What is an Archimedean solid?
Q: What is an Archimedean solid?
A: An Archimedean solid is a convex shape made of polygons that has the properties of each face being a regular polygon, all corners looking the same, and not being a platonic solid, prism, or antiprism.
Q: How many Archimedean solids are there?
A: Depending on how they are counted, there are either thirteen or fifteen Archimedean solids.
Q: Who discovered the Archimedean solids?
A: The Archimedean solids are named after the Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes who probably discovered them in the 3rd century BC.
Q: What did Pappus of Alexandria do with Archimedes' writings?
A: Pappus of Alexandria summarized Archimedes' writings about the Archimedean solids in the 4th century.
Q: Why did artists and mathematicians rediscover Archimedean solids during the Renaissance?
A: During the Renaissance, artists and mathematicians valued pure forms, and the Archimedean solids were considered to be pure forms.
Q: When did Johannes Kepler complete the search for all the Archimedean solids?
A: Johannes Kepler probably completed the search for all the Archimedean solids around 1620.
Q: What is required to construct an Archimedean solid?
A: Constructing an Archimedean solid requires at least two different polygons.