Why can't you form a sixth Platonic solid by identifying faces of tetrahedrons?

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SUMMARY

The discussion addresses the impossibility of forming a sixth Platonic solid by identifying faces of tetrahedrons. Specifically, when two tetrahedrons share a face, the resulting structure fails to meet the criteria for Platonic solids, as each vertex must have the same number of faces meeting at it. This conclusion is based on the fundamental properties of Platonic solids, which require uniformity in face arrangement.

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[SOLVED] platonic solids

Homework Statement



Let f_1 be a face of one tetrahedron and let f_2 be a face on a second same-sized tetrahedron. Why do you not get a sixth Platonic solid when you identify f_1 and f_2, which you can do because they are the same triangle?

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution

 
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For a platonic solid, the same number of faces have to meet at each vertex.
 

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