Model of a Dual of An Archimedean Solid by Richard P. Baker, Baker #547 V

This metal model painted white was constructed by Richard P. Baker. A mathematics professor at the University of Iowa, Baker believed that models were essential to instruction in many parts of mathematics and physics. Over one hundred of his models are in the NMAH collections.

A mark in pencil on the side of the model reads: 314940 131 (/) # 547 V. The model fits in a cardboard box with a label pasted on the lid that reads: No. 547 (/) SPACE DUALS OF (/) ARCHIMEDEAN HALF- REGULAR (/) BODIES No. 465, V, p. 20. A larger label, pasted on the side of the box, reads: Mathematical Models (/) Made by (/) R. P. BAKER (/) No. 547 POLYHEDRON (/) ALL FACES CONGRUENT (/) Dual of Archimedes’ (/) Half-regular body (/) V (4,4,n.).

The semiregular solid to which Baker assigned number 547 V was a regular prism. This model is of the dual of a pentagonal prism, known otherwise as a pentagonal bipyramid. The faces are ten isosceles triangles, five arranged around the top vertex and five around the bottom one. The remaining five vertices, joined together, form a regular pentagon. Truncating the top and bottom vertices would produce two regular pentagons, while truncating the side vertices gives squares.

References:

H. M. Cundy and A. P. Rollet, Mathematical Models, Oxford: The Clarendon Press,1961.

R. P. Baker, Mathematical Models, Iowa City, Iowa,1931, p. 20.

Currently not on view