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Printjmc
geometry senior
Problem
Consider the set of points that are inside or within one unit of a rectangular parallelepiped (box) that measures 3 by 4 by 5 units. Given that the volume of this set is , where , , and are positive integers, and and are relatively prime, find .
Solution
First consider the points in the six parallelepipeds projecting 1 unit outward from the original parallelepiped. Two of these six parallelepipeds are 1 by 3 by 4, two are 1 by 3 by 5, and two are 1 by 4 by 5. The sum of their volumes is . Next consider the points in the twelve quarter-cylinders of radius 1 whose heights are the edges of the original parallelepiped. The sum of their volumes is . Finally, consider the points in the eight octants of a sphere of radius 1 at the eight vertices of the original parallelepiped. The sum of their volumes is . Because the volume of the original parallelepiped is , the requested volume is , so .
Final answer
505