# Octagonal prism

Octagonal prism
Rank3
TypeUniform
SpaceSpherical
Notation
Bowers style acronymOp
Coxeter diagramx x8o ()
Elements
Faces8 squares, 2 octagons
Edges8+16
Vertices16
Vertex figureIsosceles triangle, edge lengths 2+2, 2, 2
Measures (edge length 1)
Circumradius${\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{5+2\sqrt2}}2 ≈ 1.39897}$
Volume${\displaystyle 2(1+\sqrt2) ≈ 4.82843}$
Dihedral angles4–4: 135°
4–8: 90°
Height1
Central density1
Number of pieces10
Level of complexity3
Related polytopes
ArmyOp
RegimentOp
DualOctagonal tegum
ConjugateOctagrammic prism
Abstract properties
Flag count96
Euler characteristic2
Topological properties
SurfaceSphere
OrientableYes
Genus0
Properties
SymmetryI2(8)×A1, order 32
ConvexYes
NatureTame

The octagonal prism, or op, is a prismatic uniform polyhedron. It consists of 2 octagons and 8 squares. Each vertex joins one octagon and two squares. As the name suggests, it is a prism based on an octagon.

It can also be obtained from the small rhombicuboctahedron by removing two opposing square cupolas. It can therefore also be thought of as a bidiminished small rhombicuboctahedron.

## Vertex coordinates

An octagonal prism of edge length 1 has vertex coordinates given by:

• ${\displaystyle \left(±\frac12,\,±\frac{1+\sqrt2}2,\,±\frac12\right),}$
• ${\displaystyle \left(±\frac{1+\sqrt2}2,\,±\frac12,\,±\frac12\right).}$

## Representations

An octagonal prism has the following Coxeter diagrams:

## Semi-uniform variant

The octagonal prism has a semi-uniform variant of the form x y8o that maintains its full symmetry. This variant uses rectangles as its sides.

With base edges of length a and side edges of length b, its circumradius is given by ${\displaystyle \sqrt{a^2\frac{2+\sqrt2}{2}+\frac{b^2}{4}}}$ and its volume is given by ${\displaystyle 2(1+\sqrt2)a^2b}$.

An octagonal prism with base edges of length a and side edges of length b can be atlernated to form a square antiprism with base edges of length ${\displaystyle \sqrt{2+\sqrt2}a}$ and side edges of lengths ${\displaystyle \sqrt{a^2+b^2}}$. In particular if the side edges are ${\displaystyle \sqrt{1+\sqrt2}}$ times the length of the base edges this gives a uniform square antiprism.

## Variations

An octagonal prism has the following variations:

## Related polyhedra

A square cupola can be attached to a base of the octagonal prism to form the elongated square cupola. If a second square cupola is attached to the other base in the same orientation, the result is the elongated square orthobicupola, better known as the small rhombicuboctahedron. If the second cupola is rotated 45º the result is the elongated square gyrobicupola.

The small rhombihexahedron can be obtained by bleneding three orthogonal octagonal prisms so that half of the square faces blend out.