The points \(A(1, 1, 2)\), \(B(5, 1, 2)\), \(C(6, 4, 2)\), and \(E(2, 2, 6)\) are vertices of parallelepiped \(ABCDEFGH\), where \(ABCD\) is the base and \(E\) lies above \(A\).
a) Find \(D\).
b) Find the remaining top vertices \(F\), \(G\), and \(H\).
c) Find the volume using a determinant.
Hints
- Use equal opposite-side vectors in the base parallelogram.
- Every top vertex is obtained by the same translation vector \(\overrightarrow{AE}\).
- Put three adjacent edge vectors into a matrix and take the absolute value of its determinant.
Solution
1. Since \(\overrightarrow{AD}=\overrightarrow{BC}\),
\(\overrightarrow{BC}=\begin{pmatrix}1\\3\\0\end{pmatrix}\), so
\(D=A+\overrightarrow{BC}=(2, 4, 2)\).
2. The translation from the base to the top is
\(\overrightarrow{AE}=\begin{pmatrix}1\\1\\4\end{pmatrix}\).
Therefore,
\(F=B+\overrightarrow{AE}=(6, 2, 6)\),
\(G=C+\overrightarrow{AE}=(7, 5, 6)\), and
\(H=D+\overrightarrow{AE}=(3, 5, 6)\).
3. The three edge vectors from \(A\) are
\(\overrightarrow{AB}=\begin{pmatrix}4\\0\\0\end{pmatrix}\),
\(\overrightarrow{AD}=\begin{pmatrix}1\\3\\0\end{pmatrix}\), and
\(\overrightarrow{AE}=\begin{pmatrix}1\\1\\4\end{pmatrix}\).
4. Their matrix has determinant
\(\det\begin{pmatrix}4&1&1\\0&3&1\\0&0&4\end{pmatrix}=48\).
Thus, the volume is \(48\) cubic units.
Answer
a) \(D(2, 4, 2)\)
b) \(F(6, 2, 6)\), \(G(7, 5, 6)\), \(H(3, 5, 6)\)
c) \(48\) cubic units