Cuboctahedron

Kelenski Weidemann

GAT 9(C)
Mr. Acre
2 March 2016
Introduction:

Kelenski Weidemann 1

A cuboctahedron is a shape with 8 triangular faces and 6 square faces with 2 squares and
2 triangles at each of its 12 identical vertices. The cuboctahedron is considered to be an
Archimedean solid. An Archimedean solid is a common 3 dimensional figure. A cuboctahedron
is has a total of 14 faces which alternates between equilateral triangles and squares. A
cuboctahedron can be formed by cutting off the corners of a cube which in turn forms the
triangular faces of the cuboctahedron. There are many ways to find the volume of a
cuboctahedron. Many people may think its hard to find the volume of this platonic solid because
of its irregular shape. Being able to find the volume and surface area of an irregular shape may
be a good ability to have for later in life. To find the surface area of the cuboctahedron is actually
fairly easy to find. In this paper we will discuss three different ways to calculate the volume of
this three dimensional figure and also how to find surface area. Our cuboctahedron has a starting
side length of 17.4cm.

17.4 cm

Figure 1: Side length of the initial cube.

Figure 1 above, shows the starting side length of the cube for the cuboctahedron.

Surface area:

Kelenski Weidemann 2

To find the surface area of the cuboctahedron one will first have to find the surface area
of the triangular and square faces. After finding the area of these faces one will have to multiply
the square surface area by 6 so that you can get the overall area of the square faces. To find the
area of the square faces one will have to square the side lengths.

8.72cm

Figure 2: Square face

Figure 2 above, shows one side length of one of the square faces on the cuboctahedron.

Square faces Surface Area

To calculate the area of a
8.72 x 8.72
square.
12.3 x 12.3
8.72 simplified.
12.30 x 12.30=
151.38
Multiply.
151.29 x 6=
908.28cm2
6 cube faces.
Total: 907.74cm2
Table 1: Surface area of a square face.
Table 1 above, shows the steps one would take to find the surface area of the square faces
of the cuboctahedron.

The next step to finding the total surface area of the cuboctahedron is to find the surface
area would be to find the surface area of the triangular faces. To do this one would use the

Kelenski Weidemann 3

formula 1/2B(H). After calculating the area of a singular triangular face one will have to multiply
it by 8 for the total amount of surface area for the triangles.

Base length: 8.72

Height: 4.356
Figure 3: Triangular face.
Figure 3 above, shows the measurements of the triangular faces.
Triangular faces Surface Area
1/2B(H)
1/2(8.72)(4.356)
1/2(12.3)(10.66)
1/2(12.3)
(10.66)=65.56
65.56(8)=524.48

Formula for the area of a

triangle.
Substitution.
Simplify.

Solve.
8 triangular faces.
Total: 524.48cm2

Table 2: Triangular face surface area.

Table 2 above, shows how to calculate the surface area of all the triangular faces.
After finding the surface area of the triangular faces then add up the square faces area and
the triangular faces area to get the total surface area of the cuboctahedron.

Total Surface Area

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Square faces area + Triangular faces

area.
524.48 + 907.74
524.48 + 907.74= 1,437.22
Total: 1,437.22cm2

Formula.
Substitutio
n.
Solve

Table 3: Total surface area.

Table 3 above, shows the way to calculate the total surface area of the cuboctahedron so
the final surface area of it would be 1,437.22cm2.

Case 1:
In case 1 one has to find the total volume of the corner pyramids and then subtract it from
the rest of the cubes area to find the total volume of the cuboctahedron. One may think that this
is the easiest way to find the volume of the cuboctahedron. Because it requires less steps than the
other solutions and has much more simple math than case 2 and case 3. The first step is to find
the total volume of the starting cube. After finding that volume one finds the volume of the
corner pyramids. After finding the volume of the corner pyramids then subtract the volume of the
eight corner pyramids from the total volume of the starting cube with the side length of 17.4cm.

17.4cm

Figure 4: The starter cube.

Kelenski Weidemann 5

Figure 4 above, is the cube involved in the first step which involves finding the total
volume of this three dimensional figure.

Volume of the Starter Cube

V=(Area of base)(Height of prism)
Formula for volume.
A of B= 17.4 x 17.4= 302.76
Area of the Base.
Height= 17.4cm
Height of prism.
V= 302.76 x 17.4=
Substitution
302.76 x 17.4= 5,268.02
Solve
Volume= 5,268.02cm3

Table 4: Initial Cube

Table 4 above, shows the steps taken to find the total volume of the initial cube. This can
also be done by cubing a side length which would be 17.43 this is just a simpler way to do this
portion.
After finding the initial cube volume the next step would be to find the total volume of
the corner pyramids that act as the corner pieces of the cube. This portion can be done by using
the formula Volume = 1/3(Area of the Base)(Height of the Pyramid).

Kelenski Weidemann 6

S=8.7cm
s

Diagonal sides connecting S sides=

8.72

s
s

Figure 5: Corner pyramids and measurements.

Figure 5 above, shows the measurements of the corner pyramids that are found on the
initial cube.

Figure 6: Initial cube with the corner pyramids.

Figure 6 above, shows the corner pyramids on the cube. After taking away the corner
pyramids you would get the cuboctahedron.

Volume of Corner Pyramids

Area of Base = 1/2(B)(H) Formula for area of triangle.

Kelenski Weidemann 7

Area of base = 1/2(8.7)

(8.7)
1/2(8.7)(8.7) = 37.85

Substitution.
Solve.
Formula for volume of corner
Volume = 1/3(A of B)(H) pyramid.
1/3(37.85)(8.7)
Substitution.
1/3(37.85)(8.7) = 109.77 Solve.
Volume = 109.77cm3

Table 5: Volume of the corner pyramid.

Table 5 above, shows the way to find the volume of the corner pyramids of the cube.
Next to find the total volume of the cuboctahedron one has to multiply the volume of the
corner pyramids by 8 to find the total volume of the corner pyramids added up. After doing that
subtract it from the total volume of the cube to find the total volume of the cuboctahedron.
Volume of the Cuboctahedron
V = Volume of Starter Cube - Corner
Pyramids.

Formula for
Cuboctahedron.
All corner pyramid
109.77(8) = 878.16
volumes.
Volume = 5,268.02 - 878.16
Substitution.
5,268.02 - 878.16 = 4,389.86
Solve.
3
Total Volume = 4,389.86cm (Can be rounded to 4,390cm3)

Table 6: Volume of Cuboctahedron.

Table 6 above, shows the steps to find the total volume of the cuboctahedron.
The total volume of the cuboctahedron is 4,389.86cm3.

Kelenski Weidemann 8

Case 2:
In case 2 one starts off by finding the total volume of the inner rectangle on the inside of
the cuboctahedron which is surrounded by rectangular pyramids. The first step to this case is to
find the total volume of the central rectangular prism. After finding the total volume of the
rectangular prism then find the total volume of the rectangular pyramids. After finding the
volume of the pyramids one then adds up the total rectangular pyramids to the rectangular prism
so that when adding them up and get the total volume of the cuboctahedron.

Figure 7: Prism with Pyramids

Figure 7 above, shows the central prism which is on the right and the pyramids
which are on the left. When adding four pyramids it forms the full cuboctahedron.

Kelenski Weidemann 9

To find the volume of the prism one has to first find the area of the base of the prism and
the height of the pyramid. After finding these lengths then use the formula V=(AofB)(Height) to
find the volume of the prism.
Volume of the Central Prism

Volume = (A of B)(Height)
Area of Base = (8.72)(8.72)
(8.72)(8.72) = 151.29

V = (151.29)(17.4) = 2,632.45
Volume = 2,632.45cm

Formul
a for
volume
of a
prism.
For
area of
base.
Solve.
Use
formul
a for
volume
of a
prism.

Table 7: Calculating the volume of the central prism.

Table 7 above, shows how to calculate the volume of the central prism.
After calculating the volume of the prism one has to find the volume of the 4 pyramids that
surround it. To take these steps one has to figure out the area of the base of the pyramid and the
height of the pyramid.

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Volume of Rectangular Pyramids

Volume = 1/3(A of B)(H)

Area of Base= 8.72(17.4)
8.72(17.4) = 214.02
V = (214.02)(4.352)
V = (214.02)(6.15) =1316.22
V =1/3 (214.02)(6.15) =428.74
Volume = 438.74cm3

Formula
for
volume of
a pyramid.
Substitutio
n.
Solve.
Substitutio
n.
Simplify.
Solve.

Table 8: Volume of rectangular pyramid.

Table 8 above, shows how to calculate the volume of the rectangular pyramids.

Volume of the Cuboctahedron

V = Volume of prism + Volume of pyramids

V = 2632.45 + 1754.96
V = 2632.45+ 1754.96 = 4,389.86
Total Volume = 4,389.86cm3 (Can round to 4,390cm3)

Addition
for the
total
volume.
Substitutio
n.
Solve.

Table 9: Total volume of the cuboctahedron using case two.

Table 9 above, shows the appropriate steps to take when putting together the volume of the
central rectangular prism, and the rectangular pyramid.
The total volume of the cuboctahedron is 4,389.86cm3.

Kelenski Weidemann 11

Case 3:
In case 3 use tetrahedrons and square pyramids to find the volume of the cuboctahedron.
Do this by adding up the total volumes of the square pyramids and the tetrahedrons. In total there
are eight tetrahedrons and six square pyramids to use to find this area. When adding this total up
one should end up getting the same answers as the other two cases. To do this start off by finding
the volume of the square pyramid and after finding that volume you have to multiply it by six to
get the total number of square pyramids in this case. After that find the volume of the
tetrahedrons. When one finds the volume of the tetrahedrons then multiple the volume by eight
to get the total volume for the tetrahedrons. Then add them up and get the total volume.

Side of base = 8.72cm

Height = 5.83
Figure 8: Tetrahedron for case 3.
Figure 8 above, shows the tetrahedron and its measurements.

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Volume of Tetrahedron
Volume = 1/3(A of B)
Formula for volume of a
(Height)
pyramid.
Area = 1/2(B)(H)
Formula for area of a triangle.
1/2(8.72)(4.356)
Substitution.
1/2(8.72)(4.356) =
65.5495
Solve.
1/3(65.5495)(5.83) = 219.5 Solve.
Volume = 219.5cm3

Table 10: Volume of a tetrahedron.

Table 10 above, shows how to find the volume of one of the eight tetrahedrons used to find
the volume of the cuboctahedron in case 3.
The next step is to find the volume of the square pyramid. To find the volume of a square
pyramid one first has to find the area of the base. After finding the area of the base then find the
height. After finding both the height and the area of the base plug them into the formula 1/3(Area
of the Base)(Height). After finding the volume then multiply by six to find the volume of all the
square pyramids combined.

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One side of the base = 8.72cm

Height = 8.7cm
Figure 9: Corner pyramid and the measurements of both its height and one side of its base.
Figure 9 above, shows the measurements of the square pyramid that is used in case 3. It
also has the measurements of one side length and the total height of the pyramid.

Volume of the Square Pyramid

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A = (L)(W)
Formula for the area of a square.
A = (8.72)(8.72)
Substitution.
(8.72)(8.72) = 151.38
Solve.
V = 1/3(Area of Base)
Formula for volume of a
(Height)
pyramid.
1/3(151.38)(8.7)
Substitution.
1/3(151.38)(8.7) = 439.002
Solve.
Volume = 439.002cm3

Table 11: Volume of the square pyramid.

Table 11 above, shows how to find the volume of the square pyramid.
The final step is to multiply the totals by the number of shapes. After that you add them up
to get the final volume of the cuboctahedron.
Volume of the Cuboctahedron
219.501 x 8 = 1756
Multiply for all eight tetrahedrons.
439.002 x 6 = 2634
Multiple for all six square pyramids.
1756 + 2634 = 4390
Add up to find complete volume
Volume = 4390cm3

Table 12: Total volume of the cuboctahedron.

Table 12 above, shows the way to put together the volumes of the tetrahedrons and the
square pyramid to get the total volume of the cuboctahedron.
The total volume of the cuboctahedron is 4,390cm3.

Kelenski Weidemann 15

Conclusion:
In conclusion all of the three ways shown can be used to find the total volume of a
cuboctahedron. In case 1 one can find the total volume of the cube with side lengths of 17.4cm
and subtracted the found volume of 8 of the corner pyramids that were cut off from the corners
of the cube which had a volume of 109.77cm3. Taking the total volume of 5,268.02cm3
subtracting 109.77cm3 multiplied by 8 because there is 8 corner pyramids one gets the
cuboctahedron volume of 4,389.86cm3. In case 2 one finds the volume of both the inner prism
and a rectangular pyramid. In this case add the volume of prism and four rectangular pyramids
together to get the total volume of the cuboctahedron. The volume of the prism is 2,632.45cm3
added together with 438.74cm3 times 4 to get 1754.96cm3. When adding the total volumes of the
shapes one gets the cuboctahedron volume of 4,389.86cm3, which can be rounded to 4,340cm3.
To find the total volume of the cuboctahedron using case 3 one takes the volume of the
tetrahedron multiply it 8 times for the eight tetrahedrons. The total volume for the tetrahedrons is
1,756cm3. Once the volume for the pyramid is multiplied by 6 for the six square pyramids in the
cuboctahedron you get 2,634cm3 for the total volume of the pyramids. Once those volumes are
found add them together to get the total overall volume of the cuboctahedron of 4,390cm3. One
can use any of these case to find the total volume of a cuboctahedron.