The Platonic Solids Book

This manual features 17 easy-to-master projects involving the Platonic solids: the tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron. Includes detailed diagrams and photos of all the completed models.

This book contains a meticulous geometric investigation of the five Platonic Solids and five other important polyhedra, as well as reference charts for each solid. (Mathematics)

This book is a guide to the 5 Platonic solids (regular tetrahedron, cube, regular octahedron, regular dodecahedron, and regular icosahedron). These solids are important in mathematics, in nature, and are the only 5 convex regular polyhedra that exist. Topics covered include: What the Platonic solids are The history of the discovery of Platonic solids The common features of all Platonic solids The geometrical details of each Platonic solid Examples of where each type of Platonic solid occurs in nature How we know there are only five types of Platonic solid (geometric proof) A topological proof that there are only five types of Platonic solid What are dual polyhedrons What is the dual polyhedron for each of the Platonic solids The relationships between each Platonic solid and its dual polyhedron How to calculate angles in Platonic solids using trigonometric formulae The relationship between spheres and Platonic solids How to calculate the surface area of a Platonic solid How to calculate the volume of a Platonic solid Also included is a brief introduction to some other interesting types of polyhedra - prisms, antiprisms, Kepler-Poinsot polyhedra, Archimedean solids, Catalan solids, Johnson solids, and deltahedra. Some familiarity with basic trigonometry and very basic algebra (high school level) will allow you to get the most out of this book - but in order to make this book accessible to as many people as possible, it does include a brief recap on some necessary basic concepts from trigonometry.

MICHAEL T. POPE AND ACHIM MULLER Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057-2222, U.S.A.; Department of Chemistry, University of Bielefeld, D-4BOO Bielefeld 1, F.R.G. Polyoxometalates, from their discovery and early development in the final decades of the 19th century to their current significance in disciplines as diverse as chemistry, mathematics, and medicine, continue to display surprisingly novel structures, unexpected reactivities and applications, and to attract increasing attention worldwide. Most of the contributors to the present volume participated in the workshop held at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research at the University of Bielefeld, July 15-17, 1992. The choice of topics illustrates some of the variety of directions and fields in which polyoxometalates can play an important role. Although many of the leading polyoxometalate research groups are represented here, we regret that time constraints, financial limitations, and in some cases difficulties of communication did not allow us to include significant and imp- tant work from other groups outside Europe and North America. In the following we briefly review the current status of the field of po- oxometalates.

Polyhedra have cropped up in many different guises throughout recorded history. In modern times, polyhedra and their symmetries have been cast in a new light by combinatorics an d group theory. This book comprehensively documents the many and varied ways that polyhedra have come to the fore throughout the development of mathematics. The author strikes a balance between covering the historical development of the theory surrounding polyhedra, and presenting a rigorous treatment of the mathematics involved. It is attractively illustrated with dozens of diagrams to illustrate ideas that might otherwise prove difficult to grasp. Historians of mathematics, as well as those more interested in the mathematics itself, will find this unique book fascinating.

Polyhedra are incredibly beautiful shapes. Illustrated step-by-step diagrams show how to fold a collection of around 30 models including the five Platonic Solids, sunken versions of each, models with color patterns, variations on Archimedean Solids, and more. Each model is folded from a single uncut square. They range from simple to complex.

How can you build sturdy Platonic solids that will hold together through to the last gluing? The templates in this book were designed to answer that question. You can build the solids directly from the templates, or use them as a model to create the solids out of colored paper, cardboard, or paper you have colored or painted yourself. The completed solids made from the templates are about 1.6inches (4cm) high, and you can also follow the instructions to build larger solids. Each template is included in the book three times, allowing you to practice or build them along with your friends. Includes 3x5 black-and-white templates for building Platonic solids and instructions, and clear step-by-step images for ruler and compass constructions on how to draw the templates. * New in the second edition: * Some of the template images were moved to the same pages for easier copying for teachers. * Detailed drawing instructions for ruler and compass constructions.