AIME 2016 I, Problem 4

A right prism with height $h$ has bases that are regular hexagons with sides of length $12$. A vertex $A$ of the prism and its three adjacent vertices are the vertices of a triangular pyramid. The dihedral angle (the angle between the two planes) formed by the face of the pyramid that lies in a base of the prism and the face of the pyramid that does not contain $A$ measures $60$ degrees. Find $h^2$.

Solution: Let $B$ and $C$ be the vertices adjacent to $A$ on the same base as $A$, and let $D$ be the last vertex of the triangular pyramid.  Then $\angle CAB = 120^\circ$. Let $X$ be the foot of the altitude from $A$ to $\overline{BC}$. Then since $\triangle ABX$ is a $30-60-90$ triangle, $AX = 6$.  Since the dihedral angle between $\triangle ABC$ and $\triangle BCD$ is $60^\circ$, $\triangle AXD$ is a $30-60-90$ triangle and $AD = 6\sqrt{3} = h$. Thus $h^2 = \fbox{108}$. ~gundraja

Answer: 108