Cuboctahedron

Cassandra Dolsen (Lakeview)

Carly Filion (Mott)

Geometry, Algebra, and Transformations

9B

Mr. Acre

2 March 2016
Introduction

Cubo Octahedrons may seem complicated and daunting at first glance, but they are

relatively simple. They are known as Archimedean solids, which is a 3-D shape with

regular shapes for faces. A cuboctahedron is made up of six squares and eight equilateral

triangles. The triangles are the corner pieces and the squares are made by connecting the

midpoints of the edges. Each edge of the cuboctahedron is identical in length. The side

length that was assigned was 24 units. The unit that was decided to use was centimeters.

This paper will explain the math for the cuboctahedron without scaling it, but the figures

that were physically made were scaled by ½. It was necessary to find the volume and

surface area of the actual cuboctahedron. The volume can be found in three different ways;

all of which will be shown in this paper. The surface area will also be explained. The

cuboctahedron project helps one fully understand how to find volume and surface area in

any shape and helps to develop skills needed to build figures like cuboctahedrons.
Side Length of Cuboctahedron & Surface Area

Figure 1. Side Length of Cuboctahedron

Figure 1 above visually shows how the length of one edge of the cuboctahedron,122

centimeters, was found. The length of one side of the cube was 24 centimeters, and 24

divided by 2, is 12. The four triangles shown are special 45°-45°-90° triangles. The legs of

45°-45°-90° triangles are known as “L” and the hypotenuse is known as “L2”. Knowing this,

122was found as the hypotenuse because 12 multiplied by 2 equals 122. The square in the

middle represents one square face of the cuboctahedron, so 122 centimeters was found as

the side length of one side of the cuboctahedron.

Figure 2. Triangular Face of Cuboctahedron

Figure 2 visually explains how the height of the triangles on the cubo was found. This

was an important step because if the height was wrong, the entire surface area of the

cuboctahedron would have been wrong. The triangle was equilateral so each side length

was 122cm. After drawing a segment to bisect the triangle and to find the height, it was

established that the two new triangles were 30°-60°-90° triangles. For 30°-60°-90°

triangles, the hypotenuse is known as “2a”, the side opposite the 30° angle is known as “a”,

and the side opposite the 60° angle is known as “a3”. To start, 122was divided in half to

get62, which was the side opposite the 30° angle, otherwise known as “a”. The side

opposite the 60° angle was the height. To go from the side opposite the 30° angle to the

side opposite the 60° angle, it was necessary to multiply 62 by 3. That equals 66, which is

the height.
 Formula for Surface Area (SA) of Cubo SA=(A of Triangle)(8)+(A of Square)(6)

Formula for Area (A) of a Triangle A=½(Base)(Height)

Substitution SA=1/2 (122)(66)

Simplify SA=3612

Formula for SA of a Square SA=(Side)(Side)

Substitution SA=(122)(122)

Simplify SA=288

Substitution SA=(3612)(8) + (288)(6)

Simplify SA= 28812 + 1728cm2

Figure 3. Cuboctahedron Surface Area

The table above outlines the steps that were taken to find the surface area of the entire

cuboctahedron, or cubo. First, the surface area of a triangle on the cuboctahedron was

found by plugging the previously found base and height into the formula for the surface

area of a triangle. Then, the surface area of a triangle on the cuboctahedron was found by

plugging the previously found side length into the formula for the surface area of a square.

After that, the surface area of the triangle was multiplied by eight because there are eight

triangles on the cuboctahedron and the surface area of the square was multiplied by six

because there are six squares on the cuboctahedron. Finally, the products were added

together to get the final surface area of the cuboctahedron, which was found to be 28812

cm² + 1728 cm².

Dimensions for Net of Corner Pyramid & Case 1

Figure 4. Net of Corner Pyramid

Figure 4 shows the dimensions of the net of the corner pyramid. 122 and 66 cm

were from the work in Figure 2. The triangles of the lateral faces were 45°-45°-90°

triangles. The legs of 45°-45°-90° triangles are known as “L” and the hypotenuse is known

as “L2”. Knowing that 62 is a leg and that the legs are equal, 62 cm was found as the

height. The two small sides of the lateral faces were found to be 12 cm because 622 equals

12.
Cuboctahedron Volume (V) Formula Cube Volume-Volume of Corner
Pieces8

V of Cube Formula V=side3

Substitution V=243

Simplify V=13,824
 V of Pyramid (Corner) Formula V=Area of BaseHeight⅓

Area of Base Formula A=½(Base)(Height)

Substitution A=½(12)(12)

Simplify A=72

Substitution (Plug Values into V of Pyramid V=7212⅓

Formula)

Simplify V=288

Substitution (Plug Values into Cuboctahedron V V=13,824-288(8)

Formula)

Simplify V=11,520 cm3

Figure 5. Volume of Case 1

The table in Figure 5 describes the steps needed to find the volume of the cuboctahedron

for case 1. First, it was necessary to come up with a basic formula for the volume of the

cuboctahedron. The cuboctahedron is essentially a cube with the corners cut off. The

corners are pyramids and there are eight of them. With this in mind, the formula “Cube

Volume-Volume of Corner Pieces8” was created. After that, the volume of the cube, 13,824,

was found by multiplying the side length, 24, by itself three times, or cubing it. Then, it was

necessary to find the area of the base of the pyramid and the height so that the volume of

the pyramid could be found. The formula for the area of the base was “A=½(Base)(Height)”

and 12 was both the base and height. The height was also 12. After that was simplified, the

area of the base was found to be 72. Next, the area of the base, 72, and the height, 12, were

plugged into the formula for the volume of the pyramid. Once that was simplified, the

volume of the pyramid was found to be 288. The volume of the pyramid, 288, and the

volume of the cube, 13,824, were then plugged into the original formula; “Cube Volume-
Volume of Corner Pieces8”. Finally, after that was simplified, the volume of the entire

cuboctahedron was found to be 11,520 cm3.

Dimensions for Square Prism & Rectangular Pyramid & Case 2

Figure 6. Net of Square Prism

Figure 6 shows the dimensions for the net of the square prism. True to it’s name, the

square prism has two square bases and four rectangular lateral faces. Each side of the the

square and short side of the rectangle was found to be 122 centimeters. The long side of

the rectangle was found to be 24 centimeters. 122 came from the work in Figure 1 and 24

was the initial side length.

Figure 7. Net of Rectangular Pyramid

Figure 7 above shows the dimensions for the net of the rectangular pyramid. The long

side of the rectangular base was found to be 24 centimeters and the short side was found to

be 122centimeters. The initial side length was 24 and 122 came from the work in Figure

1. The height of the triangles on the top and bottom was found to be 12 centimeters. The

height of the triangles on the left and right was found to be 66centimeters. 12 was found

using the properties of 45°-45°-90° triangles. The legs of 45°- 45°- 90° triangles are known

as “L” and the hypotenuse is known as “L√2”. One leg was 12, so the other one also became

12. The hypotenuse became 122 because 122 equals 122. 66 was found using the

properties of 30°-60°-90° triangles. In 30°-60°-90° triangles, the hypotenuse is “2a”, the

side opposite the 30° angle is “a”, and the side opposite the 60° angle is “a3”. 62 was the

side opposite the 30° angle, so it was “a”. To get 66, 62 was multiplied by3 because it is the
side opposite the 60° angle. Finally, 62 was multiplied by 2 to get 122centimeters for the

hypotenuse.
Pythagorean Theorem/Formula to Find Height (H) H=a2+b2=c2

Substitution H=122+b2=662

Simplify H=62 cm

Figure 8. Height of Rectangular Pyramid

The pythagorean theorem is the best way to find the height of the pyramid. The height of

two of the lateral faces, 66, became the hypotenuse, or “c”. 12 became the short leg, or “a”.

Those numbers were plugged into the pythagorean theorem. That was simplified to get the

height, 62 centimeters.

Cuboctahedron Volume (V) Formula V=V of Right Square Prism+4V of

Rectangular Pyramid

V of Right Square Prism Formula V=(Area of Base)(Height)

Area (A) of Base Formula A=(Base)(Height)

Substitution A=(122)(122)

Simplify A=288

Substitution (Plug Values Into V of Right V=288(24)

Square Prism Formula)

Simplify V=6,912

V of Rectangular Pyramid Formula V=(Area of Base)(Height)(⅓)

Area of Base Formula A=(Base)(Height)

Substitution A=(122)(24)

Simplify A=2882

Substitution (Plug Values Into V of V=(2882)(62)(⅓)

Rectangular Pyramid Formula)
 Simplify V=1,152cm3

Substitution (Plug Values Into Cuboctahedron V=6,912+4(1,152)

V Formula)

Simplify V=11,520 cm3

Figure 9. Volume of Case 2

Figure 9 shows the steps needed to find the volume of the cuboctahedron for case

2. First, the formula “V of Right Square Prism+4V of Rectangular Pyramid” was created to

find the volume of the cuboctahedron because one rectangular prism and four rectangular

pyramids make one complete cuboctahedron. Then, the volume of the right square prism,

6,912 centimeters, was found using the basic formula “(Area of Base)(Height)”. After that,

the volume of the rectangular pyramid, 1,152 centimeters, was found using the basic

formula “(Area of Base)(Height)(⅓)”. Finally, the volume of the rectangular pyramid was

multiplied by four, and the product was added to the volume of the right square prism to

get a final answer of 11,520 cm3.

Net of Tetrahedron & Square Pyramid & Case 3

Figure 10. Net of Tetrahedron

Figure 10 visually shows the dimensions of the net of the tetrahedron. 122 was found as

the length of the sides of the triangles. 122 was from the work in Figure 1. To find the

height of the lateral triangles, the properties of a 30°-60°-90° triangle were used. In 30°-

60°-90° triangles, the hypotenuse is “2a”, the side opposite the 30° angle is “a”, and the side

opposite the 60° angle is “a3”. Since 62 is the side opposite the 30° angle, it is multiplied by

3 to get the height, which is the side opposite the 60° angle. After that was multiplied, the

height was found to be 66.

 Pythagorean Theorem H=a2+b2=c2

Substitution H=262+b2=662

Simplify H=83cm

Figure 11. Height of Tetrahedron

The pythagorean theorem is the best way to find the height of the tetrahedron. First, it

was established that the height of the lateral faces, 66, was to be used as the hypotenuse, or

“c”. Then, it was established that 26 was to be used as the short leg, or “a”. Next, those

values were plugged into the pythagorean theorem and it was simplified to get

83centimeters, which was the height of the tetrahedron.

Figure 12. Net of Square Pyramid

 Figure 12 above shows the dimensions for the net of the square pyramid. Every side of

the square is 122 centimeters. That number comes from Figure 1. The height of the lateral

faces was found to be 66 centimeters and the sides were all 122 because it was an

equilateral triangle. 66 was found using the properties of 30°-60°-90° triangles. In 30°-

60°-90° triangles, the hypotenuse is “2a”, the side opposite the 30° angle is “a”, and the side

opposite the 60° angle is “a3”. 62 was the side opposite the 30° angle, so it was multiplied

by 3 to get the height, which was the side opposite the 60° angle. 62 could also be

multiplied by 2 to get 122, which is the hypotenuse.

Pythagorean Theorem H=a2+b2=c2

Substitution H=622+b2=662

Simplify H=12 cm

Figure 13. Height of Square Pyramid

The pythagorean theorem is the best way to find the height of the square

pyramid. First, it was established that the height of the lateral faces, 66, was to be used as

the hypotenuse, or “c”. Then, it was established that 62 was to be used as the short leg, or

“a”. Next, those values were plugged into the pythagorean theorem and it was simplified to

get 12 centimeters, which was the height of the square pyramid.

Cuboctahedron Volume (V) Formula V=8(Tetrahedron V)+6(Regular Square

Pyramid V)

Tetrahedron V Formula V=⅓(Area of Base)(Pyramid Height)

Area (A) of Base Formula A=½(Base)(Height)

Substitution A=½(122)(66)

Simplify A=3612
 Substitution (Plug Values Into Tetrahedron V V=⅓(3612)(83)
Formula)

Simplify V=576

Regular Square Pyramid V Formula V=⅓(Area of Base)(Pyramid Height)

Area of Base Formula A=(Base)(Height)

Substitution A=(122)(122)

Simplify A=288

Substitution (Plug Values Into Regular Square V=⅓(288)(12)

Pyramid V Formula)

Simplify V=1,152

Substitution (Plug Values Into Cuboctahedron V V=8(576)+6(1,152)

Formula)

Simplify V=11,520 cm3

Figure 14. Volume of Case 3

The table above explains the steps needed to find the volume of the cuboctahedron in

case 3. First, it was necessary to come up with a formula for the volume of the

cuboctahedron. The formula “V=8(Tetrahedron V)+6(Regular Square Pyramid V)” was

used because eight tetrahedrons and six regular square pyramids are needed to make a

complete cuboctahedron. Then, it was necessary to find the actual volume of the

tetrahedron and regular square pyramid. Following the basic volume formula for both,

“V=⅓(Area of Base)(Pyramid Height)”, the volume of the tetrahedron was found to be 576

cm3and the volume of the regular square pyramid was found to be 1,152 cm3. Finally, 576

was multiplied by 8 and 1,152 was multiplied by 6. The products were then added

together to get a final answer of11,520 cm3.

Conclusion
The cuboctahedron project was interesting to say the least. At first, this project seemed
daunting and it just kept getting put off. Eventually, the work did get done and it proved to
be easier than initially thought. Finding the volume was one of the most terrifying parts,
but a lot was learned from it. It reinforced the actual topic of finding volume in three-
dimensional figures and it made all of the pieces fall into place. For all three cases, the
same volume, 11,520 cm3, was found even though different methods were used. This was
because no matter which way the cuboctahedron was divided, if there was enough of
certain pieces, they came together to make a complete cuboctahedron. This was conveyed
in the volume formula and the math was done correctly, so the volumes all ended up being
the same. For example, for case two, the cuboctahedron was cut into a right square prism
and four rectangular pyramids. The cuboctahedron volume formula that was created was
“Volume of Right Square Prism+4Volume of Rectangular Pyramid” because it included the
fact that there were four rectangular pyramids and added the volume of those four to the
volume of the right square prism. After the math was done, the project seemed much less
daunting and the figures were built. At first, a few pieces were made without any scale, but
it soon became clear that it would be much more realistic and easier to make the figures
scaled by ½. Once that was decided, all of the figures turned out pretty perfect, including
the actual cuboctahedron. The most stressful part of this project happened to be this paper.
This was obviously also completed after lots of stress. To summarize, the cuboctahedron
project seemed incredibly daunting at first, but as parts were completed, it seemed much
easier.