Tower Project

Adam Awada

Nafshiyat Nihal

Mr. Acre & Mrs. Gravel

GAT/IDS 9C

1 June 2017
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The Tower

Since prehistoric times, towers have been used by humans. Towers are self-supporting

structures which serve various purposes such as being a support for a bridge or helping people

see such as a lighthouse. Towers require the use of math in order to have the best support

possible, and of course, being an attraction.

In this project, a 20-sided polygon will be built in a 32 x 32 plot 3 units from each side of

the property line, making the available plot size 26 x 26. The tower will be maximized in a plot.

Then, the areas and volumes of various parts of the tower will be calculated. Finally, the cost

analysis will be carried out.

Part Two

Figure 1. Base Maximized in 32 x 32 Plot

Figure 1 above shows the 20-sided polygon maximized on the 32x32 plot. The city

requires that the tower must be 3 units away from each plot line, so the polygons are built in the

26x26 square. Four edges of the outermost polygon are touching the 26x26 square.

Central Angle = 360/Number of Sides

Central Angle = 360/20
Central Angle = 18°
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Figure 2. Central Angle of 20-Sided Polygon

Figure 2 above shows how the central angle of each polygon is calculated. The sum of

the central angles is always 360°. This means that one central angle is equal to 360 divided by

the number of sides of the polygon. The central angle of the 20-sided polygon is 18°.

Figure 3. First (Outermost) Polygon

Figure 3 above shows the outermost polygon, which is a 20-sided polygon.

Side of 26 x 26 Square = 26 ft

Height of Triangle = Side of 26 x 26 Square/2

Height of Triangle = 13 ft
Angle of New Right Triangle = 9°
Base of Triangle = 13tan(9) ft

Side Length of Polygon = 2*base of Triangle

Side Length of Polygon = 26tan(9) ft

Area of Polygon = Area of 20 Triangles

Area of Triangle = 1/2*base*height
Area of Polygon = 20*(1/2(26tan(9))*(13)) ft
Area of Polygon ≈ 535.34 ft2
Figure 4. First (Outermost) Polygon Measurements
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Figure 4 above shows the outermost polygon’s measurements. The height of one triangle

is found by dividing 26 by 2, which equals 13. This is because the height of the triangle equals

one half of a side of the 26 x 26 square, which is 26, as it meets at the center of the square. Now,

since the central angle is bisected when the height is drawn, the new angle is 9°. In order to find

the base of the right triangle formed by the height, the base (which is still unknown) is equal to

13(tan(9)) since tangent is equal to the base (opposite) over the height (adjacent). The base of the

triangle is multiplied by 2 to get the side length of the outermost polygon which is 26(tan(9)).

The area of the polygon is equal to the area of 20 triangles in the polygon so the area formula of

the triangle with the base and height are plugged in and multiplied by 20 causing the area of the

polygon to be approximately 535.34 ft2.

Figure 5. Second Polygon

Figure 5 Above shows the second outermost polygon with is a 20-sided polygon.
Height of Triangle = Height of First Polygon’s Triangle-1
Height of Triangle = 12 ft
Angle of New Right Triangle = 9°
Base of Triangle = 12tan(9) ft

Side Length of Polygon = 2*base of Triangle

Side Length of Polygon = 24tan(9) ft

Area of Polygon = Area of 20 Triangles

Area of Triangle = 1/2*base*height
Area of Polygon = 20*(1/2(24tan(9))*(12)) ft
Area of Polygon ≈ 456.15 ft2
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Figure 6. Second Polygon Measurements

Figure 6 above shows the second polygon’s measurements. The height of one triangle is

found by subtracting 1 ft from the previous polygon’s triangle height since it is 1 ft less which

equals 12. Now, since the central angle is bisected when the height is drawn, the new angle is 9°.

In order to find the base of the right triangle formed by the height, the base (which is still

unknown) is equal to 12(tan(9)) since tangent is equal to the base (opposite) over the height

(adjacent). The base of the triangle is multiplied by 2 to get the side length of the outermost

polygon which is 24(tan(9)). The area of the polygon is equal to the area of 20 triangles in the

polygon so the area formula of the triangle with the base and height are plugged in and

multiplied by 20 causing the area of the polygon to be approximately 456.15 ft2.

Figure 7. Third Polygon

Figure 7 above shows the third polygon which is a 20-sided polygon.

Height of Triangle = Height of First Polygon’s Triangle-1
Height of Triangle = 11 ft
Angle of New Right Triangle = 9°
Base of Triangle = 11tan(9) ft

Side Length of Polygon = 2*base of Triangle

Side Length of Polygon = 22tan(9) ft

Area of Polygon = Area of 20 Triangles

Area of Triangle = 1/2*base*height
Area of Polygon = 20*(1/2(22tan(9))*(11)) ft
Area of Polygon ≈ 383.29 ft2
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Figure 8. Third Polygon Measurements

Figure 8 above shows the third polygon’s measurements. The height of one triangle is

found by subtracting 1 ft from the previous polygon’s triangle height since it is 1 ft less which

equals 11. Now, since the central angle is bisected when the height is drawn, the new angle is 9°.

In order to find the base of the right triangle formed by the height, the base (which is still

unknown) is equal to 11(tan(9)) since tangent is equal to the base (opposite) over the height

(adjacent). The base of the triangle is multiplied by 2 to get the side length of the outermost

polygon which is 22(tan(9)). The area of the polygon is equal to the area of 20 triangles in the

polygon so the area formula of the triangle with the base and height are plugged in and

multiplied by 20 causing the area of the polygon to be approximately 383.29 ft2.

Figure 9. Fourth (Innermost) Polygon

Figure 9 above shows the fourth polygon which is a 20-sided polygon.

Height of Triangle = Height of First Polygon’s Triangle-1
Height of Triangle = 10 ft
Angle of New Right Triangle = 9°
Base of Triangle = 10tan(9) ft

Side Length of Polygon = 2*base of Triangle

Side Length of Polygon = 20tan(9) ft

Area of Polygon = Area of 20 Triangles

Area of Triangle = 1/2*base*height
Area of Polygon = 20*(1/2(20tan(9))*(10)) ft
Area of Polygon ≈ 316.77 ft2
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Figure 10. Fourth Polygon Measurements

Figure 10 above shows the third polygon’s measurements. The height of one triangle is

found by subtracting 1 ft from the previous polygon’s triangle height since it is 1 ft less which

equals 10. Now, since the central angle is bisected when the height is drawn, the new angle is 9°.

In order to find the base of the right triangle formed by the height, the base (which is still

unknown) is equal to 10(tan(9)) since tangent is equal to the base (opposite) over the height

(adjacent). The base of the triangle is multiplied by 2 to get the side length of the outermost

polygon which is 20(tan(9)). The area of the polygon is equal to the area of 20 triangles in the

polygon so the area formula of the triangle with the base and height are plugged in and

multiplied by 20 causing the area of the polygon to be approximately 316.77 ft2.

Part Three

Figure 11. Dimensions of Footing

Figure 11 above shows the dimensions of the footing. It is 3.5 ft deep and 3 ft wide as it

goes from the outermost polygon to the innermost polygon which have a triangle height change

of 3. The outer polygon’s base is 26tan(9) and the inner polygon’s base is 20tan(9) as found

before.
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Volume of Footing = (Area of Polygon 1*3.5)-(Area of Polygon 4*3.5)

Volume of Footing = (535.34*3.5)-(316.77*3.5)
Volume of Footing ≈ 764.00 ft3 or 254.67 yd3
Figure 12. Volume of Footing

Figure 12 above shows the volume of the footing. The areas of the outermost and

innermost polygons were multiplied by the depth, which is 3.5, to find the volume of both. Then,

the innermost volume was subtracted from the outermost volume since there is a hollow hole in

the middle. The volume of the footing ended up being approximately 764.00 ft3 or 254.67 yd3

because the feet were divided by 3.

Cost of concrete= (Volume of footing)(115)

Cost of concrete= (254.67)(115)

Cost of concrete= $29288

Figure 13. Cost of Analysis of Concrete Needed

Figure 13 shows how to find the cost of the concrete needed for the footing. To find this

cost, the volume of the footing which was previously found in figure 12 to be 254.67, was

multiplied by the cost of the concrete, 115. The resulting number was then rounded up because

in this case, part of a bag of concrete could not be purchased. The cost of the concrete was

$29288.
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Figure 14. Dimensions of Floor

Figure 14 above shows the dimensions of the floor. The base of the floor was the same as

the innermost polygon and the floor had to be 4 in thick.

Volume of Floor = (Area of Polygon 4*1/3)

Volume of Floor = 316.77*1/3
Volume of Floor ≈ 105.59 ft3 or 1267.08 in3
Figure 15. Volume of Plexiglass Floor

Figure 15 above shows the volume of the floor. Since the base is the same as the fourth

polygon, the area of the floor is also the same. Then, since the depth is 4 in, the area had to be

divided by 3 because 4 in is 1 ft/3. The volume of the floor was found to be approximately

105.59 ft3 or 1267.08 in3 because it was multiplied by 12 per foot.

Cost of Plexiglass= (Area of Polygon 4/32)(1100)

Cost of Plexiglass= (316.77/32)(1100)

Cost of Plexiglass= $10888

Figure 16. Cost Analysis of Plexiglass

Figure 16 shows how much the plexiglass would cost. For each 48” x 96” x 4” sheet of

plexiglass, the cost was $1100. Because the thickness of the plexiglass for sale and what is
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needed is the same, the width can be disregarded. The plexiglass that was sold needed to

converted from inches into feet. That was done dividing 48 and 96 by 12 making it 4’ x 8’. When

4 and 8 are multiplied together it is a total of 32 feet. Now that this information is known the

area of polygon 4, which was 316.77, can be divided by 32 then multiplied by 1100. After that,

the cost was rounded up to 10888 because part of a sheet cannot be purchased.

Figure 17. Dimensions of Aquarium Under the Plexiglas

Figure 17 above shows the dimensions of the aquarium under the Plexiglas floor. The

aquarium is built in the hollow part of the footing which means that the area of the surface is the

area of the fourth polygon which is 316.77 ft2. The aquarium had to be 3 1/6 ft deep since it had

to go to the bottom of the footing and go up to the bottom of the Plexiglas. This means that the

depth of the Plexiglas floor, which is 1/3 ft, had to be subtracted from the depth of the footing,

which is 3.5 ft, and this equals 3 1/6 ft.

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Volume of Aquarium = Area of Polygon 4*Depth of Aquarium

Depth of Aquarium = Depth of Footing-Depth of Floor
Depth of Aquarium = 3.5-1/3
Depth of Aquarium = 3 1/6 ft
Volume of Aquarium = 316.77*19/6
Volume of Aquarium ≈ 1003.1 ft3
Volume of Water = .75*Volume of Aquarium
Volume of Water = .75*1003.1
Volume of Water ≈ 752.33 ft3

Figure 18. Volume of Water in Aquarium

Figure 18 above shows the volume of the water in the aquarium. The volume of the

aquarium is found by multiplying the area of the surface, which is 316.77 ft2, by the depth of the

aquarium which is 3 1/6 ft. The volume was found to be approximately 1003.1 ft3. Then, since

75% of the aquarium has to be filled with water, the volume of the aquarium was multiplied by

.75. This resulted in the volume of the water being approximately 752.33 ft3.

Part Four

Figure 19. Dimensions of Door

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Figure 19 above shows the dimensions of the door. The door is 5 ft by 3 ft and the top is

half of a 20-sided polygon. The height of a triangle in the polygon is 1.5 ft because the height of

a triangle is half of the door surface’s width as can be seen.

Central Angle = 18°

Height of Triangle = 1.5 ft
Base of Right Triangle = 1.5tan(9)
Side Length of Polygon = 2*base of right triangle
Side Length of Polygon = 3tan(9)
Figure 20. Side Length of Polygon on Door

Figure 20 above shows how the side length of the polygon on the door was calculated.

The polygon’s central angle is 18° since it is a 20-sided polygon, and when the height of 1.5 ft is

drawn in a triangle, a new right triangle forms which has an angle of 9°. The process is the same

as the outermost polygon from Figure 4, although it has different measurements. The base of the

right triangle is equal to 1.5tan(9) since tangent is equal to the base of the triangle (opposite) over

the height (adjacent) which is 1.5. The side length is 3tan(9) which is double the base of the right

triangle.

Area of Rectangle Part = base*height

Area of Rectangle Part = 3*5
Area of Rectangle Part = 15 ft2

Area of Top Part = Area of 10 Triangles

Area of Triangle = 1/2*base*height
Area of Top Part = 1/2*10*1.5*3tan(9)
Area of Top Part ≈ 3.56 ft2

Area of Door = Area of Rectangle Part+Area of Top Part

Area of Door = 15+3.56
Area of Door ≈ 18.56 ft2

Figure 21. Area of Door Surface

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Figure 21 above shows the area of the door surface. The area of the rectangle part is 15

ft2 since the base (3) was multiplied by the height (5). The area of the top part is half of the area

of a 20-sided polygon since it is only half. This means that it is the area of the 10 triangles inside

which have an area formula of 1/2 times base times height. The height (1.5) and the base

(3tan(9)) were plugged in to the triangle area formula and multiplied by 10. The area of the top

part was found to be approximately 3.56 ft2. The area of the door is equal to the area of the

rectangle part plus the area of the top part. When the areas of both shapes were plugged in, the

area of the door was approximately 18.56 ft2.

Figure 22. Dimensions of Window

Figure 22 above shows the dimensions of the window. The window is a 20-sided polygon

and height of a triangle is 1.5 ft while the side length of the window is 3tan(9) since the polygon

is the same as from the top of the door.

Area of Top Part ≈ 3.56 ft2

Area of Window = 2*Area of Top Part
Area of Window = 2*3.56
Area of Window ≈ 7.13 ft2
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Figure 23. Area of Window

Figure 23 above shows the area of the window. The area of the window is double the area

of the top part of the door since it is the same polygon, but the area of the top part of the door

was half. The area of the window was found to be approximately 7.13 ft2.

Figure 24. Dimensions of Lateral Face and Outer Base Polygon

Figure 24 above shows the dimensions of the lateral face and the outer base polygon, or

the second polygon. The base is 12tan(9) ft while the height of the lateral face is double the base

which is 24tan(9) ft.

Lateral Surface Area of Outer Prism= 20(base*height)-Area of Door-Area of Window

Lateral Surface Area of Outer Prism= 20(12tan(9)*24tan(9))-18.56-7.13
Lateral Surface Area of Outer Prism ≈ 886.6 ft2
Figure 25. Lateral Surface Area of Outer Prism

Figure 25 above shows the lateral surface area of the outer prism. The lateral surface area

is equal to the area of the 20 lateral faces, which have an area formula of base multiplied by
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height, minus the area of the door and the area of the window as found previously. When the

values were plugged in, the lateral surface area was found to be approximately 886.6 ft2.

Part Five

Figure 26. Dimensions of Base and Lateral Face of Inner Prism

Figure 26 above shows the dimensions of the base and lateral face of the inner prism. The

base is the third polygon which has a side length of 22tan(9) ft. The height of the lateral face is

24tan(9) because the height of the outer wall is the same as the height of the inner wall. The

depth of the wall is 1 ft.

Volume of Inner Prism Part = Area of Third Polygon*Height of Wall

Volume of Inner Prism Part = 383.29*24tan(9)
Volume of Inner Prism Part ≈ 1456.97 ft3
Figure 27. Volume of Inner Prism Part of Tower

Figure 27 above shows the volume of the inner prism part of the tower. The area of the

third polygon (383.29) was multiplied by the height of the walls (24tan(9)). The volume of the

inner prism part of the tower was found to be approximately 1456.97 ft3.

Part Six
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Figure 28. Dimensions of Outer Pyramid

Figure 28 above shows the dimensions of the outer pyramid. The height was found by

multiplying the side length of the second polygon (24tan(9)) by 3 which equals 72tan(9). The

slant height of the pyramid was calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem. The height of the

pyramid (a2) and the height of one triangle in the 20-sided base (b2) form a right angle. The slant

height is the hypotenuse (c2). When the values are plugged in, c2 is found to be approximately

274.044. This means that the slant height is √274.044 ft.

tan(θ) = (72tan(9))/12
tan-1((72tan(9))/12) = θ
θ ≈ 43.54°
Figure 29. Angle Measure Between Prism Base and Pyramid Face at Foot of Slant Height

Figure 29 above shows the angle measure between the prism base and the pyramid base

at the foot of the slant height. Referring to the triangle from Figure 27, the angle between the

prism base and pyramid base can be noted as θ. Since the tangent is equal to the height
 Awada – Nihal 16

(opposite), which is 72tan(9), over the height of a triangle in the 20-sided polygon (adjacent),

which is 12 ft, the inverse tangent of that ratio was used to find the angle measure. The angle

between the prism base and the pyramid face at the foot of the slant height was found to be

approximately 43.54°.

Part Seven

Figure 30. Dimensions of Lateral Face of Outer Pyramid

Figure 30 above shows the dimensions of the lateral face of the outer pyramid. The base

is 24tan(9) since it is the side length of the third polygon while the height is √274.044 which was

found in Figure 28.

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Area of Lateral Face of Outer Pyramid = 1/2*base*height

Area of Lateral Face of Outer Pyramid = 1/2*24tan(9)*√274.044
Area of Lateral Face of Outer Pyramid ≈ 31.46 ft2

Lateral Surface Area of Outer Pyramid = 20*Area of Lateral Face

Lateral Surface Area of Outer Pyramid = 20*31.46
Lateral Surface Area of Outer Pyramid ≈ 629.27 ft2
Figure 31. Area of One Lateral Face and Lateral Surface Area of Outer Pyramid

Figure 31 above shows the area of a lateral face and the lateral surface area of the outer

pyramid. The area formula for a triangle is a half of the base times the height. The base

(24tan(9)) and the height (√274.044) were plugged in and the area of a lateral face was found to

be approximately 31.46 ft2. Since there are 20 lateral faces on the pyramid, the area of a lateral

face was multiplied by 20 to get the lateral surface area which was found to be approximately

629.27 ft2.

∠A = tan-1(√274.044/(24tan(9)/2))
∠A = tan-1(√274.044/(12tan(9))
∠A ≈ 83.45°

∠B = tan-1(√274.044/(12tan(9))
∠B ≈ 83.45°

∠C = 2*(tan-1((12tan(9))/√274.044))
∠C = 2*6.55
∠C ≈ 13.01°

Figure 32. Angle Measures of Lateral Face

Figure 32 above shows the angle measures of a lateral face. Refer to Figure 29 to see

which letter corresponds to which angle. ∠A and ∠B used the tangent function. Since tangent

equals the slant height of the lateral face (opposite), which is √274.044, over half of the side

length of the second polygon (adjacent), which is 12tan(9), the inverse tangent of the ratio was

used to find both angles. Both ∠A and ∠B were found to be approximately 83.45°. In order to
 Awada – Nihal 18

find ∠C, the inverse tangent of the reciprocal of tangent ∠A was used which gave an angle

measure of approximately 6.55°. This had to be multiplied by 2 since this only gives the bisected

angle from the height. ∠C was found to be approximately 13.01°.

Part Eight

Figure 33. Dimensions of Inner Pyramid

Figure 33 above shows the dimensions of the inner pyramid. The height was found by

multiplying the side length of the third polygon, which was 22tan(9), by 3. This gave a height of

66tan(9).

Volume of Inner Pyramid = 1/3(Area of Base*Height of Pyramid)

Volume of Inner Pyramid = 1/3(383.29*66tan(9))
Volume of Inner Pyramid = 1/3(4006.68)
Volume of Inner Pyramid ≈ 1335.56 ft3

Figure 34. Volume of Inner Pyramid

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Figure 34 above shows the volume of the inner pyramid. The volume formula of a

pyramid is a third of the area of the base times the height of the pyramid. The base was the third

polygon, so a third of 383.29 was multiplied by 66tan(9) which gives a volume of about 1335.56

ft3.

Part Nine

Figure 35. Tower

Figure 35 above shows the finished tower with a 20-sided base.

Lateral Surface Area of Outer Tower = (Lateral Surface Area of Outer Pyramid)+(Lateral
Surface Area of Outer Prism)

Lateral Surface Area of Outer Tower = 629.27+886.6

Lateral Surface Area of Outer Tower ≈ 1515.87 ft2

Figure 36. Lateral Surface Area of Outer Tower

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Figure 36 above shows the lateral surface area of the outer tower. The lateral surface area

of the outer pyramid was added to the lateral surface area of the outer prism which gave a total

lateral surface area of approximately 1515.87 ft2.

Volume of Inner Tower = (Volume of Inner Pyramid)+(Volume of Inner Prism Part)

Volume of Inner Tower = 1335.56+1456.97

Volume of Inner Tower ≈ 2792.53 ft3

Figure 37. Volume of Inner Tower

Figure 37 above shows the volume of the inner tower. The volume of the inner pyramid

was added to the volume of the inner prism part which gave a total inner volume of

approximately 2792.53 ft3.

Conclusion

Throughout the course of calculations for this tower, no issues were encountered, and

everything went extremely smoothly. In the building, one issue was encountered, which was

incorrect angle drawings. This was quickly fixed however and no further issues were

encountered.

With an astounding 2792.53 ft3 to work with on the interior of the tower, there are

limitless possibilities on what can be accomplished here! Countless number of redesigns can be

made to the interior of the tower alone, not even beginning to mention the extra space available

on the outside for decoration as well.

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Now that the design and model of the tower has been completed, we hope that after this

sale our business will begin to flourish in the market, giving us even more chances to design

extravagant buildings.