & 2) which is given as

𝜔𝑃 = No. of identical triangular faces of cut off right pyramid × Solid angle by one face at center

𝜋
=5× = 𝜋 𝑠𝑟
5

Both the above values of solid angle 𝜔𝑃 are equal. Therefore, the solid angle subtended by each regular pentagonal
face at the centre of regular pentagonal antiprism is given as

𝝎𝑷 = 𝝅 ≈ 𝟑. 𝟏𝟒𝟏𝟓𝟗𝟐𝟔𝟓𝟒 𝒔𝒓 … … … … … … … … (12)

2.11. The construction of regular pentagonal antiprism

A regular pentagonal right antiprism can be constructed by following two methods depending on whether it is a
solid or shell.

2.11.1. Solid regular pentagonal right antiprism: The solid regular pentagonal right antiprism can be made by
joining all its 12 elementary right pyramids, out which 10 are identical regular triangular right pyramids and 2 are
identical regular pentagonal right pyramids (as shown in the above Figure-3), such that all the adjacent elementary
right pyramids share their mating edges, and apex at the centre.

2.11.1. Regular pentagonal right antiprism shell: The shell of a regular pentagonal right antiprism can be made
by folding about the common edges the net of all its 12 faces out which 10 are identical regular triangles and 2
are identical regular pentagons all having equal side. The net of faces of a regular pentagonal right antiprism was
made from A4 white sheet paper. The faces were folded at the common edges and glued at their mating edges to
form a paper model of regular pentagonal right antiprism (as shown in the Figure-6 and Figure-7).

Figure-6: The net of 10 regular triangular and Figure-7: A paper model of regular pentagonal right
2 pentagonal faces each having side of 4cm antiprism made by folding the net of faces and gluing them
made from A4 white sheet paper. at the mating edges. (Handcrafted by the author)

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Summary: Let 𝑎 be the edge length of a regular pentagonal right antiprism then all of its important geometric
parameters can be determined as tabulated below.

Geometric parameter Formula

Normal distance of equilateral triangular face from (3 + √5)𝑎

the centre 𝐻𝑇 = ≈ 0.755761314𝑎
4√3

Normal distance of regular pentagonal face from 𝑎 5 + √5

𝐻𝑃 = √ ≈ 0.425325404𝑎
the centre 2 10

Perpendicular height (i.e. normal distance between 5 + √5

𝐻 = 𝑎√ ≈ 0.850650808𝑎
opposite regular pentagonal faces) 10

𝑎 √10 + 2√5
Radius of circumscribed sphere 𝑅𝑜 = ≈ 0.951056516𝑎
4

Total surface area 1

𝐴𝑠 = (5√3 + √25 + 10√5) 𝑎2 ≈ 7.77108182𝑎2
2

Volume (5 + 2√5)𝑎3
𝑉= ≈ 1.578689326𝑎3
6

Dihedral angle between any two adjacent regular 3 + √5

triangular faces sharing a common edge 𝜃𝑇𝑇 = 2 tan−1 ( ) ≈ 138.1896851𝑜
2

Dihedral angle between adjacent regular triangular 𝜃𝑇𝑃 = 𝜋 − tan−1 (3 + √5) ≈ 100.812317𝑜
and pentagonal faces sharing a common edge

Dihedral angle between adjacent regular triangular 𝜃′ 𝑇𝑃 = 𝜋 − 𝜃𝑇𝑃 = tan−1 (3 + √5) ≈ 79.18768304𝑜
and pentagonal faces sharing a common vertex

Solid angle subtended by equilateral triangular face 𝜋

𝜔𝑇 = ≈ 0.62831853 𝑠𝑟
at the centre 5

Solid angle subtended by regular pentagonal face at 𝜔𝑃 = 𝜋 ≈ 3.141592654 𝑠𝑟

the centre

Conclusions
In this paper, the regular pentagonal right antiprism has been formulated and analysed in details. The analytic
formula have been derived in terms of edge length of regular pentagonal antiprism for computing its important
parameters such as, normal distances of faces from the centre, normal height, radius of circumscribed sphere,
surface area, volume, dihedral angles between adjacent faces, and solid angles subtended by the faces at the centre.
A net of faces has been made from A4 white sheet paper and the paper model of regular pentagonal right antiprism
was handcrafted by folding the net. The analytic formula derived here can be used to mathematically analyse and
formulate the solids (polyhedrons) generated by truncating a regular pentagonal right antiprism.

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Conflict of Interest
I declare no conflicts of interest related to this article.

Harish Chandra Rajpoot

Data Availability
The data supporting the findings of this study are available and self-sufficient within the article. Raw data that
support this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

13
References
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[2]: American Mathematical Society (AMS). "Euler's Polyhedral Formula (2004)".

http://www.ams.org/publicoutreach/feature-column/fcarc-eulers-
formula#:~:text=This%20theorem%20involves%20Euler's%20polyhedral,%2B%20F%20%2D%20E%20%3D%202
. Accessed on 08-03-2023.

[3]: Rajpoot, Harish Chandra. (2014). "HCR's or H. Rajpoot's Formula for Regular Polyhedron".
10.13140/RG.2.2.20103.04006.

[4] Academia. "Table for the important parameters (dimensions for construction) of all five platonic solids". (PDF)
Table for the important parameters (dimensions for construction) of all five platonic solids calculated by using
HCR's generalized formula for regular polyhedrons | Harish Chandra Rajpoot - Academia.edu. Accessed on 08-
03-2023.

[5]: Rajpoot, Harish Chandra. (2019). "HCR's Theory of Polygon" "Solid angle subtended by any polygonal plane
at any point in the space".

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