Cube has edge length 100. Point is on , point is on , and point is on , as shown, so that and for some integer . For how many integers is the volume of triangular-based pyramid between and of the volume of cube ?
Solution
Triangular-based pyramid can be thought of as having triangular base and height . Since this pyramid is built at a vertex of the cube, then is right-angled at and is perpendicular to the base. The area of is . The height of the pyramid is . Thus, the volume of the pyramid is which equals . Since the cube has edge length 100, its volume is or 1000000. Now, of 1000000 is of 1000000 or 10000. Thus, of 1000000 is of 10000 or 100. This tells us that of 1000000 is 400, and of 1000000 is 800. We want to determine the number of integers for which is between 400 and 800. This is equivalent to determining the number of integers for which is between and . Since and , then the perfect squares between 4800 and 9600 are . These are the possible values for and so the possible values for are . There are values for .