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Regular tetrahedron/Introductory problem

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Problem

Find the volume of a tetrahedron whose sides all have length .

Solution

We find the area of the base:

\mathrm {A} =\dfrac{4\sqrt{3}}{4}=\sqrt{3}

Now we find the lateral height:

\mathrm {lh}=\sqrt{2^2-1^2}=\sqrt{3}

Now we can find the height of the tetrahedron:

\mathrm {h}=\sqrt{\sqrt{3})^2-(\dfrac{1}{3}*\sqrt{3})^2}=\sqrt{\dfrac{8}{3}

Now the volume of the tetrahedron is:

\dfrac{1}{3}*\sqrt{3}*\sqrt{\dfrac{8}{3}}=\dfrac{\sqrt{8}}{3}


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Looking for a challenging geometry text? Preparing for MATHCOUNTS or the AMC exams? Check out Art of Problem Solving's Introduction to Geometry by Richard Rusczyk.
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