Tower

Catherine August and Brooklyn Blevins

GAT 9A

Mr. Acre

30 May 2017

Tower

Part One: Introduction

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With only a thirty-one by thirty-one feet plot size, and the blueprint of a polygon with

twenty sides, we will take on the challenge of creating the special tower you have requested.

Although it may be difficult, we plan on creating a beautiful tower that meets all of your specific

requirements.

As you have requested, the tower will be designed with various musical decor, so your

ten year old son, Adrian, can find it most enjoyable. We have heard that he is a very talented

child prodigy, and we are very excited to be constructing the tower of his dreams. Upon meeting

with him, he explained that he would love to have an aquarium on his floor, for aesthetic

purposes, so please let him know we are delighted to incorporate this into the tower.

The size of the tower will of course be maximized on the thirty-one by thirty-one plot,

while still remaining inside of the three foot boundary on each side and staying perpendicular to

the plot. The walls will also be one foot thick, just like you have asked. The many other

requirements you have given us will without a doubt be met as well, including two windows, and

making the entrance door three by five feet.

Despite the seeming difficulty of this task, we are extremely excited to show you the

height of our building and calculation talent. Lots of time and hard work is going to be put into

the creation of this tower, and we both hope that it will live up to your highest expectations, and

absolutely blow you away.

Part Two: Our 20 Sided Polygon Maximized on My Plot

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Figure 1. Base of the Tower in the Plot

Figure 1 shows what the base of the tower looks like in the plot, including the footing.

The base is made of 4 polygons, which will be shown in later figures. The polygons represent the

footings, the outer wall, and the inner wall. The sides are touching the edges, because the number

of sides is 20, and 20 is divisible by 4. That means that the sides, not the vertices, touch the

edges. The total length of the given plot was 31 feet x 31 feet, but the working area is only 25

feet x 25 feet to account for the three foot boundary on each side of the plot, which will be

shown in Figure 2.
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Maximize the Plot = plot size-6 No building within 3 feet on each side of plot

Maximize the Plot= 31-6 x 31-6 Substitution

Maximize the Plot= 25 ft x 25 ft Simplify

Figure 2. Maximizing the Plot Size

Figure 2 shows how to maximize the plot size that was given. Since the local rules do not

allow the tower to be built within three feet on each side of the plot, 6 feet was subtracted from

each of the dimensions. The original 31 x 31 feet minus 6 feet for the local rules on each side

leaves the maximized plot as 25 x 25 feet.

Central Angle = 360/number of sides Formula For Central Angle

Central Angle = 360/20 Substitution

Central Angle = 18° Simplify

Figure 3. Finding the Measurement of a Central Angle

Figure 3 shows how to find the measurement of each central angle in the polygon. In

order to find the central angle, 360 is divided by the number of sides of the polygon. Since the

given polygon has 20 sides, 360 is divided by 20 to find the central angle to be 18°. The central

angle will later be used to find the bases and heights for the four polygons.
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Figure 4. Polygon 1 Measurement

Figure 4. shows what polygon 1 looks like in the base of the plot. The height and the side

length of polygon 1 can be used to find the area of polygon 1. The height of the triangle in Figure

4, represented by the variable “y” can be used to find half of the length of the base of the

triangle, or half the side length of polygon 1. The height of the triangle is from the center point of

the polygon to one side length of the polygon. The height will be found in Figure 5.

Height Polygon 1 Triangle (y)= total polygon height/2 Formula Used

Height Polygon 1 Triangle (y)= 25/2 Substitution

Height Polygon 1 Triangle (y)= 12.5 ft Simplify

Figure 5. Height of Triangle in Polygon 1

Figure 5. shows how to find the height of the triangle of polygon 1. The height is

represented by the variable “y” in Figure 4. The total height of the polygon is 25 feet, because

that is how the plot was maximized in Figure 2. The height of the triangle is exactly half of that

height, because the side lengths were touching the base of the plot. So the total length of 25 feet
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was divided by 2, in order to get the height of the triangle, and when that was done, the height of

the triangle in polygon 1 was found to be 12.5 feet.

Side of Polygon 1= tan(θ)= opposite side/adjacent side Formula

Side of Polygon 1= tan(9°) = x/12.5 Substitution

Side of Polygon 1= 1.98 (2) Multiply by 2 to find whole side

Side of Polygon 1≈ 3.96 ft Simplify

Figure 6. Side Length of Polygon 1

Figure 6. shows how to find the side length of polygon 1. The trig function tangent was

used to find the side length, and the formula for tangent is the opposite side over the adjacent

side. First, the central angle of 18° was cut in half, because 18° was the angle for the whole

triangle, but it was cut in half to create 2 right triangles, so the angle is also cut in half to get 9°.

The opposite side is the variable “x” and the adjacent side (or height) is 12.5 as solved in Figure

5. The formula for tangent is the opposite side over the adjacent side, so tan(9°) = x/12.5 was

used to solve for the opposite side. When that was done, about 1.98 feet was solved as half of the

side length of polygon 1. Since the whole side length is needed, that answer was multiplied by 2

to get about 3.96 feet as the side length of polygon 1. It should be noted that this number was

rounded to hundredths, as was many calculations in this paper, but the unrounded numbers were

used when solving for other components of the tower.

Area Polygon 1= ½ (base) (triangle height) (20) Formula

Area Polygon 1= ½ (3.96) (12.5) (20) Substitution

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Area Polygon 1≈ 494.95 ft² Simplify

Figure 7. Area of Polygon 1

Figure 7. shows how to find the area for polygon 1. The area formula is half times the

base times the height. The base is 3.96 feet, as solved in Figure 6, and the height is 12.5 feet, as

solved in Figure 5. The total area was also multiplied by 20, because there are 20 total triangles

in the polygon. When that was done, the area for polygon 1 was calculated to be about 494.95 ft².

Figure 8. Polygon 2 Measurement

Figure 8. shows what polygon 2 looks like in the base of the plot. The height and the side

length of polygon 2 can be used to find the area of polygon 2. The height of the triangle in Figure

8, represented by the variable “y” can be used to find half of the length of the base of the

triangle, or half the side length of polygon 2. The height of the triangle is from the center point of

the polygon to one side length of the polygon. The height will be found in Figure 9.

Height Polygon 2 Triangle (y)= total polygon height/2 Formula Used

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Height Polygon 2 Triangle (y)= 31-8/2 Substitution

Height Polygon 2 Triangle (y)= 11.5 ft Simplify

Figure 9. Height of Triangle in Polygon 2

Figure 9 shows how to find the height a triangle inside of polygon 2. The variable “y”

represents the height in Figure 8. The height of the triangle is 11.5 feet. This was found because

the total polygon height is 23. Since the polygon side lengths touch the base of the plot sides, the

triangle height is one half of the the distance from one side of the polygon to the side that sits

directly opposite it. Half of 23 is 11.5, so 11.5 feet is the height of the triangle in polygon 2.

Side of Polygon 2 = tan(θ)= opposite side/adjacent side Formula

Side of Polygon 1 = tan(9°)= x/11.5 Substitution

Side of Polygon 1 = 1.82 (2) Multiply by 2 to find whole side

Side Length of Polygon 2 ≈3.64 ft Simplify

Figure 10. Side Length of Polygon 2

Figure 10 shows how to find one side length of polygon 2. The trig function tangent

(whose formula is opposite side length over adjacent side length) was used in order to calculate

the height. The central angle of 18° was cut in half to form two right triangles on each side

length. The central angle then becomes 9°, and can be used to find the height. The variable “x”

represents the side opposite the 9° angle, or half of the base, and the adjacent side is 11.5 feet, as

solved for in Figure 9. Tangent is equal to the opposite side length over the adjacent side length,

so the formula can be set up as tan(9°) = x/11.5 in order to solve for the opposite side. When the

equation is solved, the value of x is about 1.82, and that is one half of the whole side length, so

this number needs to be multiplied by 2, resulting in a total side length of about 3.64.

Area of Polygon 2 = ½ (base)(triangle height)(20) Formula

Area of Polygon 2 = ½ (3.64)(11.5)(20) Substitution

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Area of Polygon 2 ≈ 418.93ft² Simplify

Figure 11. Area of Polygon 2

Figure 11 shows how to find the total area of polygon 2. The area formula for a triangle is

½ times the base times the height. Since there are twenty triangles that make up the polygon, this

gets multiplied by 20. The base of the polygon is 3.64 feet, as solved for in Figure 10, and the

height of one triangle is 11.5, as solved for in Figure 9. When ½ (3.64)(11.5)(20) was multiplied,

it was equal to about 418.93, making the total area of polygon about 418.93 feet squared.

Figure 12. Polygon 3 Measurement

Figure 12 shows what polygon 3 looks like inside of the plot. The height and side length

need to be found in order to find the area of the polygon. The height of the triangle, represented

by “y” in Figure 12, can be used to find half of the base, which is represented by “x”. The height
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of the triangle is the distance from the center point of the polygon to the center of any side, and

will be found in Figure 13.

Height Polygon 3 Triangle (y) = total polygon height/2 Formula Used

Height Polygon 3 Triangle = (31-10)/2 Substitution

Height Polygon 3 Triangle = 10.5 ft Simplify

Figure 13. Height of Triangle in Polygon 3

Figure 13 shows how to find the height of one triangle inside of polygon 3. The total

height of the polygon is 21 feet, meaning the height of the triangle on one side is 10.5 feet. The

height of the triangle is one half of the total polygon height, because the base sides of the largest

polygon touch the sides of plot.

Side Polygon 3 = tan(θ)= opposite side/adjacent side Formula

Side Polygon 3 = tan(9°)= x/10.5 Substitution

Side Polygon 3 = 1.66 (2) Multiply by 2 to find whole side

Side Polygon 3 ≈ 3.33 ft Simplify

Figure 14. Side Length of Polygon 3

Figure 14 shows how to find one side length of polygon 3. Since the trig function tangent

is being used, the sides opposite and adjacent to the central angle are needed. The formula then

becomes tan(9°) = x/10.5. When the equation is solved, x is found to be about 1.66. From here,

1.66 needs to be multiplied by 2, because it is only one half of the total side length. This results

in the side length of polygon 3 being about 3.33 feet.

Area of Polygon 3 = ½ (base)(height)(20) Formula

Area of Polygon 3 = ½ (3.33)(10.5) Substitution

Area of Polygon 3 ≈349.24 ft² Simplify

Figure 15. Area of Polygon 3
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Figure 15 shows how to find the area of polygon three. Since all of the polygons can be

divided into 20 triangles, the area formula is ½ (base)(height)(20), where the base is equal to

3.33 as shown in Figure 14, and the height is 10.5 as shown in Figure 13. When the base and

height are multiplied together and then by ½, because it’s a triangle, and 20, because of the 20

triangles, the resulting answer is approximately 349.24, meaning the area of polygon 3 is about

349.24 feet squared.

Figure 16. Polygon 4 Measurement

Figure 16. shows polygon 4 looks like inside of the plot. The height and side length need

to be found in order to find the area of polygon 4. The height of the triangle, represented by “y”

in Figure 16, can be used to find half of the base, which is represented by “x”. The height of the

triangle is the distance from the center point of the polygon to the center of any side, and will be

found in Figure 17.

Height Polygon 4 Triangle (y)= total polygon height/2 Formula

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Height Polygon 4 Triangle (y) = (31-12)/2 Substitution

Height Polygon 4 Triangle (y) = 9.5 ft Simplify

Figure 17. Height of Triangle in Polygon 3

Figure 17 shows the method for finding the height of the triangle in polygon 4. The

height of the triangle is one half of the total polygon height, as the base of the triangle touches

the base of the polygon. Since polygon 4 is the innermost polygon on the whole plot, 12 needs to

be subtracted from the original 31, leaving 19. 19 then gets divided by 2 making the triangle

height 9.5 feet.

Side Polygon 4 = tan(θ)= opposite side/ adjacent side Formula

Side Polygon 4 = tan(9°) = x/9.5 Substitution

Side Polygon 4 =1.50(2) Multiply by 2 to find whole side

Side Polygon 4 ≈3.01 ft Simplify

Figure 18. One Side Length of Polygon 4

Figure 18 shows how to find one side length on polygon 4. To do this, the trig function

tangent is used. Tangent of theta is equal to the opposite side length over the adjacent side

length. In this case the adjacent side length is 9.5, as solved for in Figure 17. Theta is equal to 9°,

because this is one half of the central angle. Therefore, tangent(9°) = x/9.5. When the equation is

solved, x is equal to about 1.50. However, this is only one half of the overall side length of

polygon 4, so this must be multiplied by 2 to get about 3.01 feet.

Area Polygon 4 = ½ (base)(height)(20) Formula

Area Polygon 4 = 1/2 (3.01)(9.5)(20) Substitution

Area Polygon 4 ≈ 285.88 ft² Simplify

Figure 19. Finding the Area of Polygon 4
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In Figure 19, it is shown how to find the area of polygon 4. Since there are 20 triangles in

the polygon, and the area formula for a triangle is ½ (base)(height) the formula for this shape

becomes ½ (base)(height)(20). The length of the base is 3.01 feet, as found in Figure 18, and the

height of the triangle is 9.5 feet, as found in Figure 17. This means the equation becomes ½

(3.01)(9.5)(20). When multiplied out, the result is about 285.88, meaning the area of polygon 4 is

equal to about 285.88 feet squared.

Part Three: Volume of the Concrete Needed for the Flooring, the Plexiglas Needed for the
Floor, and the Water Needed for the Aquarium

Figure 20. Dimensions of Footing

Figure 20 shows the footing that will lie beneath the tower and its dimensions. The

footing is 3 feet wide, as it extends from polygon 1 to polygon 4. Also, the depth of the footing is

3.5 feet deep, which was given. The length of the inner base of the footing is about 3.01 feet, as

it is part of polygon 4, which was solved in Figure 18. The length of the outer base of the footing

is about 3.96 feet, as it is part of polygon 1, which was solved in Figure 6.

Footing Area = Area of Polygon 1 - Area of Polygon 4 Formula

Footing Area = 494.95 - 285.88 Substitution

Footing Area ≈209.07 ft² Simplify

Figure 21. Area of Footing
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Figure 21 shows how to find the area of the footing beneath the tower. In order to find

this, the area of the fourth polygon needs to be subtracted from the area of the first polygon. That

is because since the footing extends from polygon 1 to polygon 4, if the area of polygon 4 is

subtracted, the area of the footing will be left. The area of the fourth polygon is about 285.88, as

shown in Figure 19, and the area of the first polygon is about 494.95, as shown in Figure 7.

When 285.88 is subtracted from 494.95, the area of the footing is solved to be about 209.07 ft².

Footing Volume = (Footing Area) (Floor Depth) Formula

Footing Volume = 209.07(3.5) Substitution

Footing Volume ≈731.74 ft³ Simplify

Figure 22. Volume of Footing

Figure 22 shows how to find the volume of the footing. Since the formula for volume is

the area of base times the height, the formula, area of footing times the floor depth, can be used.

Since the area of the footing is equal to 209.07 square feet, as found in Figure 21, and the footing

is 3.5 feet deep, when multiplied, the volume of the footing is about 731.74 ft³.

Concrete Cost = $115/cubic yard Given

Concrete Cost = (Footing Volume/27)(115) Formula

Concrete Cost = (731.74/27)(115) Substitution

Concrete Cost = (28)(115) Simplify Fraction

Concrete Cost ≈$3,220 Simplify

Figure 23. Cost of Concrete for Footing

Figure 23 shows how much the concrete for the footing will cost. Concrete is priced at

$115 per cubic yard (one cubic yard = 27 cubic feet). In order to find this cost, the volume of the

footing needs to be divided by 27, because the cost is $115 per 27 cubic feet, and then that

quotient needs to be multiplied by 115. The volume of the footing is about 731.47, as shown in
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Figure 22, and 731.47 divided by 27 is about 27.10. However, one tenth of a bag of concrete

cannot be purchased, so this number needs to be rounded up to 28. From here, 28 is multiplied

by 115, meaning the cost of concrete for the footing will be about $3,220.

Figure 24. Floor

Figure 24. shows what the floor looks like. The floor is made up of polygon 4, as the

floor is polygon 4. The depth of the floor is 4 inches, or ⅓ of a foot.

Floor Volume = (Area Polygon 4) (⅓) Formula

Floor Volume = 285.88 (⅓) Substitution

Floor Volume ≈ 95.29 ft³ Simplify

Figure 25. Floor Volume

The volume of the floor was found by using the formula, the area of polygon 4 times ⅓.

That is because the base of the floor is polygon 4, so the area of polygon 4 was used, which is

285.88square feet, as solved in Figure 19. In order to find the volume of the floor, the depth of

the floor, which was 4 inches, or ⅓ of a foot, has to be multiplied by the area of polygon 4. It is

necessary to convert the 4 inches to ⅓ of a foot so that the multiplication is of the same

measurements. When 285.88 is multiplied by ⅓, the total volume of the floor is about 95.29 ft³.
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Plexiglas Cost = $1100/ 48” x 96” x 4” Cost in Inches

Plexiglas Cost = $1100/ 4’ x 8’ x ⅓’ Cost in Feet

Figure 26. Plexiglas Cost Conversion

In order to find the cost of plexiglass for the tower, the given cost in inches has to be

converted to feet. It costs $1100 for a sheet that is 48” x 96” x 4”. When those measurements are

converted to feet, it costs $1100 for a sheet that is 4’ x 8’ ⅓’. Since the width is ⅓ and the floor

is also ⅓, it can be disregarded, because it is already cut to size. The total area will be divided by

32, because the company dimensions are 4 times 8, and 4 times 8 is 32.

Plexiglas Cost = (Polygon 4 Area/32) (1100) Formula

Plexiglas Cost = (285.88/32) (1100) Substitution

Plexiglas Cost = (9) (1100) Fraction Simplify

Plexiglas Cost = $9900 Simplify

Figure 27. Plexiglas Cost

Figure 27 shows how much the sheets will cost for the floor. Sheets of plexiglas are

priced at priced at $1100 per sheet. The total area of polygon 4, which is 285.88, as solved in

Figure 19, was divided by 32, as explained in Figure 26. When 285.88 is divided by 32, the

resulting answer is about 8.93. That needs to be rounded to 9, because it is not possible to buy

8.93 sheets of plexiglass. From here, 9 is multiplied by 1100, meaning the cost for plexiglas for

the floor is about $9900.

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Figure 28. Aquarium

Figure 28. shows what the aquarium looks like. The aquarium is located inside of

polygon 4, and the given total depth is 3.5 feet. As given, the aquarium will be filled 75% with

water, and the volume of the aquarium and the space with water will be solved later on.

Volume of Aquarium = (Polygon 4 Area) (3.5) Formula

Volume of Aquarium = (285.88) (3.5) Substitution

Volume of Aquarium ≈ 1000.59 ft³ Simplify

Figure 29. Volume of Aquarium

In order to find the volume of an aquarium, the given depth of 3.5 feet has to be

multiplied by the area of the base. The base is made of polygon 4. The area of polygon 4 is

285.88 feet as solved in Figure 19. When 285.88 was multiplied by the given depth of 3.5 feet,

the total volume of an aquarium was solved to be about 1000.59 ft³.

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Water Volume = (Volume of Aquarium) (75%) Formula

Water Volume = (1000.59) (.75) Substitution

Water Volume ≈750.45 ft³ Simplify

Figure 30. Volume of Water Needed for Aquarium

Figure 30 shows how to find the volume of water needed for the aquarium. The water is

supposed to take up 75% of the total volume of the aquarium. The total volume of the aquarium

is 1000.59 ft³, as solved in Figure 29. In order to find the volume of the water, the total volume

of 1000.59 was multiplied by .75, because the water fills up 75% of the aquarium. When that

was done, the total volume of water in the aquarium was found to be about 750.45 ft³.

Part Four: One Lateral Face of the Outer Prism Base

Figure 31. Dimensions of Outer Prism Door and Lateral Face

Figure 31. shows the dimensions of both the door and the lateral face. The base and

height of the door were required to be 3 feet and 5 feet. The radius of the polygon is half the
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length of the base of the door, as seen in Figure 31. That means that the radius is 1.5 feet, which

can later be used to find the side length of the polygon. Also, the height of the lateral face is 7.29

feet, which will be solved in Figure 32.

Lateral Face Height = 2 (side length of polygon 2) Formula

Lateral Face Height = 2 (3.64) Substitution

Lateral Face Height ≈ 7.29 feet Simplify

Figure 32. Lateral Face Height

Figure 32. shows how to find the height of a lateral face of the prism. In order to find that

height, it was given that the height is twice the length of one side length of polygon 2. One side

length of polygon 2 is about 3.64 feet, so when that is multiplied by 2, the height of a lateral face

is found to be about 7.29 feet.

Lateral Face Surface Area= length (height) Formula

Lateral Face Surface Area= 3.64 (7.29) Substitution

Lateral Face Surface Area≈ 26.54 ft² Simplify

Figure 33. Surface Area Lateral Face on Prism

Figure 33. shows how to find the surface area of one lateral face of the prism. The area

formula is length times height. The length is about 3.64 feet, because that is the length of one

side of polygon 2, as solved in Figure 10, and polygon 2 is the base of the prism. The height is

about 7.29 feet, as solved in Figure 32. When 3.64 is multiplied by 7.29, the surface area of one

lateral face is found to be about 26.54 ft².

Rectangular Door SA= length (height) Formula

Rectangular Door SA= 3 (5) Substitution

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Rectangular Door SA= 15 ft² Simplify

Figure 34. Surface Area of Rectangular Door

In order to find the surface area of a rectangular door, the formula is length times height.

The length of the door is 3 feet and the height of the door is 5 feet, because that was given. When

3 and 5 are multiplied together, the surface area of the door is found to be exactly 15 ft².

Half Polygon Side= tan(θ)= opposite side/ adjacent side Formula

Half Polygon Side= tan(9)= x/1.5 Substitution

Half Polygon Side≈ .24 ft Simplify

Figure 35. Half of a Polygon Side

In order to find half of a polygon side, tangent can be used, and the formula for tangent is

the opposite side over the adjacent side. The opposite side is the side that is being solved for, and

it given the variable “x” in Figure 31. The central angle of a 20 sided polygon is 18°, as solved in

Figure 3. The angle used to solve is 9°, because the triangle was cut in half in order to create a

right angle, which also cuts the 18° angle in half to 9°. The adjacent side is 1.5 feet as solved in

Figure 31. When tan(9)= x/1.5 is done, solving for “x”, half of the polygon’s side was found to

be about .24 ft

Polygon Side= half of polygon side (2) Formula

Polygon Side= .24 (2) Substitution

Polygon Side≈ .48 ft Simplify

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Figure 36. Full Polygon Side

Figure 36. shows how to find the full side of the polygon. Half of a polygon side was

found to be .24 feet, as solved in Figure 35. In order to find the full side length, .24 can be

multiplied by 2. When that is done, the full side length of the polygon was found to be about .48

feet.

Figure 37. Outer Prism With a Window

Figure 37. shows what one of the two windows looks like on the lateral face of the outer

prism. One side length of a window is .48 feet, as solved in Figure 36. The base of the outer

prism lateral face is 3.64 feet, as solved in Figure 31. The height is 7.29, as solved in Figure 32.
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Surface Area Window= ½ (base)(height)(20 triangles) Formula

Surface Area Window= ½ (.48)(1.5)(20) Substitution

Surface Area Window≈ 7.13 ft² Simplify

Figure 38. Surface Area of Window

Figure 38. shows how to find the surface area of a window on the outer prism of the

tower. The formula to find the area, because there are 20 triangles making up the window, is ½

times the base times the height times the 20 triangles. The base of the window is .48 feet, as

solved in Figure 36. The height is 1.5 feet, as solved in Figure 31. When the multiplication of

½ (.48)(1.5)(20) is done, the surface area of a window is found to be about 7.13 ft².

Half Surface Area Window= Surface Area Window/2 Formula

Half Surface Area Window= 7.13/2 Substitution

Half Surface Area Window≈ 3.56 ft² Simplify

Figure 39. Half Surface Area of Window

Figure 39. shows how to find the surface area of half of the window, as half of the

window can be seen in the door. The surface area of a full window was found to be 7.13 ft² in

Figure. 38. In order to find half of a window, 7.13 can be divided in half to get half of the surface

area of the window as about 3.56 ft².

SA Lateral Face With Door and Half a Window= (TSA lateral Formula
face) - (SA door + half surface area window)

SA Lateral Face With Door and Half a Window= 26.54 - Substitution

(15+3.56)

SA Lateral Face With Door and Half a Window= 26.54 - 18.56 Simplify
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SA Lateral Face With Door and Half a Window≈ 7.98 ft² Simplify
Figure 40. Surface Area of Lateral Face With Door and Half a Window

Figure 40. shows how to find the surface area of one lateral face that includes the door

with half of a window. The total surface of a lateral face is 26.54, as solved in Figure. 33, but

because this lateral face has a door and half a window, the area of the door and half a window

has to be subtracted. The area of the door is 15 ft², as solved in Figure 34. The area of half of a

window is 3.56 ft² as solved in Figure 39. When 15 and 3.56 are added, the resulting answer is

about 18.56. When that is subtracted from the original 26.54, the total surface area of a lateral

face with the door and half a window is about 7.98 ft².

Surface Area of Lateral Face With a Window= (TSA Lateral Formula

Face) - (SA Window)

Surface Area of Lateral Face With a Window= 26.54 - 7.13 Substitution

Surface Area of Lateral Face With a Window≈ 19.41 ft² Simplify

Figure 41. Surface Area of Lateral Face With a Window

Figure 41. shows how to find the lateral surface area of a lateral face of the outer prism

that includes a window. The total surface area of a lateral face without a window is about 26.54,

as solved in Figure. 33. In order to find the lateral surface area of a face that includes a window,

the area of a window has to be subtracted. The area of one window is 7.13, as solved in earlier

Figure 38.
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Figure 42. Outer Base Polygon and One Outer Lateral Wall Dimensions

Figure 42. shows the outer polygon used as the base with one outer lateral wall. The side

length of one side of the base and one side of the lateral wall is about 3.64 feet, as solved in

Figure 10, because the base is polygon 2. The height of one lateral face is about 7.29 feet, as

solved in Figure 32.

LSA Outer Prism= (TSA Lateral Face) (20 triangles) - (Surface Formula
area of a door + 2½ windows)

LSA Outer Prism= (26.54)(20) - 36.38 Substitution

LSA Outer Prism≈ 494.43 ft² Simplify

Figure 42. Lateral Surface Area Outer Prism

Figure 42. shows how to find the lateral surface area of the outer prism of the tower. The

lateral surface area of one lateral face is about 26.54, as solved in Figure. 33. That has to be

multiplied by 20, because there are 20 lateral faces. In order to account for the door with half a

window and 2 windows, the surface area of a door and 2 ½ windows has to be subtracted. The

surface area of the door is 15 ft², as solved in Figure 34. The surface area of half a window is

about 3.56 ft², as solved in Figure 39. The surface area of a full window is about 7.13 ft², as
 August - Blevins 24

solved in Figure 38. When 15, 3.56, 7.13, and 7.13 are added, using their unrounded numbers,

the resulting answer is about 36.38. When that is subtracted from 26.54 times 20, the outer lateral

surface area was found to be about 494.43 ft².

Part Five: Volume of the Inner Base Prism

Figure 43. Inner Prism Dimensions

Figure. 43 shows the dimensions of the inner prism walls. The inner walls are made using

polygon 3, making the length of the base about 3.33 feet, as solved for polygon 3 in Figure 14.

The height is about 7.29 feet, as it is given that the inner prism has the same height as the outer

prism, and the outer prism height was solved to be about 7.29 feet in Figure 32.
 August - Blevins 25

Figure 44. Dimensions of Lateral Wall of Inner Prism

Figure 44. shows the dimensions of the lateral wall of the inner prism . Polygon 3 was

used to make the inner walls, making the length of the base about 3.33 feet, as solved for

polygon 3 in Figure 14. The height is about 7.29 feet, as it is given that the inner prism has the

same height as the outer prism, and the outer prism height was solved to be about 7.29 feet in

Figure 32.

Volume Inner Prism= Area of the Base (Height) Formula

Volume Inner Prism= (349.24) (7.29) Substitution

Volume Inner Prism≈ 2, 544.44 ft³ Simplify

Figure 45. Volume Inner Prism

Figure 45. shows how to find the volume of the inner prism of the tower. In order to find

the volume, the area of the base, which is also the area of polygon 3, can be multiplied by the

height to find the volume. The area of the base, which is also the area of polygon 3 is about

349.24 ft², as solved in Figure 15. The height is about 7.29 feet, as solved in Figure 32. When
 August - Blevins 26

349.24 is multiplied by 7.29 using their unrounded numbers, the volume of the inner prism was

found to be about 2, 544.44 ft³.

Part Six: Pyramid Top of the Outer Pyramid Showing the Height of the Outer Pyramid
and the Slant Height of One Lateral Face of the Outer Pyramid

Figure 46. Dimensions of Outer Pyramid

Figure 46. Shows the dimensions of the outer pyramid of the tower. The height of the

outer pyramid is about 10.93 feet, as solved in Figure 47. The slant height of the outer pyramid is

about 15.86 feet, as solved in Figure 48. The angle between the base and the slant height is about

43.54°, as solved in Figure 49.

Height Outer Pyramid= 3(one side of polygon 2) Formula

Height Outer Pyramid= 3(3.64) Substitution

 August - Blevins 27

Height Outer Pyramid≈ 10.93 ft Simplify

Figure 47. Height of Outer Pyramid

Figure 47. shows how to find the height of the outer pyramid. It was given that the height

of the outer tower is 3 times one side length of polygon 2. One side length of polygon 2 was

solved to be about 3.64 feet in Figure 10. When 3.64 is multiplied by 3, the height of the outer

pyramid was found to be about 10.93 feet.

Slant Height (c²) = a² + b² Right Triangle- Pythagorean Theorem Used

Slant Height (c²) = 10.93² + 11.5² Substitution

Slant Height≈ 15.86 ft Simplify

Figure 48. Slant Height Outer Pyramid

Figure 48. shows how to find the slant height of the outer pyramid. The slant height can

be thought of as a right triangle, with the normal height of 10.93 ft as a², as solved in Figure 47.

Then, half of the base is 11.5 as b², as solved in Figure 9, as 11.5 is half of the total given base of

polygon 2. When 10.93² + 11.5² is solved for as equal to c², the slant height was found to be

about 15.86 feet.

Angle= tan(θ)= opposite side/ adjacent side Formula

Angle= tan(θ)= 10.93/11.5 Substitution

Angle= (θ)=tan^-1 (10.93/11.5) Simplify

Angle= θ ≈ 43.54° Simplify

Figure 49. Angle Between Base and Slant Height

Figure 49. shows how to find the angle that is made between the base and the slant

height. Tangent can be used in order to do this, and the tangent formula is the opposite side over

the adjacent side. The opposite side is about 10.93 feet, as solved in Figure 47. The adjacent side

is 11.5 feet, as solved in Figure 9. This can be seen visually in Figure 46. When tan^-1
 August - Blevins 28

(10.93/11.5) is done in order to solve for angle theta, the angle between the base and slant height

was found to be about 43.54°.

Part Seven: One Lateral Face of the Outer Pyramid

Figure 50. Dimensions of One Lateral Face of the Pyramid

Figure 50. shows the dimensions used to construct one lateral face of the outer pyramid.

The outer pyramid extends to polygon 3, making the length of the base at about 3.64 feet, as

solved in Figure 10. Half of the base of the triangle is about 1.82 feet, because 3.64/2 is about

1.82. The 1.82 feet will be used to help solve for angle measurements later in the paper. The

height of the triangle was solved to be about 15.86 feet in Figure 48. Figure 50. also shows the

angle measurements of the lateral face. Angle A was found to be approximately 13.10° and

Angle B and C were found to be approximately 83.45°. An explanation on how those angles

were found will be explained later in the paper.

Angle= θ = tan^-1(opposite side/ adjacent side) Formula

 August - Blevins 29

Angle= θ = tan^-1(15.86/1.82) Substitution

Angle= θ ≈ 83.45° Simplify

Figure 51. Angle B Measurement

Figure 51. shows how to find the angle measurement for angle B, which is shown in

Figure 50. The inverse of tangent can be used to find angle B, and the formula used was tan^-

1(opposite side/ adjacent side), as that is the tangent formula. The opposite side from B is about

15.86 feet, and the adjacent side is about 1.82 feet, as shown in Figure 50. When that is done, the

measurement of angle B is found to be about 83.45°.

Angle= θ = tan^-1(opposite side/ adjacent side) Formula

Angle= θ = tan^-1(15.86/1.82) Substitution

Angle= θ ≈ 83.45° Simplify

Figure 52. Angle C Measurement

Figure 52, shows how to find the angle measurement for angle C, which is shown in

Figure 50. The inverse of tangent can be used to find angle C, and the formula used was tan^-

1(opposite side/ adjacent side), as that is the tangent formula. The opposite side from C is about

15.86 feet, and the adjacent side is about 1.82 feet, as shown in Figure 50. When that is done, the

measurement of angle C is found to be about 83.45°

Angle A Measurement= 180-83.45-83.45 Formula

Angle A Measurement≈ 13.10° Simplify

Figure 53. Angle A Measurement

Figure 53. shows the math to find the measure of angle A, which can be seen visually in

Figure 50. Since all of the angles in a triangle add up to 180, and 2 of the angles have been found

to both be 83.45° in Figures 51 and 52, 83.45 and 83.45 can be subtracted from 180 to find the
 August - Blevins 30

angle measurement of angle A. When using the unrounded decimals, the measurement of angle

A was found to be about 13.10°.

Area Lateral Face= ½ (base) (height) Formula

Area Lateral Face= ½ (3.64) (15.86) Substitution

Area Lateral Face≈ 28.90 ft² Simplify

Figure 54. Area of Lateral Face of Outer Pyramid

Figure 54. shows how to find the area of a lateral face of an outer pyramid. The lateral

face of the pyramid is a triangle, so the area formula of ½ times the base times the height was

used. The base of the triangle face was about 3.64 feet, because it is the same as the base of

polygon 2, and the base of polygon 2 was solved to be about 3.64 feet in Figure 10. The height of

the lateral face is about 15.86 feet as solved in Figure 48. When ½ is multiplied by 3.64 and

15.86 using their unrounded numbers, the area of a lateral face of the outer pyramid was found to

be about 28.90 ft².

LSA Outer Pyramid= Area of a lateral face (20 Formula

triangles)

LSA Outer Pyramid= 28.90 (20) Substitution

LSA Outer Pyramid≈ 577.92 ft² Simplify

Figure 55. Lateral Surface Area of the Outer Pyramid

Figure 55. shows how to find the lateral surface area of the outer pyramid. In order to

find the total lateral surface area of the outer pyramid, the lateral surface area of one face of the
 August - Blevins 31

outer pyramid can be multiplied by 20, because there are 20 sides, to find the total lateral surface

area of the outer pyramid. The lateral surface area of one face of the outer pyramid was found to

be about 28.90 ft² in Figure 56. When that is multiplied by the 20 sides, the lateral surface area of

the outer pyramid was found to be about 577.92 ft².

Part Eight: Pyramid Top of the Inner Pyramid Showing the Height of the Inner Pyramid

Figure 56. Dimensions of the Inner Pyramid

Figure 56. shows the dimensions of the inner pyramid. The inner pyramid extends to

polygon 3, which means the length of one of the sides of the base is about 3.33 feet, as the length

of one side of the base of polygon 3 was solved to be about 3.33 feet in Figure 14. The height of

the inner pyramid was given to be 3 times the length of the base. The height was found to be

about 9.98 feet, which will be found and explained in Figure 57.

Height Inner Pyramid= side of polygon 3 (3) Formula

Height Inner Pyramid= 3.33 (3) Substitution

Height Inner Pyramid≈9.98 ft Simplify

Figure 57. Height of Inner Pyramid
 August - Blevins 32

Figure 57. Shows how to find the height of the inner pyramid. It was given that the height

would be 3 times the side of the base of polygon 3, and the side of the base of polygon 3 was

solved to be about 3.33 feet in Figure 14. When the unrounded number of 3.33 was multiplied by

3, the height of the inner pyramid was found to be about 9.98 feet.

Volume Inner Pyramid= surface area of Formula

polygon 3 (height) (⅓)

Volume Inner Pyramid= 349.24 (9.98) (⅓) Substitution

Volume Inner Pyramid≈1161.59 ft³ Simplify

Figure 58. Volume of Inner Pyramid

Figure 58. shows how to find the volume of the inner pyramid. The volume formula is ⅓

times the base times the height. The base of the inner pyramid is also the base of polygon 3, and

the surface area of polygon 3 was solved to be about 349.24 ft² in Figure 15. The height of the

inner pyramid was found to be about 9.98 feet in Figure 57. When 349.24 is multiplied by 9.98

and ⅓, the volume of the inner pyramid was found to be about 1161.59 ft³

Part Nine: Our Tower

Figure 59. Completed Tower

 August - Blevins 33

Figure 59. shows how the tower will look once the building process has been complete.

The door with half of a window and two windows are shown, along with the lateral faces of the

outer prism and the lateral faces of the outer pyramid.

Outer LSA= Surface area of prism + surface area of pyramid Formula

Outer LSA= 494.43 + 577.92 Substitution

Outer LSA≈ 1072.35 ft² Simplify

Figure 60. Outer Lateral Surface Area Without Windows and Doors

Figure 60. shows how to find the outer lateral surface area without including the windows

and door. This can be done by taking the surface area of the prism, which was solved to be about

494.43 ft² in Figure 42, and adding it to the surface area of the outer pyramid, which was solved

to be about 577.92 ft² in Figure 55. When that was done, the outer lateral surface area without

including the windows and door was found to be about 1072.35 ft².

Outer LSA= LSA of outer tower without windows and doors + Formula
surface area of windows and doors

Outer LSA= 1072.35 + 36.38 Substitution

Outer LSA≈ 1108.73 ft² Simplify

Figure 61. Lateral Surface Area of Outer Tower With Windows and Door

Figure 61. shows how how to find the lateral surface area of the outer tower, including

the windows and door. In order to do that, the lateral surface area without the windows and door

can be added to the surface area of the windows and door. The lateral surface area without the

windows and door was solved to be about 1072.35 ft² in Figure 60. The lateral surface area of the

windows and doors was found to be about 36.38 ft² as part of Figure 42. When those amounts are
 August - Blevins 34

added together, the outer lateral surface area including the windows and doors was found to be

about 1108.73 ft³.

Volume Inner Tower= Volume inner prism + volume inner pyramid Formula

Volume Inner Tower= 2544.44 + 1161.59 Substitution

Volume Inner Tower≈3706.03 ft³ Simplify

Figure 62. Volume of Inner Tower

Figure 62. shows how to find the volume of the inner tower. In order to find the volume

of the inner tower, the volume of the inner prism can be added to the volume of the inner

pyramid. The volume of the inner prism was solved to be about 2544.44 ft³ in Figure 45. The

volume of the inner pyramid was found to be about 1161.59 ft³ in Figure 58. When those values

are added together to find the total volume of the inner tower, the total volume of the inner tower

was found to be about 3706.03 ft³.

Part 10: Conclusion

As you can see, we have put large amounts of our time into building a great tower for

your son, and we hope that you find it more than suitable for him to live in. If you would like to

make any changes or can think of any improvements that could be made, be sure to let us know,

and we will gladly be willing to make them for you.

Creating Adrian’s tower was quite a difficult task, and we did inevitably run into a few

issues along the way. In the actual calculations for the tower, there was a slight problem in

making sure exact numbers were used, not their rounded counterparts. We had to go through all

of the math about three times to iron out any wrinkles and discrepancies we had with numbers

being rounded. However, most of the problems we ran into occurred in the actual constructing of

the scale model of your son’s tower. We experienced difficulty in creating the footing of your
 August - Blevins 35

tower correctly, as at first when we cut out all of the pieces we realized that they were cut to

measurements that corresponded with the incorrect polygon. We also had a rather hard time in

representing the four 20 sided polygons on the scaled plot of land, and had to redo this process

several times as well.

Despite the problems we encountered throughout this project, the both of us are very

proud to say that we have built a beautiful tower that we believe will very much so please your

son. The inside has even been carefully decorated with an assortment of musical notes and

symbols, and we will even be willing to go to the extents of moving Adrian’s instruments into

his newly built tower, to give its theme the full effect. We can’t wait to see the joy on your lovely

boy’s face when he sees what a masterpiece we have created for him, and we would definitely be

open to completing projects for you again in the future. From the bottom of our hearts, we hope

that this tower is everything that both you and Adrian have wanted, and we are thankful that you

have brought such an challenging yet interesting task upon us.