Cube: Definitions and Examples

Cube: Definitions, Formulas, & Examples

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    A cube is a three-dimensional shape with six square faces, each of which is identical in size and shape. It is a geometric solid that has been studied and used in mathematics, physics, engineering, architecture, and art for centuries.

    The cube is a platonic solid, meaning that all of its faces are congruent and regular polygons, and all of its vertices are equidistant from the center of the cube. In other words, the cube is a regular polyhedron, and it is one of the five platonic solids along with the tetrahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron.

    One of the most fascinating aspects of the cube is its symmetry. The cube has 48 symmetries, which means that there are 48 ways to rotate or reflect the cube that will leave it looking exactly the same. These symmetries are divided into three types: rotations, reflections, and glide reflections. Rotations are simply turning the cube around a specific axis, while reflections are flipping the cube over a plane of symmetry. Glide reflections are a combination of a rotation and a reflection, where the cube is rotated around an axis and then reflected over a plane of symmetry.

    The cube has many interesting properties, including its volume, surface area, and diagonal. The volume of a cube is simply the length of one of its sides cubed, or V = s^3. The surface area of a cube is six times the area of one of its faces, or SA = 6s^2. The diagonal of a cube is the distance between two opposite corners, and it can be found using the Pythagorean theorem. If s is the length of one of the cube’s sides, then the diagonal d is equal to the square root of 3 times s, or d = ?3s.

    The cube has numerous applications in various fields. In mathematics, the cube is used to study spatial reasoning and geometry. It is also used in calculus to model functions in three dimensions. In physics, the cube is used to study the behavior of particles in three-dimensional space. In engineering and architecture, the cube is used as a building block for structures and as a basis for creating 3D models. In art, the cube is a popular shape used in sculpture, painting, and design.

    The cube has also played a significant role in culture and history. The ancient Greeks considered the cube to be a symbol of stability and permanence, and they used it in their architecture and art. The Egyptian pyramids, which are among the most famous structures in the world, are essentially giant cubes. The cube also appears in religious and spiritual contexts, such as the Hindu god Shiva’s lingam, which is a cube-shaped object that represents the origin and end of all things.

    The cube has also inspired many mathematical and scientific discoveries. For example, in 1637, French mathematician René Descartes used the cube to develop his theory of analytic geometry, which allowed algebraic equations to be graphed in three dimensions. The cube was also used by Dutch physicist Johannes van der Waals in 1873 to develop his theory of the behavior of gases, which won him the Nobel Prize in physics in 1910.

    Definition:

    A cube is a three-dimensional shape with six square faces, all of which are congruent. Each face of the cube is also perpendicular to the adjacent faces, which makes it a regular polyhedron. The cube has eight vertices and 12 edges of equal length. The distance between opposite vertices of a cube is called the diagonal of the cube, and it is equal to the square root of three times the length of the edge.

    Properties:

    The cube has several unique properties that make it an interesting shape to study. Here are some of the most important properties of the cube:

    • Symmetry: The cube has a high degree of symmetry. It has rotational symmetry of order 4, meaning it can be rotated by 90, 180, or 270 degrees around an axis passing through the center of the cube and perpendicular to any of its faces. It also has reflection symmetry across any plane that passes through the center of the cube and bisects opposite edges.
    • Volume: The volume of a cube is given by the formula V = a^3, where a is the length of the edge of the cube. This means that the volume of the cube increases rapidly as the length of the edge increases.
    • Surface area: The surface area of a cube is given by the formula A = 6a^2, where a is the length of the edge of the cube. This means that the surface area of the cube increases at a slower rate than the volume as the length of the edge increases.
    • Diagonal: The diagonal of a cube is given by the formula d = a?3, where a is the length of the edge of the cube. This means that the diagonal of the cube is longer than any of its edges.
    • Dihedral angle: The dihedral angle of a cube is the angle between two adjacent faces. It is equal to 90 degrees, which is the same as the angle between any two perpendicular planes.

    Examples:

    • Rubik’s cube: The Rubik’s cube is a famous puzzle that consists of a cube with colored faces that can be rotated independently. The goal is to align all the colors on each face of the cube. The Rubik’s cube has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible combinations, which makes it a challenging puzzle to solve.
    • Ice cube: An ice cube is a small cube of frozen water that is used to cool drinks. Ice cubes are often made by filling a tray with water and placing it in a freezer. The cubes are typically 2-3 centimeters on each side, and they melt slowly in a drink, cooling it without diluting it too much.
    • Dice: A dice is a small cube with numbers or dots on each face. It is used in games of chance and is typically rolled to determine the outcome of a game. A standard dice has six faces with dots representing the numbers 1 to 6.
    • Companion cube: The companion cube is a fictional cube from the video game Portal. It is a cube with a pink heart on each face and is used by the player as a tool to solve puzzles. The companion cube has become a cultural icon and has inspired a variety of merchandise and fan art.
    • Cube satellite: A cube satellite, or CubeSat, is a small satellite that is used for research or commercial purposes. CubeSats are typically made in the shape of a cube and measure 10

    Quiz

    • What is a cube? A cube is a three-dimensional solid object with six equal square faces and twelve edges.
    • What is the formula for calculating the volume of a cube? The formula for calculating the volume of a cube is V = s^3, where s is the length of one side of the cube.
    • What is the formula for calculating the surface area of a cube? The formula for calculating the surface area of a cube is SA = 6s^2, where s is the length of one side of the cube.
    • What is the relationship between the volume and surface area of a cube? The volume and surface area of a cube are related, but not in a linear way. As the length of one side of a cube increases, its volume increases at a faster rate than its surface area.
    • How many edges does a cube have? A cube has twelve edges.
    • How many vertices does a cube have? A cube has eight vertices.
    • How many diagonals does a cube have? A cube has 11 diagonals.
    • What is the Euler’s formula for a cube? The Euler’s formula for a cube is V – E + F = 2, where V is the number of vertices, E is the number of edges, and F is the number of faces.
    • What is the shortest distance between two opposite vertices of a cube? The shortest distance between two opposite vertices of a cube is the length of the cube’s diagonal, which can be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem as d = ?3s, where s is the length of one side of the cube.
    • What are some real-life examples of objects that are cube-shaped? Some real-life examples of objects that are cube-shaped include dice, Rubik’s cubes, sugar cubes, and some types of storage containers.

     

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    Cube:

    Visual representation

    Visual representation

    Combinatorial properties

    vertices | 8
edges | 12
faces | 6 (6 quadrilaterals)

    Edge lengths

    1 (12 edges)

    Geometric properties

    1

    6

    sqrt(3)/2≈0.866025

    1/sqrt(2)≈0.707107

    1/2 = 0.5

    (assuming unit edge length)

    Schläfli symbol

    {4, 3}

    Wythoff symbol

    3|2 4

    Net

    Net

    Skeleton graph

    cubical graph

    Dual polyhedron

    regular octahedron

    Dual skeleton graph

    octahedral graph

    Symmetry group

    octahedral group

    Properties

    amphichiral | convex | equilateral | isohedron | Platonic | Platonic dual | prism | rhombohedron | rigid | space-filling | uniform | uniform dual | zonohedron

    Associated person

    Plato

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