Properties of a Reuleaux Tetrahedron

★ 7/10solid geometryEstimationSymmetry

Problem

figure

A Reuleaux tetrahedron is the solid obtained by intersecting the four balls whose centers are the vertices of a regular tetrahedron and whose common radius equals the tetrahedron's edge length. Consider the Reuleaux tetrahedron built on a regular tetrahedron ABCDABCD with edge length 44, as shown.

Determine, with proof, which of the following claims are true.

1. If PP and QQ are any two points on the surface of the Reuleaux tetrahedron, then the maximum value of PQPQ is 44. 2. The cross-section of the Reuleaux tetrahedron cut by the plane ABCABC has area 8(π−3)8(\pi-\sqrt 3). 3. The volume of the Reuleaux tetrahedron is 86 π8\sqrt 6\,\pi. 4. The radius of the inscribed sphere of the Reuleaux tetrahedron is 4−64-\sqrt 6.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty7/10
Topicssolid geometry, Estimation, Symmetry

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