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This equation, stated by Euler in 1758, [2] is known as Euler's polyhedron formula. [3] It corresponds to the Euler characteristic of the sphere (i.e. = ), and applies identically to spherical polyhedra. An illustration of the formula on all Platonic polyhedra is given below.
Euler's formula can also be proved as follows: if the graph isn't a tree, then remove an edge which completes a cycle. This lowers both e and f by one, leaving v – e + f constant. Repeat until the remaining graph is a tree; trees have v = e + 1 and f = 1, yielding v – e + f = 2, i. e., the Euler characteristic is 2.
(Since the graph is a triangulation, the charge on each face is 0.) Recall that the sum of all the degrees in the graph is equal to twice the number of edges; similarly, the sum of all the face lengths equals twice the number of edges. Using Euler's Formula, it's easy to see that the sum of all the charges is 12:
where V is the number of vertices, E is the number of edges, and F is the number of faces. This equation is known as Euler's polyhedron formula. Thus the number of faces is 2 more than the excess of the number of edges over the number of vertices. For example, a cube has 12 edges and 8 vertices, and hence 6 faces.
The number of vertices, edges, and faces of GP(m,n) can be computed from m and n, with T = m 2 + mn + n 2 = (m + n) 2 − mn, depending on one of three symmetry systems: [1] The number of non-hexagonal faces can be determined using the Euler characteristic, as demonstrated here.
It follows from Euler's formula that any simplicial 2-sphere with n vertices has 3n − 6 edges and 2n − 4 faces. The case of n = 4 is realized by the tetrahedron. By repeatedly performing the barycentric subdivision, it is easy to construct a simplicial sphere for any n ≥ 4.
Euler's formula is ubiquitous in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering. The physicist Richard Feynman called the equation "our jewel" and "the most remarkable formula in mathematics". [2] When x = π, Euler's formula may be rewritten as e iπ + 1 = 0 or e iπ = −1, which is known as Euler's identity.
Euler's formula relating the number of edges, vertices, and faces of a convex polyhedron was studied and generalized by Cauchy [21] and L'Huilier, [22] and represents the beginning of the branch of mathematics known as topology.