Euler's polyhedron formula

HOME

Math Central

Quandaries & Queries

Question from Antonia, a student:

why does not cylinders follow Euler's polyhedron formula ( V-E+F=2) ??
if a cylinder has 3 faces, 2 edges and 0 vertices it doesn't follow Euler's formula???

Hi Antonia,

The reason is that a cylinder is not a polyhedron.

Penny

Math Central is supported by the University of Regina and the Imperial Oil Foundation.