2004 AIME I Problems/Problem 3

Problem

A convex polyhedron $P$ has $26$ vertices, $60$ edges, and $36$ faces, $24$ of which are triangular and $12$ of which are quadrilaterals. A space diagonal is a line segment connecting two non-adjacent vertices that do not belong to the same face. How many space diagonals does $P$ have?

Solution

Every pair of vertices of the polyhedron determines either an edge, a face diagonal or a space diagonal. We have ${26 \choose 2} = \frac{26\cdot25}2 = 325$ total line segments determined by the vertices. Of these, $60$ are edges. Each triangular face has $0$ face diagonals and each quadrilateral face has $2$, so there are $2 \cdot 12 = 24$ face diagonals. This leaves $325 - 60 - 24 = \boxed{241}$ segments to be the space diagonals.

See also

2004 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 2
Followed by
Problem 4
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All AIME Problems and Solutions

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