Math Rocks! 
푉 = 
1 
3 
퐵ℎ
Pyramid – A solid object where the base 
is a polygon and the sides are triangles 
which meet at the top 
All polygons have 
straight sides. 
Apex 
10 m 
10 m 
The apex is 
highest point. 
Base
Pyramids are 
identified by type 
of base they have. 
This would be a 
square pyramid. 
10 m 
10 m
The dashed lines will 
indicate lines hidden 
by a solid polygon. 
Draw lines from the 
four vertices to an 
apex above the 
rhombus.
10 m 
Solve for volume 
10 m 
퐵 = 퐴푟푒푎 표푓 퐵푎푠푒 
Why must you use the 
Pythagorean theorem? 
To find the height 
of the pyramid. 
푉 = 
1 
3 
퐵ℎ 
푎2 + 52 = 132 
푎2 + 25 = 169 
푎2 = 144 
푎 = 12 
ℎ = ℎ푒푖푔ℎ푡 표푓 푝푦푟푎푚푖푑 
ℎ = 12 푚 
13 m 
퐵 = 10 푚 ∙ 10 푚 = 100 푚2
10 m 
10 m 
퐵 100 푚2 
How do we 
proceed? 
Just substitute 
and solve. 
13 m 
12 m 
푉 = 
1 
3 
100 푚2 12 푚 
푉 = 
1 
3 
1200 푚3 
푉 = 400 푚3 
푉 = 
1 
3 
퐵ℎ 
ℎ = 12 푚
h=481 ft. 
s=756 ft. 
h=height 
s=side of base 
B= side squared 
What must you do 
after substituting 
the values? Follow the order 
of operations. 
푉 = 
1 
3 
571,536 푓푡2 481 푓푡 
푉 = 
1 
3 
756 푓푡 2 ∙ 481 푓푡 
푉 = 
1 
3 
274,908,816 푓푡3 
푉 = 91,636,272 푓푡3
h=24 m 
s=55 m 
h=height 
s=side of base 
B= side squared 
1 
3 
1 
3 
55 푚 2 ∙ 24 푚 
3,025 푚2 24 푚 
1 
3 
Why do 
푉 = 
푉 = 
푉 = 
72,600 푚3 
mummies tell 
no secrets? 
Because they 
keep things 
under wraps. 
푉 = 24,200 푚3
h=72 ft. 
s=112 ft. 
h=height 
s=side of base 
B= side squared 
Why might you want 
to know the volume 
of the Louvre. 
푉 = 
1 
3 
12,544 푓푡.2 72 푓푡. 
푉 = 
1 
3 
112 푓푡. 2 ∙ 72 푓푡. 
푉 = 
1 
3 
903,168 푓푡.3 
For heating and 
cooling purposes. 
푉 = 301, 056 푓푡.3
h=65 m 
s=225 m 
h=height 
s=side of base 
B= side squared 
Who belongs to 
the Pyramid 
PTA? 
푉 = 
1 
3 
50,625 푚2 65 푚 
푉 = 
1 
3 
225 푚 2 ∙ 65 푚 
푉 = 
1 
3 
3,290,625 푚3 
Mummies and 
Deadies! 
푉 = 1,096,875 푚3
For this problem you 
are not give the side of 
the square base, but 
the perimeter. 
푃 = 
2,600 푓푡 
4 
푃 = 650 푓푡. 
Divide the 
perimeter by four.
h=350 ft. 
s=650 ft. 
h=height 
s=side of base 
B= side squared 
Why couldn’t the 
mummy answer the 
phone? 
푉 = 
1 
3 
422,500 푓푡.2 350 푓푡. 
푉 = 
1 
3 
650 푓푡. 2 ∙ 350 푓푡. 
푉 = 
1 
3 
147,875,000 푓푡.3 
She was 
tied up! 
푉 = 49,291,667푓푡.3
Review Questions 
What information is not needed to find the volume? 
The height of the triangle face. 
What do you call the top of a pyramid? 
Apex 
When give the perimeter of the base, how do you find the 
side of the base? 
Divide the perimeter by four. 
Do mummies enjoy Of corpse! 
being mummies.
Review Questions 
How do you identify a pyramid? 
By the type of base. 
What would you call a pyramid in which all the sides of the 
base are congruent with right angles? 
A square pyramid 
If you did not want 
multiply by one-third 
what else could you do? 
Divide by 3 
1 
퐵ℎ 
퐵ℎ = 
3 
3
If you are not a Math Monkey 
then you are a chimp. 
Copyright © 2013 Daryle Fleming 
All rights reserved by author. 
Permission to copy for single classroom use only. 
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only. 
Not for public display.

Volume of a pyramid

  • 1.
    Math Rocks! 푉= 1 3 퐵ℎ
  • 2.
    Pyramid – Asolid object where the base is a polygon and the sides are triangles which meet at the top All polygons have straight sides. Apex 10 m 10 m The apex is highest point. Base
  • 3.
    Pyramids are identifiedby type of base they have. This would be a square pyramid. 10 m 10 m
  • 4.
    The dashed lineswill indicate lines hidden by a solid polygon. Draw lines from the four vertices to an apex above the rhombus.
  • 5.
    10 m Solvefor volume 10 m 퐵 = 퐴푟푒푎 표푓 퐵푎푠푒 Why must you use the Pythagorean theorem? To find the height of the pyramid. 푉 = 1 3 퐵ℎ 푎2 + 52 = 132 푎2 + 25 = 169 푎2 = 144 푎 = 12 ℎ = ℎ푒푖푔ℎ푡 표푓 푝푦푟푎푚푖푑 ℎ = 12 푚 13 m 퐵 = 10 푚 ∙ 10 푚 = 100 푚2
  • 6.
    10 m 10m 퐵 100 푚2 How do we proceed? Just substitute and solve. 13 m 12 m 푉 = 1 3 100 푚2 12 푚 푉 = 1 3 1200 푚3 푉 = 400 푚3 푉 = 1 3 퐵ℎ ℎ = 12 푚
  • 8.
    h=481 ft. s=756ft. h=height s=side of base B= side squared What must you do after substituting the values? Follow the order of operations. 푉 = 1 3 571,536 푓푡2 481 푓푡 푉 = 1 3 756 푓푡 2 ∙ 481 푓푡 푉 = 1 3 274,908,816 푓푡3 푉 = 91,636,272 푓푡3
  • 10.
    h=24 m s=55m h=height s=side of base B= side squared 1 3 1 3 55 푚 2 ∙ 24 푚 3,025 푚2 24 푚 1 3 Why do 푉 = 푉 = 푉 = 72,600 푚3 mummies tell no secrets? Because they keep things under wraps. 푉 = 24,200 푚3
  • 12.
    h=72 ft. s=112ft. h=height s=side of base B= side squared Why might you want to know the volume of the Louvre. 푉 = 1 3 12,544 푓푡.2 72 푓푡. 푉 = 1 3 112 푓푡. 2 ∙ 72 푓푡. 푉 = 1 3 903,168 푓푡.3 For heating and cooling purposes. 푉 = 301, 056 푓푡.3
  • 14.
    h=65 m s=225m h=height s=side of base B= side squared Who belongs to the Pyramid PTA? 푉 = 1 3 50,625 푚2 65 푚 푉 = 1 3 225 푚 2 ∙ 65 푚 푉 = 1 3 3,290,625 푚3 Mummies and Deadies! 푉 = 1,096,875 푚3
  • 16.
    For this problemyou are not give the side of the square base, but the perimeter. 푃 = 2,600 푓푡 4 푃 = 650 푓푡. Divide the perimeter by four.
  • 17.
    h=350 ft. s=650ft. h=height s=side of base B= side squared Why couldn’t the mummy answer the phone? 푉 = 1 3 422,500 푓푡.2 350 푓푡. 푉 = 1 3 650 푓푡. 2 ∙ 350 푓푡. 푉 = 1 3 147,875,000 푓푡.3 She was tied up! 푉 = 49,291,667푓푡.3
  • 18.
    Review Questions Whatinformation is not needed to find the volume? The height of the triangle face. What do you call the top of a pyramid? Apex When give the perimeter of the base, how do you find the side of the base? Divide the perimeter by four. Do mummies enjoy Of corpse! being mummies.
  • 19.
    Review Questions Howdo you identify a pyramid? By the type of base. What would you call a pyramid in which all the sides of the base are congruent with right angles? A square pyramid If you did not want multiply by one-third what else could you do? Divide by 3 1 퐵ℎ 퐵ℎ = 3 3
  • 20.
    If you arenot a Math Monkey then you are a chimp. Copyright © 2013 Daryle Fleming All rights reserved by author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only. Not for public display.

Editor's Notes

  • #3 Concepts Stressed: Review past vocabulary polygons and apex
  • #6 Concepts Stressed: Use Pythagorean Theorem to find the height of the pyramid
  • #9 Concepts Stressed: When you multiply labels with different exponents you add the exponents (i.e. 𝑓𝑡 2 ∙𝑓𝑡= 𝑓𝑡 2 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 1 = 𝑓𝑡 2+1 = 𝑓𝑡 3 )
  • #11 Change the corny jokes if you don’t like them.
  • #16 Concepts Stressed: Variation perimeter is given and student find side of the base