Lecture

Euclidean Elements: Construction of Regular Polyhedra

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

In course

MATH-124: Geometry for architects I

Ce cours entend exposer les fondements de la géométrie à un triple titre : 1/ de technique mathématique essentielle au processus de conception du projet, 2/ d'objet privilégié des logiciels de conception paramétrique 3/ de composante à part entière de l'h ...

Description

This lecture covers Euclid's construction of the 5 regular polyhedra inscribed in a hemisphere, a significant achievement in geometry. Euclid's approach, lacking 3D representation, is explored, along with the later proof of the limitation to 5 regular polyhedra.

Instructor

Bernard Cache

Official source

Related concepts (26)

Euclidean geometry

Euclidean geometry is a mathematical system attributed to ancient Greek mathematician Euclid, which he described in his textbook on geometry, Elements. Euclid's approach consists in assuming a small set of intuitively appealing axioms (postulates) and deducing many other propositions (theorems) from these. Although many of Euclid's results had been stated earlier, Euclid was the first to organize these propositions into a logical system in which each result is proved from axioms and previously proved theorems.

Non-Euclidean geometry

In mathematics, non-Euclidean geometry consists of two geometries based on axioms closely related to those that specify Euclidean geometry. As Euclidean geometry lies at the intersection of metric geometry and affine geometry, non-Euclidean geometry arises by either replacing the parallel postulate with an alternative, or relaxing the metric requirement. In the former case, one obtains hyperbolic geometry and elliptic geometry, the traditional non-Euclidean geometries.

Hyperbolic geometry

In mathematics, hyperbolic geometry (also called Lobachevskian geometry or Bolyai–Lobachevskian geometry) is a non-Euclidean geometry. The parallel postulate of Euclidean geometry is replaced with: For any given line R and point P not on R, in the plane containing both line R and point P there are at least two distinct lines through P that do not intersect R. (Compare the above with Playfair's axiom, the modern version of Euclid's parallel postulate.) The hyperbolic plane is a plane where every point is a saddle point.

Semiregular polyhedron

In geometry, the term semiregular polyhedron (or semiregular polytope) is used variously by different authors. In its original definition, it is a polyhedron with regular polygonal faces, and a symmetry group which is transitive on its vertices; today, this is more commonly referred to as a uniform polyhedron (this follows from Thorold Gosset's 1900 definition of the more general semiregular polytope). These polyhedra include: The thirteen Archimedean solids.

Elliptic geometry

Elliptic geometry is an example of a geometry in which Euclid's parallel postulate does not hold. Instead, as in spherical geometry, there are no parallel lines since any two lines must intersect. However, unlike in spherical geometry, two lines are usually assumed to intersect at a single point (rather than two). Because of this, the elliptic geometry described in this article is sometimes referred to as single elliptic geometry whereas spherical geometry is sometimes referred to as double elliptic geometry.

Related lectures (64)

Euclidean Geometry Fundamentals

Introduces the fundamentals of Euclidean geometry, covering equilateral triangles, symmetries, radical axes, and ancient architectural figures.

Regular Polyhedra in Euclidean Geometry

Explores the historical background and properties of regular polyhedra in Euclidean geometry, including the construction of perfect even numbers and the proportionality of arcs and angles.

Elliptical Arch Construction

Explores the construction of elliptical arches using a single ellipse arc.

Geometry: Introduction to Architectural Geometry

Explores the historical and practical applications of geometry in architecture, emphasizing key geometric principles in architectural design.

Introduction to Non-Euclidean Geometry