WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

A Theorem on the Dihedral Angles of a Tetrahedron

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a
1.2
b
1
c
1
d
1.2
e
1.2
f
1.2
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a ⊗ e
b ⊗ f
c ⊗ d
2.94387
2.94387
2.94387
edge
length
angle
angle (radians)
a
1.2
α
1.69989
b
1.
β
1.92172
c
1.
γ
1.69989
d
1.2
δ
2.09151
e
1.2
ϵ
1.74
f
1.2
ϕ
2.09151
Let
a
,
b
,
c
,
d
,
e
,
f
be the edges of a tetrahedron and let
α
,
β
,
γ
,
δ
,
ϵ
,
ϕ
be the corresponding dihedral angles. Define the function
p⊗q
on pairs of opposite edges and dihedral angles as
2
p
+
2
q
+2pqcotp'cotq'
, where
p'
is the dihedral angle at
p
and
q'
is the dihedral angle at
q
.
A theorem states that this function is constant on the three pairs of opposite edges of a tetrahedron.