What are Platonic Solids?

Geometry is the branch of mathematics that deals with different mathematical shapes, sizes, dimensions and related measurements. Figures in Geometry can be 2-Dimensional like square, rectangle, circle or 3-Dimensional like a cube, cuboid. The length, breadth and height(in the case of 3D solids) differ in measurement and dimensions according to the type of geometrical figure chosen.

Platonic solids are special kinds of 3D solids having symmetrical faces for all the sides of the 3D figure. Also, platonic solids have properties that are specific to the vertex like the symmetrical figures/faces meeting at each vertex is the same.  

There are 5 Platonic Solids in the 3D World of Mathematics. These are:

Cube

Cube is a platonic 3D-solid, having the below properties:

• A cube is a three-dimensional figure having 6 faces.
• All the faces are squares symmetrical and equal to each other.
• Also, every cube has three square faces meeting at all the 8 vertices of the cube.

fig1: Cube

Tetrahedron

A tetrahedron is a platonic 3D-solid, having the below properties:

• A tetrahedron is a three-dimensional figure having 4 faces.
• All the faces are triangles symmetrical and equal to each other.
• Also, every tetrahedron has three triangle faces meeting at all the 4 vertices of the tetrahedron.

fig2: Tetrahedron

Octahedron

Octahedron is a platonic 3D-solid, having the below properties:

• An octahedron is a three-dimensional figure having 8 faces.
• All the faces are triangles symmetrical and equal to each other.
• Also, every octahedron has four triangle faces meeting at all the 6 vertices of the octahedron.

fig3: Octahedron

Dodecahedron

A dodecahedron is a platonic 3D-solid, having the below properties:

• A dodecahedron is a three-dimensional figure having 12 faces.
• All the faces are pentagons symmetrical and equal to each other.
• Also, every dodecahedron has three pentagon faces meeting at all the 20 vertices of the dodecahedron.

fig: dodecahedron

Icosahedron

An icosahedron is a platonic 3D-solid, having the below properties:

• An icosahedron is a three-dimensional figure having 20 faces.
• All the faces are triangles symmetrical and equal to each other.
• Also, every icosahedron has five triangle faces meeting at all the 12 vertices of the icosahedron.

fig5: Icosahedron