Volume of regular octahedronVolume of a parabolic solidWhy does rotating a cross sectional area result in a different volume?Computing volume by cross section method.Volume of Solid, AB CalcFind the volume of the described solid $S$.Finding volume of a solidComputing Volume Using IntegrationVolume of a solid formed by a triangle base with square cross sections parallel to a lineInradius of an octahedronCalculus 2 Integration of area to find a volume

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Volume of regular octahedron


Volume of a parabolic solidWhy does rotating a cross sectional area result in a different volume?Computing volume by cross section method.Volume of Solid, AB CalcFind the volume of the described solid $S$.Finding volume of a solidComputing Volume Using IntegrationVolume of a solid formed by a triangle base with square cross sections parallel to a lineInradius of an octahedronCalculus 2 Integration of area to find a volume






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5












$begingroup$


According to several sources on the internet, the volume of a regular octahedron with unit edge lengths is approximately 0.47. I haven't seen an explanation for why this is so yet. When I tried to figure the volume myself, I obtained a unit volume of 1/(sqrt(2)), which is approximately 0.71.



Let me explain my reasoning. If you take an octahedron, you can see it contains two squares on the vertical and horizontal axis (which are the base squares of the two pyramids it is made up of, depending on the angle you look at it at.) Each of these squares has an area of 1, since every line has a measure of 1 in a unit octahedron.



If you take a cross section of this octahedron parallel to one of these main squares, you will always get a similar square, because each vertex on the main square is equidistant to the other two vertexes in the octahedron.



Where the two main squares forming the octahedron intersect, the line is equal to the diagonal of a unit square, or the square root of 2.



Since all cross sections of the octahedron parallel to either of these squares are similar, we can therefore say that the relationship between the line on the base of any cross section and the area of the cross section is sqrt(2) (base line) to 1 (area), or a factor of 1/sqrt(2).



Extending this logic, we can multiply the area of the base square by this ratio to obtain the volume, which, because the area is 1, would be 1/sqrt(2) units cubed.



Where did I mess up my math reasoning?










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Electro-blob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • $begingroup$
    It's implicit what is meant later in the question statement, but it might be useful to spell out that by "unit octahedron" you mean "octahedron with unit edge length" (as opposed to, say, meaning the circumscribing sphere has unit radius).
    $endgroup$
    – Travis
    9 hours ago

















5












$begingroup$


According to several sources on the internet, the volume of a regular octahedron with unit edge lengths is approximately 0.47. I haven't seen an explanation for why this is so yet. When I tried to figure the volume myself, I obtained a unit volume of 1/(sqrt(2)), which is approximately 0.71.



Let me explain my reasoning. If you take an octahedron, you can see it contains two squares on the vertical and horizontal axis (which are the base squares of the two pyramids it is made up of, depending on the angle you look at it at.) Each of these squares has an area of 1, since every line has a measure of 1 in a unit octahedron.



If you take a cross section of this octahedron parallel to one of these main squares, you will always get a similar square, because each vertex on the main square is equidistant to the other two vertexes in the octahedron.



Where the two main squares forming the octahedron intersect, the line is equal to the diagonal of a unit square, or the square root of 2.



Since all cross sections of the octahedron parallel to either of these squares are similar, we can therefore say that the relationship between the line on the base of any cross section and the area of the cross section is sqrt(2) (base line) to 1 (area), or a factor of 1/sqrt(2).



Extending this logic, we can multiply the area of the base square by this ratio to obtain the volume, which, because the area is 1, would be 1/sqrt(2) units cubed.



Where did I mess up my math reasoning?










share|cite|improve this question









New contributor



Electro-blob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    It's implicit what is meant later in the question statement, but it might be useful to spell out that by "unit octahedron" you mean "octahedron with unit edge length" (as opposed to, say, meaning the circumscribing sphere has unit radius).
    $endgroup$
    – Travis
    9 hours ago













5












5








5





$begingroup$


According to several sources on the internet, the volume of a regular octahedron with unit edge lengths is approximately 0.47. I haven't seen an explanation for why this is so yet. When I tried to figure the volume myself, I obtained a unit volume of 1/(sqrt(2)), which is approximately 0.71.



Let me explain my reasoning. If you take an octahedron, you can see it contains two squares on the vertical and horizontal axis (which are the base squares of the two pyramids it is made up of, depending on the angle you look at it at.) Each of these squares has an area of 1, since every line has a measure of 1 in a unit octahedron.



If you take a cross section of this octahedron parallel to one of these main squares, you will always get a similar square, because each vertex on the main square is equidistant to the other two vertexes in the octahedron.



Where the two main squares forming the octahedron intersect, the line is equal to the diagonal of a unit square, or the square root of 2.



Since all cross sections of the octahedron parallel to either of these squares are similar, we can therefore say that the relationship between the line on the base of any cross section and the area of the cross section is sqrt(2) (base line) to 1 (area), or a factor of 1/sqrt(2).



Extending this logic, we can multiply the area of the base square by this ratio to obtain the volume, which, because the area is 1, would be 1/sqrt(2) units cubed.



Where did I mess up my math reasoning?










share|cite|improve this question









New contributor



Electro-blob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






$endgroup$




According to several sources on the internet, the volume of a regular octahedron with unit edge lengths is approximately 0.47. I haven't seen an explanation for why this is so yet. When I tried to figure the volume myself, I obtained a unit volume of 1/(sqrt(2)), which is approximately 0.71.



Let me explain my reasoning. If you take an octahedron, you can see it contains two squares on the vertical and horizontal axis (which are the base squares of the two pyramids it is made up of, depending on the angle you look at it at.) Each of these squares has an area of 1, since every line has a measure of 1 in a unit octahedron.



If you take a cross section of this octahedron parallel to one of these main squares, you will always get a similar square, because each vertex on the main square is equidistant to the other two vertexes in the octahedron.



Where the two main squares forming the octahedron intersect, the line is equal to the diagonal of a unit square, or the square root of 2.



Since all cross sections of the octahedron parallel to either of these squares are similar, we can therefore say that the relationship between the line on the base of any cross section and the area of the cross section is sqrt(2) (base line) to 1 (area), or a factor of 1/sqrt(2).



Extending this logic, we can multiply the area of the base square by this ratio to obtain the volume, which, because the area is 1, would be 1/sqrt(2) units cubed.



Where did I mess up my math reasoning?







volume fake-proofs solid-geometry platonic-solids






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Electro-blob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 9 hours ago







Electro-blob













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asked 9 hours ago









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  • $begingroup$
    It's implicit what is meant later in the question statement, but it might be useful to spell out that by "unit octahedron" you mean "octahedron with unit edge length" (as opposed to, say, meaning the circumscribing sphere has unit radius).
    $endgroup$
    – Travis
    9 hours ago
















  • $begingroup$
    It's implicit what is meant later in the question statement, but it might be useful to spell out that by "unit octahedron" you mean "octahedron with unit edge length" (as opposed to, say, meaning the circumscribing sphere has unit radius).
    $endgroup$
    – Travis
    9 hours ago















$begingroup$
It's implicit what is meant later in the question statement, but it might be useful to spell out that by "unit octahedron" you mean "octahedron with unit edge length" (as opposed to, say, meaning the circumscribing sphere has unit radius).
$endgroup$
– Travis
9 hours ago




$begingroup$
It's implicit what is meant later in the question statement, but it might be useful to spell out that by "unit octahedron" you mean "octahedron with unit edge length" (as opposed to, say, meaning the circumscribing sphere has unit radius).
$endgroup$
– Travis
9 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















7














$begingroup$

The volume of a pyramid is $frac 13 hA$ where $h$ is the height and $A$ is the area of the base. Using this for two pyramids suck together gives me $fracsqrt 23approx 0.47$ for a regular octagon of side $1$.



You are implicitly arguing that the volume of a pyramid is $frac 12 hA$ - I think you are applying two dimensional intuition to three dimensions. The area of a triangle is $frac 12 bh$ because the similar pieces diminish linearly if you draw lines parallel to the base. But the areas of the cross sections of the pyramid here are two-dimensional.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$














  • $begingroup$
    I was about to say the same thing. The proof is fine up to “Extending this logic...”...because the logic doesn't extend.
    $endgroup$
    – Matthew Leingang
    9 hours ago


















1














$begingroup$

The height for half octahedron is



$$h=sqrt1^2-left(fracsqrt 22right)^2=fracsqrt 22$$



then



$$V=2cdotfrac13cdot 1cdot 1cdot h=frac23happrox 0.47$$



Here below a sketch for the derivation



enter image description here






share|cite|improve this answer











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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
    2






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    active

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    active

    oldest

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    7














    $begingroup$

    The volume of a pyramid is $frac 13 hA$ where $h$ is the height and $A$ is the area of the base. Using this for two pyramids suck together gives me $fracsqrt 23approx 0.47$ for a regular octagon of side $1$.



    You are implicitly arguing that the volume of a pyramid is $frac 12 hA$ - I think you are applying two dimensional intuition to three dimensions. The area of a triangle is $frac 12 bh$ because the similar pieces diminish linearly if you draw lines parallel to the base. But the areas of the cross sections of the pyramid here are two-dimensional.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$














    • $begingroup$
      I was about to say the same thing. The proof is fine up to “Extending this logic...”...because the logic doesn't extend.
      $endgroup$
      – Matthew Leingang
      9 hours ago















    7














    $begingroup$

    The volume of a pyramid is $frac 13 hA$ where $h$ is the height and $A$ is the area of the base. Using this for two pyramids suck together gives me $fracsqrt 23approx 0.47$ for a regular octagon of side $1$.



    You are implicitly arguing that the volume of a pyramid is $frac 12 hA$ - I think you are applying two dimensional intuition to three dimensions. The area of a triangle is $frac 12 bh$ because the similar pieces diminish linearly if you draw lines parallel to the base. But the areas of the cross sections of the pyramid here are two-dimensional.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$














    • $begingroup$
      I was about to say the same thing. The proof is fine up to “Extending this logic...”...because the logic doesn't extend.
      $endgroup$
      – Matthew Leingang
      9 hours ago













    7














    7










    7







    $begingroup$

    The volume of a pyramid is $frac 13 hA$ where $h$ is the height and $A$ is the area of the base. Using this for two pyramids suck together gives me $fracsqrt 23approx 0.47$ for a regular octagon of side $1$.



    You are implicitly arguing that the volume of a pyramid is $frac 12 hA$ - I think you are applying two dimensional intuition to three dimensions. The area of a triangle is $frac 12 bh$ because the similar pieces diminish linearly if you draw lines parallel to the base. But the areas of the cross sections of the pyramid here are two-dimensional.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    The volume of a pyramid is $frac 13 hA$ where $h$ is the height and $A$ is the area of the base. Using this for two pyramids suck together gives me $fracsqrt 23approx 0.47$ for a regular octagon of side $1$.



    You are implicitly arguing that the volume of a pyramid is $frac 12 hA$ - I think you are applying two dimensional intuition to three dimensions. The area of a triangle is $frac 12 bh$ because the similar pieces diminish linearly if you draw lines parallel to the base. But the areas of the cross sections of the pyramid here are two-dimensional.







    share|cite|improve this answer














    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer








    edited 9 hours ago

























    answered 9 hours ago









    Mark BennetMark Bennet

    87.3k9 gold badges93 silver badges197 bronze badges




    87.3k9 gold badges93 silver badges197 bronze badges














    • $begingroup$
      I was about to say the same thing. The proof is fine up to “Extending this logic...”...because the logic doesn't extend.
      $endgroup$
      – Matthew Leingang
      9 hours ago
















    • $begingroup$
      I was about to say the same thing. The proof is fine up to “Extending this logic...”...because the logic doesn't extend.
      $endgroup$
      – Matthew Leingang
      9 hours ago















    $begingroup$
    I was about to say the same thing. The proof is fine up to “Extending this logic...”...because the logic doesn't extend.
    $endgroup$
    – Matthew Leingang
    9 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    I was about to say the same thing. The proof is fine up to “Extending this logic...”...because the logic doesn't extend.
    $endgroup$
    – Matthew Leingang
    9 hours ago













    1














    $begingroup$

    The height for half octahedron is



    $$h=sqrt1^2-left(fracsqrt 22right)^2=fracsqrt 22$$



    then



    $$V=2cdotfrac13cdot 1cdot 1cdot h=frac23happrox 0.47$$



    Here below a sketch for the derivation



    enter image description here






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



















      1














      $begingroup$

      The height for half octahedron is



      $$h=sqrt1^2-left(fracsqrt 22right)^2=fracsqrt 22$$



      then



      $$V=2cdotfrac13cdot 1cdot 1cdot h=frac23happrox 0.47$$



      Here below a sketch for the derivation



      enter image description here






      share|cite|improve this answer











      $endgroup$

















        1














        1










        1







        $begingroup$

        The height for half octahedron is



        $$h=sqrt1^2-left(fracsqrt 22right)^2=fracsqrt 22$$



        then



        $$V=2cdotfrac13cdot 1cdot 1cdot h=frac23happrox 0.47$$



        Here below a sketch for the derivation



        enter image description here






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$



        The height for half octahedron is



        $$h=sqrt1^2-left(fracsqrt 22right)^2=fracsqrt 22$$



        then



        $$V=2cdotfrac13cdot 1cdot 1cdot h=frac23happrox 0.47$$



        Here below a sketch for the derivation



        enter image description here







        share|cite|improve this answer














        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer








        edited 9 hours ago

























        answered 9 hours ago









        gimusigimusi

        95.3k9 gold badges46 silver badges95 bronze badges




        95.3k9 gold badges46 silver badges95 bronze badges
























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