Tower Project

Joe Weidemann – Kevin Doerr

9C GAT

Mr. Acre

6-1-16
Introduction:

One hot Spring afternoon a wealthy business man decided to give some local

construction workers a challenge they gladly accepted. The challenge was that the construction

workers were to build the largest house possible on the business man’s new property. The

construction workers had to build this house by hand, and also find all of the dimensions. As a

reward the builders would receive a grade on their ability to complete the challenge.

This building was to be used as the wealthy business man’s house. However this was no

normal construction job. The man wanted to have an aquarium underneath his house to be able to

look down and see all the fish from wherever he wanted in his house. Also he did not want to

have to worry about getting in trouble with the law. Therefore he was not able to build the house

up to 3 feet from the edges of his property. This property was 35x35 feet. This law however only

allowed the house to be built on a maximum of 29x29 feet due to the city’s laws.

The lady requested that her house be in the shape of a polygon. The special kind of

polygon she requested is called a tetradecagon. This unique polygon has 14 sides. The man really

challenged the workers by saying that she wanted his new house to be built by June 1st. The

workers took the challenge and got to work quickly because they were excited to have an

opportunity to build this tower.

This challenge was really anticipated by the workers and they knew that they would have

to be working non-stop throughout the month to get all of the work completed in a timely

manner. This being said we are ready to take on this challenge and hope that you will be pleased

by our work and excited to see your brand new tower!

Part Two:

4 2

Figure 1. Base of the Tower and the Plot

Figure 1, above, shows the base of the tower inside the plot requirements and the division

of the base into four polygons. The additional polygons will make up the footings, the outer, and

the inner walls. The original plot was 35ft x 35ft, but was revised because nothing can be

constructed within 3ft of the plot’s edge. The usable area of the plot was changed to 29ft x 29ft

(35-6 x 35-6). Due to the fact that the given amounts of sides were fourteen, the central angle is

≈25.714 (360/14) and each angle measure is ≈154.286 (2160/14). To maximize the given space,

the vertices were made to touch the mid-point of the usable area’s square because if the sides

were to touch, the vertices would be located outside the usable area. It also shows the polygons

one through four on the base starting from Polygon One on the way outside and Polygon Four on

the very inside.

Figure 2. Outermost Polygon Measurements

Figure 2, above, shows the outermost polygon used in the construction of the tower. The

length and the height of the shown triangles are used to find the area of the polygon.

Base of One Triangle

Sin = O/H
B = Sin(90/7) = O/14.5
B = 14.5*Sin(90/7)
B = 3.23
Total Base of the Triangle = 3.23*2 = 6.43
Table 1. Base of Outermost Triangles

Table 1, above, shows how to solve for the base of each of the 14 outermost triangles.

This is done by multiplying the hypotenuse of the triangle which would be 14.5 feet by the

Tan(90/7). This will come out as 3.23 feet, but it is only half of the base of the complete triangle

so you have to multiply it by two. The final base of the outermost triangles is approximately 6.43

feet.
 Height of One Triangle
H = Tan(90/7) = 3.23/A
H = 3.23/Tan(90/7)
H = 14.15
Table 2. Height of the Outermost Triangles

Table 2, above, shows how to solve for the height of one of the fourteen outer triangles.

To solve for the height you use Tan(X) = O/A. Plug in the numbers that are in your triangle and

you should come up with Tan(90/7) = 3.23/A. To solve for the A you then multiple the

Tan(90/7)*3.23. After solving this,your final answer is 14.15 feet.

Area of One Triangle

A = 1/2(B)(H)
A = 1/2(6.46)(14.15)
A = 1/2(6.46)(14.15) = 45.7
A = 45.612 ft2
Table 3. Area of the Outermost Triangles

Table 3, above, shows the steps taken to fine the area of one of the fourteen triangles

inside of the outermost polygon. To solve for the area of a triangle you use the formula

A=½(B)(H). Substitute in the numbers for the letters and you should end up with the formula

½(6.46)(14.15). After multiplying the numbers your final answer for the area of a triangle should

be 45.7 ft2.

Area of Polygon One

Area of Polygon 1 = 45.612 (14)
Area of Polygon 1 = 639.86
Area of Polygon 1 = 638.57 ft2
Table 4. Finding the Area of the Outermost Polygon

Table 4, above, shows how to find the area of the outermost polygon. To solve for this

you have to multiply the area of one of the triangles by fourteen. 14*45.612 = 638.57 ft2.
 Height of Triangle
H = Polygon 1 Triangle Height – 1
H = 14.15 - 1 = 13.15
H = 13.15
Table 5. Finding the Height of Triangles in Polygon Two

Table 5, above, shows the proper steps to finding the height of one of the triangles in

polygon two. To find the height all that has to be done is subtract one from the previous triangles

height. This is because the height is always exactly one foot shorter than the previous one.

Therefore you just subtract one from the previous height. After subtracting one from the previous

height the height of the new triangle is 13.15 feet

Base of Triangle
Tan = O/A
B = Tan(90/7) = O/13.15
B = 2(13.15*Tan(90/7)) = O
Total Base of Triangle = 6
Table 6. Finding the Base of a Single Triangle in Polygon Two

Table 6, above, shows the proper steps used to find the base of a single triangle in

polygon two. To find the base you start with the initial formula used for tangent. This formula is

O/A. After getting your initial formula you have to substitute the letters for the numbers. In the

end your final equation should be Tan(90/7) = O/13.15. To find the value of the base you will be

solving for the letter O. To solve for O you have to multiply both sides of the equation by 13.15.

So to solve it you will have to use (13.15)(Tan(90/7)). The final answer for O is approximately 6

feet. Therefore the base of the triangle is 6 feet.

 Area of Triangle
A = 1/2(B)(H)
A = 1/2(6)(13.15)
A = 1/2(6)(13.15) = 39.45
Area of Tringle = 39.45 ft2
Table 7. Finding the Area of a Triangle in Polygon Two

Table 7, above, shows the proper steps taken to find the area of one of the triangles that

were used in polygon two. To find the volume of a triangle you use the equation ½(B)(H). Using

this equation you substitute in the lengths of the base and the height of the triangle that you

solved for earlier. After substituting in the numbers your final equation should end up being

A=1/2(6)(13.15). After solving your final equation for the area of the triangle your answer

should be 39.45 ft2.

Area of Polygon Two

Area of Polygon 2 = 39.45(14)
Area of Polygon 2 = 552.42
Total Area of Polygon 2 = 551.42 ft2
Table 8. Finding the Area of Polygon Two

To find the area of polygon two you have to multiply the area of the triangle by 14 to find

the total area of the second polygon. The area of a triangle in polygon two is 39.45ft2 so you

have to multiply that by 14 to find the area of the second outermost polygon. So to find the area

of the polygon you have to do (39.56)(14). The final answer to the problem is 551.42. Therefore

the area of polygon two is 551.42ft2.

 Height of Triangle

H = Polygon 2 Triangle Height - 1

H = 13.15 - 1 =12.15
H = 12.15
Table 9. Finding the Height of a Triangle in Polygon Three

Table 9, above, shows how to find the height of a triangle in polygon three. To solve for

the height of a triangle in polygon three you have to subtract one from the height of a triangle in

polygon two. This is because the height is on a 90 degree angle so it is the only part of the

triangle that can go down exactly one when one foot is taken off the triangle. So to solve for the

answer of the height of the triangle you simply do 13.15 – 1 = 12.15 so 12.15ft is the height of

the triangles in polygon three.

Base of Triangle
Tan = O/A
O = Tan(90/7) = O/12.15
O = 2(12.15*Tan(90/7)) = O
Total Base of Triangle = 5.55
Table 10. Finding the Base of the Triangle

Table 10, above, shows how to find the base of the triangles in polygon three using an

equation. This equation is Tan(90/7) = O/12.15. O in this situation is the base of our triangle. The

reason it is Tan(90/7) is because 90/7 is half of the central angle. It is only half because we are

solving for a half of the triangle. To solve the equation you then multiply both sides of the

equation by 12.15 to get O by itself. After multiplying you should get 2(12.15*Tan(90/7)). After

multiplying everything out the base will be approximately 5.55 feet long.
 Area of Triangle
A = 1/2(B)(H)
A = 1/2(5.55)(12.15)
A = 1/2(5.55)(12.15) = 33.72
Area of Triangle = 33.72 ft2
Table 11. Area of the Triangles in Polygon Three

Table 11, above, shows how to find the area of the tringles in polygon three. To find the

area of the triangle you use the equation ½(Base)(Height). After substituting in the numbers your

final equation would be 1/2 (5.55)(12.15) this is because the base of the triangle is 5.55 feet and

the height of the triangle is 12.15 feet. After multiplying everything in a calculator you get the

final area of the triangle which is 33.72 ft2.

Area of Polygon Three

Area of Polygon 3 = 33.72(14)
Area of Polygon 3 = 470.66
Total Area of Polygon 3 = 470.66 ft2
Table 12. Finding the Area of Polygon Three

Table 12, above, shows the steps taken to find the area of polygon three. To solve for the

area of the polygon you have to multiply the area of one of the triangles by 14. This is because

there are 14 triangles that make up polygon three. So the problem that would be used is

33.72(14). So the final area of polygon three is 470.66 ft2.

 Height of Triangle

H = Polygon 3 Triangle Height - 1

H = 12.15 – 1
H = 11.15
Table 13. Finding the Height of a Triangle in Polygon Four

Table 13, above, shows the steps taken to find the height of one of the fourteen different

triangles in polygon four. This is done by subtracting 1 from the height of the triangles in

polygon 3. The total height of one of the triangles is 12.15 – 1 = 11.15.

Base of Triangle
Tan = O/A
O = Tan(90/7) = O/11.15
O = 2(11.15*tan(90/7)) = O
Total Base of Triangle = 5.09
Table 14. Base of the Triangles in Polygon Four

Table 14, above, shows the steps taken to find the bases of the fourteen triangles in

polygon four. This can be done using a tangent. The tangent will be used in the following way;

Tan(90/7) = O/11.15. O in this case will be half of the base of your total triangle. To solve for O

you have to multiply both sides of one of your of the equation by 11.15. To solve for the total

base you just use 2(11.15*Tan(90/7)). After finding this equation you then solve the problem and

the answer will be 5.09. So the base of your triangles is 5.09 feet long.
 Area of Triangle
A = 1/2(B)(H)
A = 1/2(5.09)(11.15)
A = 1/2(5.09)(11.15) = 28.38
Area of Triangle = 28.38 ft2
Table 15. Area of the Triangles in Polygon Four

Table 15, above, shows the steps taken to find the area of the triangles in polygon four.

To find the area of any triangle you use the formula ½(Base)(Height). After substituting in the

base and height of your triangles you should get ½(5.09)(11.15). When this is multiplied out

your answer is approximately 28.38. So the Area of one of your fourteen triangles is

approximately 28.38 ft2.

Area of Polygon Four

Area of Polygon 4 = 28.38(14)
Area of Polygon 4 = 396.30
Total Area of Polygon 4 = 396.30 ft2
Table 16. Finding the Area of Polygon Four

Table 16, above, shows the steps used in finding the area of polygon four. This is done by

multiplying the area of one of your triangles by fourteen. This is because there are fourteen

triangles inside of polygon four. So to solve for the area of the polygon the formula

(Area of a Triangle)(14). Then 28.38 is substituted in for the area of the triangle. After

substitution it is (28.38)(14). The final area of polygon four is 396.30 ft2.

Part Three:

Figure 3. The Footing of the Tower

Figure 3, above, shows the footing of the tower. The footing is 3.5 feet in width which

means it spans 3.5 feet into the ground. It is also an extension of the polygons and inside of the

footing is the aquarium which is filled with water.

Area of the Footing

A=(A of P1x3.5-A of P4x3.5)
A=(638.5x3.5)-(396.3x3.5)
Area of the Footing = 847.95ft2
Table 17. Finding the Volume of the Footing

Table 17, above, shows the way of finding the volume of the footing. It is found by

multiplying the areas of polygon one and four by the depth of the footing (3.5) and subtracting

the two to come up with the correct volume of the area the footing is using.

Volume of Flooring
Volume = Area of Polygon 4*Height
V = 396.3*1/3 = 132.1
Volume = 132.1 ft3
Table 18. Finding the Volume of the Floor

Table 18, above, shows the steps taken to find the volume of the flooring of the tower.

The floor takes place in Polygon Four where the Plexiglas is over the water. The height of the

prism is one third because the floor is four inches thick so it is one third of a foot thick. After

multiplying the area of Polygon Four and the Height of the prism you should get the final

volume of the flooring which is 132.1 ft3.

 Volume of Water
Volume of Water = (75%*Height of Prism)*A of P4
Volume = (0.75*3.5)*396.3
Volume = 1040.29 ft3
Table 19. Finding the Volume of the Water

Table 19, above, shows the steps taken to find the volume of the water. To find this you

do .75*3.5 because it is filled only 75% of the way and multiply it be 396.3 to find the volume of

the water which is 1040.29 ft3

Cost of Concrete
C=(847.95x115)/27
Cost of the Concrete=$36112
Table 20. Cost analysis of the Concrete

Table 20, above, demonstrates how the cost of the concrete was found by multiplying the

volume of the footing(847.95) by the cost of the concrete per cubic yard(115) and then dividing

it by 27 to compensate for the foot to yard ratio using cubic measurements.

Cost of Plexiglas
C=(396.3x38)x1100
Cost of the Plexiglas=$19300
Table 21. Cost analysis of the Plexiglas

Table 21, above, shows the cost of the Plexiglas installation by multiplying the volume of

the flooring, 396.3, by 38 and then by the cost of installation per sheet, $1100, to find the overall

cost.
Part 4:

6 Feet

Figure 4. Side Length of Polygon Two

Figure 4, above, shows that the side length of polygon two is six feet long. This was

solved for earlier when we solved for the base of a triangle in Polygon Two. You can go back

and see the steps taken to find the length back in Figure 8.

12 Feet 6 Foot Base

Figure 5. Height and Base of Outer Prisms

 Figure 5, above, shows that the outer prisms on polygon two is approximately 12 feet tall

and 6 feet on the base. The height comes from the base multiplied by two. Therefore 6*2 = 12 so

the wall is 12 feet high.

5’

3’

Figure 6. Outside wall with 3’x5’ Door.

This image shows an outside wall with the door in it. The door is a three foot by five foot

door. It also has half of the Polygon on it so the window above it has 7 sides which is half of 14.

Area of the Door and Half Window

A = (Base*Height)+(7(1/2Base*Height))
A =(3*5)+(7(1/2(1.5*Sin(90/7))*(.66/Tan(90/7)))
A = (15)+(6.77)
A = 21.78 ft2
Table 22. Finding the Area of the Door and Window above Door

Table 22, above, shows the steps taken to find the area of the door and the window above

the door. This is done by finding the area of the door which is 5*3 = 15. After finding the total

area of the door you have to find the area of the window above the door which will equal out to
be approximately 1.6 feet squared. After finding this you then find the area of a tringle in the

window and multiply it by 7 to find the total area of the door and window.

1.5’

Figure 7. Window of the Tower

Figure 6, above, shows the window and what it looks like when it is completely made.

Each side of the polygon is 2/3 of a foot. So it is 8 inches long.

Area of Window
A = Number of sides(1/2*B*H)
A = 14 (1/2(1.5*Sin(90/7))*(.33/Tan(90/7)))
A = 13.55
Table 23. How to Find the Area of the Window

To find the area of the window you take the area of the triangle that you solved for in

Table 22 but instead of multiplying it by 7 you multiply it by 14. This is because the windows

share the same dimensions. We knew the dimensions of this shape because the diameter of both

of the polygons are 3 feet so they are the same size.

 Lateral Surface Area of Tower
Area of Walls - Area of Windows and Doors
6*12*14 = 1008 ft2
1008 - 35.33 = 972.67
972.67 ft2
Table 24. Total Lateral Surface Area of Tower

Table 24, above, shows how to find the total lateral surface area of the Tower. You do

this by first finding the area of the faces of the walls. You do this by using Base*Height because

the faces are rectangles. You then multiply the area of a single face by 14 to get all of the faces

areas. After doing this you then subtract the area of the windows and doors to get the final area.

Part Five:

Figure 8. Inner Prism

In Figure 8, above, the image shows the walls on the Tower. On the inside of the walls is

everything that is considered to be the Inner Prism of the Tower. The Inner Prism starts at

Polygon and extends inward.

 12’ Height

Figure 9. The Height of the Inner Prism

Figure 9, above, shows the height of the Inner Prism. The Inner Prism’s height is the

same as the walls surrounding it. Since the height of the walls is 12 feet the height of the prism is

12 feet high.

Volume of Inner Prism

V = Area of Polygon 3*Height

V = 470.66*12 = 5,647.92
V = 5,647.92 ft3
Table 25. Finding the Volume of the Inner Prism

Table 25, above, shows the steps taken to find the volume of the Inner Prism of the

shower. This can be done by finding the area of polygon three and multiplying it by the height of

the walls. In this case the area is 470.66 ft2 and the height is 12 so you multiply those and get the

final answer of 5,647.92 ft3.

Part 6:

18’ Height
22’4” Slant
Height

Figure 10. The Height and Slant Height of the Outer Pyramid

Figure 10, above, shows the height of the top outer pyramid and the slant height of one of

its lateral faces.

The Height of the Outer Pyramid

H = 3*One Side Length of the Base

H = 3*6
H = 18 ft
Table 26. Finding the Height of the Outer Pyramid

To find the Height of the outer pyramid, one must simply multiply one side length of the

triangle in the second polygon, which marks the base of the tower, by 3 in order to find this

length.
 The Slant Height of One Lateral Face
H(C2) = A2+B2
H(C2) = 13.52+182
H(C2) = 182.25+324
H = √506.25
H = 22.5 ft
Table 27. Finding the Slant Height

The slant height of the triangular lateral surface can be found by using Pythagoras’s

Theorem. Plug in 13.5 and 18 as A and B and after solving for C2, 506.25, find its square root.

The Angle Measure between the Prism

and Pyramids’ Base
Cos(B) = (C2+A2-B2)/(2*C*A)
Cos(B) = (22.52+13.52-182)/(2*13.5*18)
Cos(B) = .6
Angle Measure = Cos-1(.6)
Angle Measure ≈ 53.1301°
Table 28. Finding the Angle Measure between the Prism and Pyramids’ Base

To find the angle measure between the prism and outermost pyramids’ base, use the Law

of Cosine to solve. Use 22.5, 13.5, and 18 as A,B, and C and plug that into the Law of Cosine’s

function of Cos(B). After solving, use the answer, .6, in Cos-1 to come up with the angle measure

≈ 53.1301°.
Part 7:

18’ Height

82.34 Degrees

Figure 11. The Lateral Face of the Outer Pyramid

Figure 11, above, shows the measurements of the outer pyramid’s lateral faces and angle

measures used to construct it.

The Angle Measures of the Lateral

Face
Cos(A) = (B2 + C2 − A2) /(2*B*C)
Cos(A) = (22.5 2 + 22.5 2 − 6 2)
/(2*22.5*22.5)
Cos(A) = .964444
Angle Measure = Cos-1( .964444)
Angle Measure A ≈ 15.3246°
Angle Measure B and C = (Angle A-
180)/2
Angle Measure B and C = (15.3246-
180)/2
Angle Measure B and C = 82.3375°

Table 29. Finding Angle Measures of the Lateral Face

The angle measures of the lateral face were found by using the inverses of the sides to

find the angle measure of all of the separate angles in the upper pyramid. The inverse cosine
of .9644 is used to find the angle measure of angle A. The measures of angles B and C are the

same and have the same measure.

The Area of One Lateral Face of the

Outer Pyramid
Area of a Triangle = ½(Base*Height)
A = 1/2 ( 6*22.5)
A = ½(135)
A = 67.5
Area of the Triangle = 67.5 ft2
Table 30. Finding the Area of One Lateral Face of the Outer Pyramid

The area of the lateral surface area was found by plugging the necessary requirements

into the area formula of a triangle, ½(Base*Height). The area of just one lateral surface was

found to be 67.5 ft2

The Outer Pyramid’s Surface Area

Total Surface Area = Area of One

Surface*Total Number of Sides
TSA = 67.5*14
TSA = 945 ft2
Table 31. Finding the Outer Pyramid’s Surface Area

The total surface area of the outer pyramid was found by multiplying the area of one

lateral side by the total amount of lateral sides.

Part 8.

Height of Inner Pyramid

Height = 3*Base of Polygon 3
Height = 3*5.55
Height = 16.65 ft
Table 32. Height of Inner Pyramid

To find the height of the inner pyramid you have to multiply one side of polygon 3.

Therefore, the length of the side is taken from Table 10. The side length of polygon 3 is 5.55 feet

long so then you have to multiply that length by three. So to solve for the height of the inner

pyramid you have to do (5.55)(3) and the answer you get is 16.65 so the height of the inner

pyramid is 16.65 feet.

Volume of Inner Pyramid

Volume = 1/3(Area of Polygon 3)(Height)
Volume = 1/3(470.66)(16.65)
Volume = 2612.16 ft3
Table 33. Volume of the Inner Pyramid

Table 33, above, shows the math that was used to find the volume of the inner pyramid.

To find the volume of a pyramid you have to use the formula 1/3(Base)(Height). The base of the

pyramid is the area of Polygon Three and it is approximately 470.66 ft2. The height of the

pyramid is three times the length of a side of Polygon Three which will multiply out to be 16.65

feet. So to find the total volume of the pyramid you substitute and get 1/3(470.66)(16.65) which

multiplies out to be approximately 2612.16 ft3.

Part 9:

Figure 12. The Lateral Surface of The Outer Tower

Figure 12, above, shows the lateral surface of the tower. It also shows just how the tower

should look when construction is finished.

The Lateral Surface Area of The Tower

Total Lateral Surface Area = Pyramid's Lateral Surface Area + Prism's Lateral Surface
Area
TLSA = 945+972.67
Total Lateral Surface Area = 1917.67 ft2

Table 34. Finding The Lateral Surface Area of The Tower

The total lateral surface area was found by adding the previously found lateral surface

areas of the base prism, Table 25, and the outermost pyramid, Table 33, used in constructing the

tower. The final lateral surface area was found to be 1917.67 ft2.
 The Volume of The Inner Tower

Volume of The Inner Tower = Volume of The Innermost

Pyramid+Volume of The Prism
V = 2612.16+5,647.92
Volume of The Inner Tower = 8260.08 ft3

Table 35. Finding the Volume of the Inner Tower

The volume of the inner tower was found by adding the previously found volumes of the

base prism, Table 2, and the innermost pyramid, Table 33. The final volume was found to be

8260.08 ft3.

Conclusion:

Throughout the course of the tower design and build, very few mistakes were made. At

the beginning the math was understood quite easily, but in its execution, some numbers were

falsely substituted with others and caused confusion. Other than beginning infractions, no other

issues were encountered.

The towers design and execution should be admired as quite the feat of not only

architecture, but of pure mathematics.. With 8260.08 ft3 making up the tower, an elegant and

extravagant design could be made out of it. In addition, 1917.67 ft2 of outdoor space could create

a beautiful spectacle if conceptualized correctly. The tower will be a great feat of engineering

and a sight for all to admire.