[Math] Volume of a $n$-dimensional sphere and of the inscribed cube

geometry

How can one find a general formula to find what fraction of a $n$-dimensional sphere is the volume of the inscribed cube?

Context: the problem emerged out of curiosity starting from the $3$-D case, and I would like to have some hints on the kind of approach that may be useful.

Best Answer

The volume of a n-sphere with radius $\displaystyle R$ is $\displaystyle \frac{\pi^{\frac{n}{2}}}{\Gamma{(\frac{n}{2}+1)}} R^n$. The volume of a n-cube with side $\displaystyle S$ is $\displaystyle S^n$, and its longest diagonal is $\displaystyle S \sqrt{n}$. In this case we have $S \sqrt{n}=2R$ and then $\displaystyle S=\frac{2R}{\sqrt{n}}$, which leads to a n-cube volume equal to $\displaystyle \frac{(2R)^n}{n^{\frac{n}{2}}}$.

The ratio of the inscribed n-cube volume to the total n-sphere volume is then

$$\displaystyle \frac{(2R)^n \, \Gamma{(\frac{n}{2}+1)} }{n^{\frac{n}{2}} \pi^{\frac{n}{2}} R^n}$$

which can be simplified in

$$\displaystyle \frac{2^n \, \Gamma{(\frac{n}{2}+1)} }{(n\pi)^{\frac{n}{2}}}$$

The first values for $n=2,3,4,5...$ are $\displaystyle \frac{2}{\pi}$, $\displaystyle\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}\pi}$,$\displaystyle\frac{2}{\pi^2}$, $\displaystyle\frac{12}{5 \sqrt{5} \pi^2}$, and so on. Note that, as $n \rightarrow \infty$, the ratio converges to zero.