Solid Geometry Module
Solid Geometry Module
V. LESSON CONTENT
A. Solids: Section and Polyhedron
A solid is any limited portion of space, bounded by surfaces. Examples of solids are shown below:
B. Cube
A cube is a polyhedron whose six faces are all squares.
Properties
1. The three dimensions of a cube are equal to each other. Therefore, all edges are equal.
2. All faces of a cube are congruent squares.
3. A diagonal (d) of a cube is equal to √3 times an edge (i.e. d=√3𝑎).
Formulas
The total area of a cube is equal to the sum of the areas of its faces;
or equal to twice the square of its diagonal.
Total area = 6 (area of one face)
In symbol: 𝑻 = 𝟔𝒂𝟐 = 𝟐𝒅𝟐 .
Example 2. A cube of edge 𝑎 is cut by a plane containing two diagonally opposite edges of the cube.
Find the area of the section that was formed.
Solution: Through the cube pass a plane containing edges AD and BC, forming the section ABCD
shown in the figure. Consider AB as base of ABCD and BC as altitude. Applying the
Pythagorean theorem to right triangle AEB, we have:
AB=√𝒂𝟐 + 𝒂𝟐 = 𝒂√𝟐.
C. Rectangular Parallelepiped
A rectangular parallelepiped is a polyhedron whose six faces are all rectangles.
Properties
1. The parallel edges of a rectangular parallelepiped are
equal.
2. The opposite lateral faces of a rectangular
parallelepiped are equal and parallel.
3. Any two opposite faces of a rectangular parallelepiped
may be taken as the bases.
4. Every section of a rectangular parallelepiped made by
a plane parallel to the base is equal in area to that of
the base.
Formulas
The total area of a rectangular parallelepiped is equal to the sum of the areas of the faces.
Total area = sum of the areas of faces.
𝑇 = 2(𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑎)
The volume of a rectangular parallelepiped is equal to the product of the base and the altitude.
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 × 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒
𝑉 = 𝑎𝑏𝑐
(b) The storage space of the room is the volume of the parallelepiped. The volume of a
parallelepiped is found by using the formula:
𝑽 = 𝑩𝒉.
Consider the area of the floor as base 𝐵 and the height of the room as altitude ℎ.
Substituting 𝑩 = (𝟒𝟐)(𝟕𝟔)𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉 = 𝟐𝟎 in the formula, we get:
𝑇 = (42)(76)(20) = 𝟔𝟑, 𝟖𝟒𝟎 𝒄𝒖. 𝒇𝒕.
D. CAVALIERI’S THEOREM
So as better to understand Cavalieri’s Theorem, let us consider each pair of solids shown below:
Pair 1
Pile of cards (figure 𝑎) may be distorted into
the forms of various irregular solids such
as the one shown in Fig. b.
Obviously, the volume of the pile has not been
changed.
Pair 2
Now consider a second pile of cards
of such size that it is possible to stack them in the
form of the solid shown in Fig. (c).
Here again we may distort this pile into
the forms of various irregular solids such as
the one shown in Fig. (d), without changing its volume.
Pair 3
The cards need not be of the same shape in
order to afford piles of equal volume.
For a pile consisting of 100 square cards
would have the same volume as a pile
of 100 circular cards of the same area and thickness.
(see Figs. (e) and (f))
Cavalieri's Theorem. If in two solids of equal altitude, the sections made by planes parallel to and at
the same distance from their respective bases are equal, the volumes of the
solids are equal.
E. VOLUME THEOREM
If the top and bottom bases of a solid are equal in area, lie in parallel planes, and every
section of the solid parallel to the bases is equal in area to that of the base, then the volume of
the solid is the product of base and altitude.
Consider solid C’D’ in the figure. Let the bases (C’ and B’) of
this solid lie in parallel planes, and every section parallel to the base
(such as A’) be equal in area to the area of the base.
To compute its volume, we use the formula:
F. PRISMS
Definition. A prism is a polyhedron of which two faces are equal
polygons in parallel planes, and the other faces are
parallelograms.
Properties
1. The bases are the equal polygons; the lateral area is the
sum of the areas of the remaining faces.
2. The intersections of the lateral faces are called the lateral edges. These lateral edges are equal
and parallel.
3. The sections of a prism made by parallel planes cutting all the lateral edges are equal polygons.
4. The altitude of a prism is the perpendicular distance between the planes of its bases.
5. A right section of a prism is a section perpendicular to the lateral edges.
6. A right prism is a prism whose lateral edges are perpendicular to its bases; its lateral faces are
rectangles.
In this module, when we use the term “cross section” we mean “right section”.
Formulas
The lateral area of a prism is equal to the product of a lateral edge and the perimeter of the
right section.
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑥 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑽 = (𝒆)(𝒑𝒌)
Example. A masonry dam 40 ft. high has a uniform vertical cross section as shown in
the figure. The dam is 80 ft. long and its material weighs 125 lb. per cu. ft.
Find the weight of the dam.
Solution. The dam is in the form of a prism of altitude 80 ft. with trapezoidal bases.
The area of one base is the area of a trapezoid whose bases are 4 ft. and
16 ft. and whose altitude is 40 ft. Hence its area is:
4+16
𝐵=( ) (40) = 400 𝑠𝑞. 𝑓𝑡.
2
Since the masonry weighs 125 lb. per cu. ft., the weight of the dam is
𝑊 = 125𝑉 = (125)(32,000) = 4,000,000 𝑙𝑏.
G. CYLINDRICAL SURFACE
Definition. A cylindrical surface is a surface generated by a moving straight line (generator) which is
always parallel to a fixed line, and which always intersects a fixed plane curve (directrix) not
in the plane with the fixed line.
Properties
4. A plane is tangent to a cylindrical surface if it contains an element of the cylindrical surface and a
line tangent to the surface.
H. CYLINDER
Definition. A cylinder is a solid bounded by a closed cylindrical surface and two parallel planes.
Properties
1. The bounding cylindrical surface of a cylinder is called the lateral surface, and the two bounding
parallel planes are called the bases.
2. The bases of a cylinder are equal.
3. The altitude of a cylinder is the perpendicular distance between the bases.
4. The sections of a cylinder made by two parallel planes, neither of which cuts a base and both of
which cut an element, are congruent.
5. Every section of a cylinder parallel to the base has an area equal to that of the base.
6. The section of a cylinder which contains an element of the cylinder and a point of the cylindrical
surface not in this element is a parallelogram. This section contains the element through the
given point.
7. The elements of a cylinder are equal.
8. A right section of a cylinder is a section perpendicular to all elements of the cylinder.
9. If the bases of a prism are inscribed in the bases of a cylinder, and the lateral edges of the prism
are elements of the cylinder, the prism is said to be inscribed in the cylinder.
10. If the bases of a prism are circumscribed about the bases of a cylinder, and the lateral edges are
parallel to the elements of the cylinder, the prism is said to be circumscribed about the cylinder.
Formulas
The lateral area of a cylinder is equal to the product of the perimeter of a right section and an
element.
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑥 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑆 = (𝑝𝑘 )(𝑒)
The volume of a cylinder is equal either to the product of an area of the base and the altitude,
or to the product of an element and an area of the right section.
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑥 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒
𝑉 = 𝐾𝑒
Example: A vertical stone column 12.5 ft high has an elliptical base with
the longer axis twice the shorter. If the weight of the column is
12,400 lb. and if the stone weighs 160 lb per cu. ft., find the
area of the largest axial section of the column.
Solution: We first find the area of the elliptical base by means of the
formula for an ellipse:
𝐴 = 𝜋𝑎𝑏
𝑎
Where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are the dimensions shown in the figure. In this example: b= . Hence:
2
𝑎 𝜋𝑎2
𝐴 = 𝜋(𝑎) ( )= .
2 2
𝜋𝑎2
Substituting B= and ℎ = 12.5 in the formula for the volume of a cylinder
2
𝑉 = 𝐵ℎ,
𝜋𝑎2
we get 𝑉=( )(12.5). (𝑎)
2
But the volume of the column is also equal to the weight of the column divided by the weight
of the stone per cubic foot. Therefore:
12,400
𝑉= . (𝑏)
160
I. CIRCULAR CYLINDER
Definition. A circular cylinder is a cylinder which has a circular right section.
Formulas
The lateral area of a circular cylinder is equal to the product of the perimeter of a right section and
an element.
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑥 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑆 = 𝑝𝑘 𝑒
The volume of a circular cylinder is equal to the product of either a right section and an element,
or the base and the altitude.
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑥 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒
𝑉 = 𝐵ℎ
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑥 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑉 = 𝐾𝑒
Example. A pole in the form of a circular cylinder of altitude 18 ft. and diameter of right section 0.4 ft.
has a base whose largest dimension is 0.5 ft. If the pole rolls until it has covered an area of
level ground, equal to that of one acre, how many revolutions will it make?
The right section of the cylinder is a circle of diameter 0.4 lt. Hence, its perimeter 𝑝𝑘 =0.4𝜋.
Properties
1. The axis of a right circular cylinder is the line joining the centers of the bases.
2. A right circular cylinder may be generated by the revolution of a rectangle about one side as an
axis, and is therefore also called a cylinder of revolution.
3. The center of any section of a right circular cylinder parallel to the base is on the axis.
4. Any element of a right circular cylinder is equal to its altitude.
5. Every section of a right circular cylinder made by a plane containing an element is a rectangle.
Formulas
The lateral area of a right circular cylinder is the product of its altitude and the circumference of
its base.
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑥 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒
In symbol, 𝑆 = 𝑐(ℎ)
The volume of a right circular cylinder is the product of the area of the base and its altitude.
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑥 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒
In symbol, 𝑉 = 𝐵ℎ
Example 1. Express the lateral surface 𝑺 and the volume 𝑽 of a right circular cylinder in terms of the
radius of the base 𝒓 and the altitude 𝒉.
Therefore, 𝑆 = (2𝜋𝑟)ℎ.
Example 2. An iron pipe 10 ft. long has an internal diameter of 1 ft. If the iron is ½ in
thick, find the volume of metal in the pipe.
Solution. From the figure we observe that the volume of metal required is the
difference between the volumes of two right circular cylinders of the
same altitude. Therefore, if we denote the required volume by V, the
volume of the larger cylinder by 𝑉1 , and the volume of the smaller
cylinder by 𝑉2 , we write:
𝑉 = 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 .
𝜋(𝑑1 )2 𝜋(𝑑2 )2 𝜋 𝜋
𝑉= ℎ − ℎ = ℎ[(𝑑1 )2 −(𝑑2 )2 ] = ℎ(𝑑1 + 𝑑2 )(𝑑1 − 𝑑2 ). (𝑎)
4 4 4 4
1 13
But, ℎ = 10 𝑓𝑡. , 𝑑1 = 12 + 2 ( ) = 13 𝑖𝑛. 𝑜𝑟 𝑑1 = 𝑓𝑡., and 𝑑2 = 1 𝑓𝑡.
2 12
5 Ready for The Next Module Things you need to hear today.
1. You deserve to believe in yourself as strongly as you
believe in the people you love.
2. Beyond your limiting beliefs lie waiting so many wonderful
opportunities and surprises.
3. You have time. It’s never too late to pursue the dreams
you’ve always had. Lay to rest your what-ifs.
4. You are not your thoughts that try to put you down. You
have the power to observe and manage them.
5. It doesn’t make you a bad person for deciding to distance
from destructive toxic cycles. It’s not your job to absorb
other people’s negative projections.
6. Focus on what you want to become and the life you’re
building more than on past mistakes or external noise.
What we dwell on magnify in our lives.
7. Your mistakes aren’t here to keep you forever hostage. You
can choose to see them as pointers to help you move
forward stronger. ~Light&LoveCo.
VII. ASSIGNMENT:
LO 1: Solve the following problems. Show your solution.
1. Find the volume and total area of the largest cube of wood that can be
cut from a log of circular cross section whose radius is 12.7 in. (see the
given figure)
VIII. EVALUATION:
LO 2: Solve the following problems. Show your illustration and solution.
1. The crown of a straw hat has a base of 38 sq. in. The depth of the crown is 3 in.
(Inside dimensions are given). If the head occupies two-thirds of the space enclosed by the crown,
find the volume remaining for ventilation.
2. A circular oak table top is 4ft in diameter and ¾ in. thick. How heavy is it if oak weighs
47 lb. per cu. ft.?
3. A piece of lead pipe is 50 ft long. Its outer radius is 2 in., and it is ¼ in. thick. Into how many
spherical bullets ¼ in. in diameter can it be melted? (If the lead pipe is melted and then converted
into spherical bullets of diameter ¼ in., how many bullets will there be?)
In solving problems, it is important to try different approaches. If you keep pushing forward and
nothing seems to change, try pushing side wards or backwards. Flexibility means the willingness to
change one’s ideas or plans in response to a situation. A flexible person is willing to explore different
ways of thinking about a problem and is open to suggestion of others.
“You also must be patient. Keep your hopes high, for the day of the Lord’s coming is near.”
- James 5:8
VIII. REFERENCES
Textbook
Ymas, S. (2018). Solid Mensuration. Manila: Sergio Ymas Jr. Publishing House.
Aarts, J. (2009). Plane and Solid Geometry. Switzerland: Springer.