Geometry

Question Analysis

This question involves determining the number of pairs of parallel edges within a 3D figure. The main focus is on identifying parallel edges and understanding the geometric structure of a regular octahedron.

 

Key Concept Explanation:

A regular octahedron is a 3D shape with 8 equilateral triangular faces, 6 vertices, and 12 edges. Understanding the spatial arrangement of its edges is crucial for solving this problem.

 

Step-by-Step Solution:

Consider the structure of a regular octahedron. We can think of it as composed of two square pyramids with their bases joined together.

For each edge of the octahedron, we can find its parallel counterpart. There are 6 distinct pairs of parallel edges as shown below. (edges with the same color are parallel to each other)

AB∥CD

AD∥BC

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