A Pyramid in a Cube

7/10solid geometryCaseworkSymmetry

Problem

A regular quadrilateral pyramid P-ABCDP\text{-}ABCD has base edge 11 and height hh, and its apex PP lies inside (or on the surface of) the cube ABCD-A1B1C1D1ABCD\text{-}A_1B_1C_1D_1. Determine, with proof, which of the following are true:

1. the range of hh is (0,1](0, 1]; 2. if the lateral edge of the pyramid has length 32\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, then h=22h = \dfrac{\sqrt{2}}{2}; 3. when PP is the center of the top face A1B1C1D1A_1B_1C_1D_1, the circumscribed sphere of the pyramid has surface area 9π4\dfrac{9\pi}{4}; 4. when PP is the center of the cube's inscribed sphere, the common part of that inscribed sphere and the pyramid has volume π36\dfrac{\pi}{36}.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty7/10
Topicssolid geometry, Casework, Symmetry

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