Compute the volume of a tetrahedron. (a) Illustrate the tetrahedron that has vertices at (0,0,0), (2,0,0), (0, 4, 0), (0,0, 6), in Cartesian coordinates. This tetrahedron sits inside a box with side lengths 2, 4 and 6. The volume of this box is V = 2 x 4 x 6 = 48 cubic units. The volume of the tetrahedron must be some fraction of this.

Calculus: Early Transcendentals
8th Edition
ISBN:9781285741550
Author:James Stewart
Publisher:James Stewart
Chapter1: Functions And Models
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RCC: (a) What is a function? What are its domain and range? (b) What is the graph of a function? (c) How...
icon
Related questions
Question
### Calculating the Volume of a Tetrahedron

**Problem Statement:**
1) Compute the volume of a tetrahedron.

**Step-by-Step Solution:**
(a) Illustrate the tetrahedron that has vertices at (0,0,0), (2,0,0), (0,4,0), and (0,0,6) in Cartesian coordinates.

This tetrahedron sits inside a rectangular box with side lengths 2, 4, and 6. The volume of this box is calculated using the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism:

\[ V_{\text{box}} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height} \]

Substituting the given dimensions:
\[ V_{\text{box}} = 2 \times 4 \times 6 = 48 \text{ cubic units} \]

Since the tetrahedron occupies a portion of this box, the volume of the tetrahedron can be found by determining what fraction of the box it occupies. The vertices of the tetrahedron suggest it is a specific fraction of the box:

\[ V_{\text{tetrahedron}} = \frac{V_{\text{box}}}{6} \]

This is because a tetrahedron that fits perfectly inside a rectangular box defined by one vertex at the origin and other vertices at the axes will occupy 1/6th of the volume of the box.

Therefore, the volume of the tetrahedron is:
\[ V_{\text{tetrahedron}} = \frac{48}{6} = 8 \text{ cubic units} \]

**Summary:**
- The volume of the tetrahedron with the given vertices is **8 cubic units**.
Transcribed Image Text:### Calculating the Volume of a Tetrahedron **Problem Statement:** 1) Compute the volume of a tetrahedron. **Step-by-Step Solution:** (a) Illustrate the tetrahedron that has vertices at (0,0,0), (2,0,0), (0,4,0), and (0,0,6) in Cartesian coordinates. This tetrahedron sits inside a rectangular box with side lengths 2, 4, and 6. The volume of this box is calculated using the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism: \[ V_{\text{box}} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height} \] Substituting the given dimensions: \[ V_{\text{box}} = 2 \times 4 \times 6 = 48 \text{ cubic units} \] Since the tetrahedron occupies a portion of this box, the volume of the tetrahedron can be found by determining what fraction of the box it occupies. The vertices of the tetrahedron suggest it is a specific fraction of the box: \[ V_{\text{tetrahedron}} = \frac{V_{\text{box}}}{6} \] This is because a tetrahedron that fits perfectly inside a rectangular box defined by one vertex at the origin and other vertices at the axes will occupy 1/6th of the volume of the box. Therefore, the volume of the tetrahedron is: \[ V_{\text{tetrahedron}} = \frac{48}{6} = 8 \text{ cubic units} \] **Summary:** - The volume of the tetrahedron with the given vertices is **8 cubic units**.
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps with 6 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Prisms
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, calculus and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Calculus: Early Transcendentals
Calculus: Early Transcendentals
Calculus
ISBN:
9781285741550
Author:
James Stewart
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Thomas' Calculus (14th Edition)
Thomas' Calculus (14th Edition)
Calculus
ISBN:
9780134438986
Author:
Joel R. Hass, Christopher E. Heil, Maurice D. Weir
Publisher:
PEARSON
Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)
Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)
Calculus
ISBN:
9780134763644
Author:
William L. Briggs, Lyle Cochran, Bernard Gillett, Eric Schulz
Publisher:
PEARSON
Calculus: Early Transcendentals
Calculus: Early Transcendentals
Calculus
ISBN:
9781319050740
Author:
Jon Rogawski, Colin Adams, Robert Franzosa
Publisher:
W. H. Freeman
Precalculus
Precalculus
Calculus
ISBN:
9780135189405
Author:
Michael Sullivan
Publisher:
PEARSON
Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions
Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions
Calculus
ISBN:
9781337552516
Author:
Ron Larson, Bruce H. Edwards
Publisher:
Cengage Learning