Eulers Formula

A Naturally Occurring Function

Leonhard Euler was a brilliant

Swiss mathematician. He is
often referred to as the
Beethoven of Mathematics.

Euler discovered an interesting

relationship between the number
of faces, vertices, and edges for
any polyhedron.

Poly-what?

A polyhedron is a 3 dimensional
shape with flat sides.

All prisms and pyramids are

examples of polyhedra (plural for
polyhedron).
POLYHEDRA
PRISMS

PYRAMIDS

Any polyhedron has faces,

vertices, and edges.
EDGE
FACE

VERTEX

A face is a flat side.

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.

FRONT

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
BACK

FRONT

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
TOP

BACK

FRONT

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
TOP

BACK

FRONT

BOTTOM

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
TOP

BACK

FRONT

L
E
F
T

BOTTOM

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
TOP

BACK

FRONT
R
I
G
H
T

L
E
F
T

BOTTOM

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
TOP

BACK
FRONT
R
I
G
H
T

L
E
F
T

BOTTOM

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
TOP
BACK
FRONT
R
I
G
H
T

L
E
F
T

BOTTOM

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
L
E
F
T

TOP
BACK
FRONT
R
I
G
H
T

BOTTOM

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
L
E
F
T

TOP
BACK
FRONT
BOTTOM

R
I
G
H
T

This rectangular prism has 6

faces.
L
E
F
T

TOP
BACK
FRONT
BOTTOM

R
I
G
H
T

This square pyramid has 5 faces.

The faces consist of 4 triangles and a square.

The faces consist of 4 triangles and a square.

A triangular pyramid has 4 faces.

A triangular pyramid has 4 faces.

A triangular pyramid has 4 faces.

A triangular pyramid has 4 faces.

A triangular pyramid has 4 faces.

A triangular pyramid has 4 faces.

An edge is a line segment where

two faces meet.

A rectangular prism has 12

edges.

A triangular pyramid has 6 edges.

A vertex is a corner.
It is a point that connects 2 or
more edges.

A vertex is a fancy word for

corner.
C

Every triangle has 3 vertices (corners).

Points A, B, and C are vertices.

A rectangular prism has 8

vertices.

A rectangular prism has 8

vertices.

A triangular pyramid has 4

vertices.

A triangular pyramid has 4

vertices.

Euler studied the faces, vertices,

and edges of different polyhedra.

Like most great mathematicians

and scientists, he organized his
data in a chart.
Polyhedron

# of Faces

# of Vertices

# of Edges

Cube

12

Sq. Pyramid

Tri. Prism

Euler looked for a relationship

between these numbers.
Polyhedron

# of Faces

# of Vertices

# of Edges

Cube

12

Sq. Pyramid

Tri. Prism

Can you determine Eulers formula that

relates the # of Faces and # of Vertices to
the # of Edges?
Polyhedron

# of Faces

# of Vertices

# of Edges

Cube

12

Sq. Pyramid

Tri. Prism

Faces + Vertices 2 = Edges

Polyhedron

# of Faces

# of Vertices

Cube

Sq. Pyramid

Tri. Prism

+
+

5
6

# of Edges

-2=
-2=
-2=

12
8
9

Use Eulers Formula to

determine the number of edges in
a pentagonal prism.
Polyhedron

# of Faces

# of Vertices

Cube

Sq. Pyramid

Tri. Prism

+
+

Pent. Prism

6
10

# of Edges

-2=
-2=
-2=

12
8
9

Use Eulers Formula to

determine the number of edges in
a pentagonal prism.
Polyhedron

# of Faces

# of Vertices

Cube

Sq. Pyramid

Tri. Prism

Pent. Prism

+
+
+

5
6
10

# of Edges

-2=
-2=
-2=
-2=

12
8
9

Use Eulers Formula to

determine the number of edges in
a pentagonal prism.
Polyhedron

# of Faces

# of Vertices

Cube

Sq. Pyramid

Tri. Prism

Pent. Prism

+
+
+

5
6
10

# of Edges

-2=
-2=
-2=
-2=

12
8
9
15

SUMMARY:
Eulers Formula says that if you
add the number of faces and
vertices, then subtract by 2, the
result is the number of edges.
Eulers Formula works for any
polyhedron.

THE END!