Eskuri- Pushani 1

Tower: Copeland
Emily Eskuri and Frosilda Pushani
Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center
GAT
9C
Mr.Acre
27 May 2014

Eskuri- Pushani 2
Part 1: Introduction
David Brinkley once said, A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with
the bricks others have thrown at him. (Brinkley, David). This quote is suggesting that no
matter what people or life throws in a persons direction, the person can either get hit or make
something good out of it. Multimillionaire, Ms. Copeland made something good out of MMSTC;
Copeland loves shapes and wants a new building dedicated to her work. She has asked two
skilled architects to design and build a tower on a given plot of land. The local law states that the
tower has to be within 3 feet of the boundaries of the square plot. Copeland has asked for a tower
containing 14 sides on a 23 by 23 foot plot of land to work on. In order to build the tower, a
footing must first be poured using concrete; the footing must be 3 feet wide and 3.5 feet deep.
She has asked for an aquarium beneath a 4-inch floor of Plexiglas so she can relax after a long
day of work; she wants the aquarium to be filled 75% with water. Copeland would also like a
door and two windows. Lastly, the tower has to be maximized to fit within the given plot and the
tower is built at the center of the footing. Using the plot of land and the number of sides the
tower will contain, the lengths, surface areas, and volumes will be found through all aspects of
the tower.

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Part 2: 14-gon Maximized on Plot:

Figure 1. Polygonal Base of the Tower

Figure 1 shows the polygonal bases that are used to build the tower and find the
measurements. It is maximized through the given plot of 23 by 23 feet and includes 14 sides; the
central angle is about 25.71.

Figure 2. Polygon 1 Measurements

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Figure 2 shows polygon 1 and the triangles used to find the total surface area.
Height=

236
2

Height of Polygon 1= 17 ft.

Hypotenuse of Triangle= 8.5 ft.
Central Angle=

360
14

Central Angle=

180
7

or 25.71

Angle for Half of Triangle 12.86

Side of Polygon 1 = (sin of 12.86 =

x
)*2
8.5

Side of Polygon 1 = (8.5 *sin of 12.86 = x)*2

Side of Polygon 1 = (x = 1.89)*2
Side of Polygon 1 3.78 ft.
Figure 3. Side of Polygon 1
Figure 3 shows the step-by-step process to finding the side length of polygon 1. To find
the height of polygon 1, take the height of the plot, 23 feet, and subtract 6, because the local law
states not to build within 3 feet of the boundaries of the plot. Then, divide the outcome by 2, to
get the hypotenuse of the triangle. To find the central angle of the polygon, divide 360 by 14, the
number of sides of the polygon. Then, split the triangle in half to form two 90 triangles and use
the equation sin = opposite/hypotenuse. The central angle for sin is about 12.86 and the
hypotenuse is 8.5 feet, now the opposite can be found. The opposite is about 1.89 feet; multiply it
by two to get the side of polygon 1, which is about 3.78 feet.

Eskuri- Pushani 5

Height of Triangle= (cos of 12.86=

y
)
8.5

Height of Triangle= (8.5 *cos of 12.86 = x)

Height of Triangle 8.29 ft.
Area of Triangle= (base * height of triangle)
Area of Triangle= (3.78* 8.29)
Area of Triangle 15.67 ft2
Area of Polygon 1= 15.67*14
Area of Polygon 1 219.44 ft2
Figure 4. Total Surface Area of Polygon 1
To find the area of polygon 1, use the formula (base * height of triangle). First, find the
height of the triangle. To do this, use the equation cos= adjacent/hypotenuse; the central angle for
cos is about 12.86 and the hypotenuse us 8.5 feet. The height of the triangle is about 8.29 feet.
Plug in the information to the area formula for a triangle; the area of the triangle is about 15.67
ft2. Then, multiply the outcome by 14, because there are 14 triangles in the polygon. The whole
area of the polygon is about 219.44 ft2.

Eskuri- Pushani 6

Figure 5. Polygon 2 Measurements

Figure 5 shows polygon 2 and the triangles used to find the total surface area.
Height of Triangle= (8.5 *cos of 12.86) -1
Height of Triangle 7.29 ft.
Central Angle=

360
14

Central Angle=

180
7

or 25.71

Angle for Half of Triangle 12.86

Side of Polygon 2 = (tan of 12.86 =

x
)*2
7.29

Side of Polygon 2 = (7.29 *tan of 12.86 = x)*2

Side of Polygon 2 = (x = 1.66)*2
Side of Polygon 2 3.33 ft.
Figure 6. Side of Polygon 2 and Height of Triangle
Figure 6 shows the step-by-step process to finding the side length of polygon 2 as well as
the height of the triangle used to find the area. To find the height of the triangle take the altitude
from the triangle in polygon 1 and subtract 1. The central angle of the polygon remains the same;

Eskuri- Pushani 7
the angle of half the triangle remains the same as well. To find the base length, use the equation
tan= opposite/adjacent. The central angle for tan is 12.86 and the adjacent side is 7.29 feet, now
the opposite can be found. The opposite is about 1.66 feet; multiply it by two to get the base of
polygon 2, which is about 3.33 feet.

Area of Triangle= (base * height of triangle)

Area of Triangle= (3.33* 7.29)
Area of Triangle 12.12 ft2
Area of Polygon 2= 12.12*14
Area of Polygon 2 169.67 ft2
Figure 7. Total Surface Area of Polygon 2
To find the area of polygon 2, use the formula (base * height of triangle). The height of
the triangle is already known to be 7.29 feet, and the base is already known to be 3.33 feet. Plug
in the information to the area formula; the area of the triangle is about 12.12 ft 2. Multiply the
outcome by 14, since there are 14 triangles in the polygon. The whole area of the polygon is
about 169.67 ft2.

Eskuri- Pushani 8

Figure 8. Polygon 3 Measurements

Figure 8 shows polygon 3 and the triangles used to find the total surface area.

Height of Triangle= (8.5 *cos of 12.86) -2

Height of Triangle 6.29 ft.
Central Angle=

360
14

Central Angle=

180
7

or 25.71

Angle for Half of Triangle 12.86

Side of Polygon 3 = (tan of 12.86 =

x
)*2
6.29

Side of Polygon 3 = (6.29 *tan of 12.86 = x)*2

Side of Polygon 3 = (x = 1.43)*2
Side of Polygon 3 2.87 ft.

Eskuri- Pushani 9
Figure 9. Side of Polygon 3 and Height of Triangle
Figure 9 shows the step-by-step process to finding the side length of polygon 3 as well as
the height of the triangle used to find the area. To find the height of the triangle, take the altitude
from the triangle in polygon 1 and subtract 2. The central angle of the polygon remains the same;
the angle of half the triangle remains the same as well. To find the base length, use the equation
tan= opposite/adjacent. The central angle for tan is 12.86 and the adjacent side is 6.29 feet, now
the opposite can be found. The opposite is about 1.43 feet; multiply it by two to get the base of
polygon 3, which is about 2.87 feet.

Area of Triangle= (base * height of triangle)

Area of Triangle= (2.87* 6.29)
Area of Triangle 9.02 ft2
Area of Polygon 3= 9.02*14
Area of Polygon 3 126.30 ft2
Figure 10. Total Surface Area of Polygon 3
To find the area of polygon 3, use the formula (base * height of triangle). The height of
the triangle is already known to be 6.29 feet, and the base is already known to be 2.87 feet. Plug
in the information to the area formula; the area of the triangle is about 9.02 ft 2. Multiply the

Eskuri- Pushani 10
outcome by 14, since there are 14 triangles in the polygon. The whole area of the polygon is
about 126.30 ft2.
Figure 11. Polygon 4 Measurements
Figure 11 shows polygon 4 and the triangles used to find the total surface area.

Height of Triangle= (8.5 *cos of 12.86) -3

Height of Triangle 5.29 ft.
Central Angle=

360
14

Central Angle=

180
7

or 25.71

Angle for Half of Triangle 12.86

Side of Polygon 4= (tan of 12.86 =

x
)*2
5.29

Side of Polygon 4= (5.29 *tan of 12.86 = x)*2

Eskuri- Pushani 11
Side of Polygon 4= (x = 1. 21)*2
Side of Polygon 4 2.41 ft.
Figure 12. Side of Polygon 4 and Height of Triangle
Figure 12 shows the step-by-step process to finding the side length of Polygon 4 as well
as the height of the triangle used to find the area. To find the height of the triangle take the
altitude from the triangle in polygon 1 and subtract 3. The central angle of the polygon remains
the same; the angle of half the triangle remains the same as well. To find the base length, use the
equation tan= opposite/adjacent. The central angle for tan is 12.86 and the adjacent side is 5.29
feet, now the opposite can be found. The opposite is about 1.21 feet; multiply it by two to get the
base of polygon 4, which is about 2.41 feet.

Area of Triangle= (base * height of triangle)

Area of Triangle= (2.41* 5.29)
Area of Triangle 6.38 ft2
Area of Polygon 4= 6.38*14
Area of Polygon 4 89.32 ft2
Figure 13. Total Surface Area of Polygon 4

Eskuri- Pushani 12
To find the area of polygon 4, use the formula (base * height of triangle). The height of
the triangle is already known to be 5.29 feet, and the base is already known to be 2.41 feet. Plug
in the information to the area formula; the area of the triangle is about 6.38 ft 2. Multiply the
outcome by 14, since there are 14 triangles in the polygon. The whole area of the polygon is
about 89.32 ft2.
Part 3: Volume of Concrete, Plexiglas, Water and Cost Analysis

Figure 14. Foundation of Footing

Figure 14 shows the foundation of the footing, which extends from polygon 1 to polygon
4. To find the volume of the footing, so the right amount of concrete is added, the area of
polygon 4 is subtracted from polygon 1 and multiplied by the depth of 3.5 ft.

Surface Area of Footing=

219.44 ft2 (TSA of Polygon 1) 89.32 ft2 (TSA of Polygon 4) 130.12 ft2
Volume of Footing= (Surface area of Footing)*(Depth of the Footing)
Volume of Footing= 130.12 ft2 * 3.5 ft.
Volume of Footing 455.42 ft3
Figure 15. Volume of Footing

Eskuri- Pushani 13
Figure 15 shows the volume of the footing and how it was found. The footing extends
from polygon 1 to polygon 4, so to find the surface area of the footing, the surface area of
polygon 4 had to be subtracted from the surface area of polygon 1. When that was found, 3.5
multiplied the outcome, which was how deep the footing was. The volume of the footing was
about 455.42 ft3.
Cost of footing = ((Volume of Footing)/27)*115
Cost of footing = ((455.42)/27)*115
Cost of footing = (17)*115
Cost of footing $1955.00
Figure 16. Cost of Concrete Installment
Figure 16 shows the cost of the concrete for the footing. The volume of the footing was
taken and divided by 27 (one cubic yard= 27 feet). The outcome of 16.87 was rounded up to
17. Then it was multiplied by 115, the cost to install the concrete per cubic yard. The outcome
was about $1955.

Figure 17. Plexiglas Diagram

Figure 17 shows the Plexiglas floor and its measurements. It is 4 inches thick (1/3 ft). The
floor has the same measurements as polygon 4.

Eskuri- Pushani 14
Volume of Plexiglas= (TSA of Polygon 4) * 1/3
Volume of Plexiglas = (89.32) *

1
3

Volume of Plexiglas 29.77 ft3

Figure 18. Volume of Plexiglas Floor
Figure 18 shows the volume of the Plexiglas and how it was found. The Plexiglas is laid
extending to the end of the footing (polygon 4), which is why the total surface area of polygon 4
was used. The total surface area of polygon 4 was then multiplied by 1/3. This is because the
Plexiglas is 4 inches thick and 4 is 1/3 of 12, or a foot, which was used as the unit of measure.
The volume of the Plexiglas was about 29.77 ft3.
Cost of Plexiglas = ((Surface Area of Polygon 4)/ 32)*1100
Cost of Plexiglas = ((89.32)/32)*1100
Cost of Plexiglas = (3)*1100
Cost of Plexiglas $3,300.
Figure 19. Cost of Plexiglas Installment
Figure 19 shows the cost of the Plexiglas installment. The surface area of polygon 4 was
taken and divided by 32. The number of sheets was rounded up because there cannot be partial
sheets. The surface area of polygon 4 was divided by 32 because each sheet is 4 x 8 feet, which
is equivalent to 32 feet. The outcome was multiplied by 1100, the cost of the installation. The
cost of the Plexiglas sheets is about $3,300.

Eskuri- Pushani 15

Figure 20. Aquarium Diagram

Figure 20 shows the aquarium Ms. Copeland wants to be built. The line around the
prisms is where the water should stop. The water should fill up of 3.5 ft or 2.625 ft.
Volume of aquarium = (TSA of Polygon 4) * 3.5
Volume of aquarium = (89.32) * 3.5
Volume of aquarium 312.60 ft3
Volume of water = (Volume of Aquarium)
Volume of water = (312.60)
Volume of water 234.45 ft3
Figure 21. Volume of Aquarium/Water
Figure 21 shows the volume of the water in the aquarium and the volume of the actual
aquarium. The surface area of polygon 4 was taken and multiplied by 3.5, the depth of the
aquarium. This gave the aquarium a volume of 312.60 ft3. Copeland wanted the aquarium to be
filled 75% with water, so the volume of the aquarium was multiplied by , which gave an
outcome of 234.45 ft3 of water.

Eskuri- Pushani 16
Part 4: One Lateral Face of the Outer Prism Base

Figure 22. Polygon of Outer Prism

Figure 22 displays Polygon 2, which is the outer prism. Each side of Polygon 2 is
approximately 3.33 ft.

Figure 23. Lateral Face, Door Diagram and Measurements

Figure 23 displays one lateral face of the outer prism of the tower. The dimensions of one
face are 3.33 ft (side of polygon 2) by 6.65 ft (two times the side of polygon 2). Copeland asked
for the dimensions of the rectangular part of the door to be 5 ft by 3 ft. The top part of the door is
half of polygon 2, but has different measurements.

Eskuri- Pushani 17
Side of Top Part of Door = 2(1.5*tan (12.86))
Side of Top Part of Door 0.68 ft
Figure 24. Side of the Top of Door
It is known that the apothem of the door top is 1.5 ft, because the full width of the door is
3 ft. From there, simple trigonometric ratios were used to determine the length of one side of the
polygon. The side of the polygon was determined to be about 0.68 ft.
A 3(5) + (7)(1/2)(0.68)(1.5)
A 15 + 3.59
A 18.59 ft2
Figure 25. Area of Door
The area of the door was easy to find. The area of the rectangular part of the door had to
be added to the area of the top of the door. The rectangle was simple enough; base times height
(5*3). The area of the top of the door was found my multiplying the side length by the number of
sides and the apothem. The total area of the door was around 18.59 ft2.

Figure 26. Lateral Face, Window Diagram, and Measurements

The dimensions for Figure 26 are the same as in Figure 23; this made calculations simple.

Eskuri- Pushani 18
A 14(1/2)(0.68)(1.5)
A 7.19 ft2
Figure 27. Finding the Area of the Window
All of the dimensions for the window were already found, making calculations easy. The
area of window was found by multiplying the side length of the polygon, by the apothem, the
number of sides, and . The area of the window was about 7.19 ft2; there are two windows, so
multiply the area of one by two to get the area of both windows.
LSA 14(3.33)(6.65) (18.59 + 2(7.19))
LSA 309.81 32.97
LSA 276.84 ft2
Figure 28. Lateral Surface Area of the Outer Prism
To find the lateral surface area of the outer prism, multiply the width and height of one
side, and then multiply it by the number of sides. Then, subtract areas of the door and the two
windows. The lateral surface area was approximately 276.84 ft2.
Part 5: Volume of the Inner Base Prism

Figure 29. Polygon of the Inner Prism

Eskuri- Pushani 19
Polygon 3 will be used for the inner prism. The side measurements were previously
calculated and are about 2.87 ft.

Figure 30. Lateral Face of the Inner Prism

The lateral face of the inner prism has a width of 2.87 ft. (side of polygon 3) and length
of 6.65 ft. (length of lateral face from outer prism). The height of the inner prism is the same as
the outer prism because if it were not, the lateral face would be on a slant.
V 126.30(6.65)
V 840.23 ft3
Figure 31. Finding the Volume of the Inner Prism
To find the volume of the inner prism, take the area of Polygon 3 and multiply it by the
height, 6.65 ft. The total volume of the inner prism was about 840.23 ft3
Part 6: 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

Eskuri- Pushani 20

Figure 32. Outer Pyramid Diagram and Measurements

Figure 32 displays the base of the outer pyramid, as well as one of the lateral faces of the
pyramid. The side of the base is already known to be 3.33 ft and the apothem is also known to be
7.29 ft, based on previous calculations of polygon 2. To find the height of the pyramid, multiply
the base (3.33 ft) by 3, since the pyramid is supposed to be three times as high as one side of its
base. To find the slant height and the angle measure between the prism base and the pyramid
face, more calculations will be made.
Slant Height (7.292 + 9.982)
Slant Height (53.10 + 99.58)
Slant Height 152.68
Slant Height 12.36 ft
Figure 33. Slant Height of the Outer Pyramid

Eskuri- Pushani 21
To find the slant height of the outer pyramid, use the right triangle that is formed by the
apothem of the base and the height of the pyramid. Using the Pythagorean theorem, plug those
numbers in, and figure out the outcome. The slant height of the outer pyramid is about 12.36 ft.
tan-1(9.98/7.29)
53.86
Figure 34. Finding the Angle Between the Prism Base and the Pyramid Face
To figure out the angle between the outer prism base and the outer pyramid face, use the
trigonometric ratio of tangent, and use the inverse. Plug in the height of the pyramid over the
apothem of the base (opposite/adjacent). The angle measures about 53.86.
Part 7: One Lateral Face of the Outer Pyramid

Figure 35. Lateral face of Outer Pyramid

The base and height of this triangular lateral face have been found. The base is about 3.33
ft and the height is about 12.36 ft.

Eskuri- Pushani 22
tan-1(12.36/(3.33/2))
82.33
Figure 36. Finding the Base Angle of the Triangular Lateral Face
Using inverse tangent, as well as the measurements found previously, the base angles
were calculated. The base angles are about 82.33.
2(tan-1((3.33/2)/12.36))
15.33
Figure 37. Finding the Angle at the Top of the Triangular Lateral Face
Use inverse tangent to figure out the last angle of the triangular face of the pyramid. The
angle measures about 15.33.
SA of One Face (1/2)(3.33)(12.36)
SA of One Face 20.55 ft2
SA of One Face 20.55 (14)
LSA 287.71 ft2
Figure 38. Lateral Surface Area of the Outer Pyramid
To find the lateral surface area of the outer pyramid, find the area of one lateral face
1/2(3.33)(12.36), which is about 20.55 ft2, then multiply it by 14, the number of sides. The lateral
surface area was approximately 287.71 ft2.
Part 8: Pyramid Top of the Inner Pyramid Showing the Height of the Inner Pyramid

Eskuri- Pushani 23

Figure 39. Inner Pyramid Diagram and Measurements

Once again, the measurements for the base of the pyramid are the same as the
measurements of Polygon 3. The height of the pyramid was found by multiplying the base by 3.

V = (1/3)(area of base)(height),
V (1/3)(126.30)(8.61)
V 362.46 ft3
Figure 40. Finding the Volume of the Inner Pyramid
Using the volume formula of a pyramid, the volume of the inner pyramid was found. It is
approximately 362.46 ft3.
Part 9: The Tower

Eskuri- Pushani 24

Figure 41. The Completed Tower

This is Ms. Copelands finished tower. All there is left to do is find the total surface area
of the outer tower and volume of the inner tower.

SA 276.84 + 287.71
SA 564.55 ft2
Figure 42. Calculating the Total Surface Area
To find the total surface area of the outer tower, add the surface area of the lateral prism
(see Figure 28) with surface area of the outer pyramid (see Figure 38). The total surface area is
about 564.55 ft2.
V 840.23 + 362.46

Eskuri- Pushani 25
V 1202.69 ft3
Figure 43. Calculating the Total Volume
To find the total volume of the tower, add the volume of the inner prism (see Figure 31)
with the volume of the inner pyramid (see Figure 40). The total volume is about 1202.69 ft3.
Part 10: Conclusion
Throughout the calculations of the tower, one issue was encountered. The eager, yet
skilled architects miscalculated the bases of the polygons in part 2 because the polygons were
calculated as octagons instead of hexagons; however the measurements were changed that same
day, making the tower an imperfect piece of perfection.
Ms. Copeland, the tower designs and calculations are completed. The total volume of
1202.69 ft3 will provide the right amount of room and thinking space, and the surface area of
564.55 ft2, is perfect for exterior designing. A scale model will be presented soon with some
decoration ideas. This tower will be the greatest tower in Michigan dedicated to math, science,
technology, and problem solving.

Works Cited
Brinkley, David. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2014.
<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/davidbrink130590.html>.