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18.2 Volume of Pyramids

Essential Question: How do you find the volume of a pyramid?

Resource
Locker

Developing a Volume Formula

Explore  
_ _
As shown at the left below, AB​ ​  has length b, and C is any point on line ℓ parallel to AB​
​  . The distance between the
_
​  and line ℓ is h. No matter where C is located on line ℓ, the area of the resulting △ABC is always
line containing AB​
​ 12 ​bh. Similarly, given a polygon and a plane R that is parallel to the plane containing the polygon,
a constant equal to __
suppose you choose a point on R and create a pyramid with the chosen point as the vertex and the polygon as the
base. Both the base area and the height of the pyramid remain constant as you vary the location of the vertex on R, so
it is reasonable to assume that the volume of the pyramid remains constant.

R
ℓ
C
h
A B
b

Postulate
Pyramids that have equal base areas and equal heights have equal volumes.

Consider a triangular pyramid with vertex A directly over vertex D of the base BCD. This triangular pyramid A-BCD
can be thought of as part of a triangular prism with △EFA ≅ △BCD. Let the area of the base be B and let AD = h.
A A
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D F D

B B

C C

A What is the volume of the triangular prism?

Module 18 937 Lesson 2

 _
B Draw EC​
​  on one face of the triangular prism. Consider the three pyramids: A-BCD, A-EBC,
and A-CFE. Explain why the sum of the volumes of these three pyramids is equal to the
volume of the prism.

A A A A

E E E E

F D F D F D F D

B B B B

C C C C

_
C ​ EC​is the diagonal of a rectangle, so △EBC ≅ △CFE.
Explain why pyramids A-EBC and A-CFE have the same volume. Explain why pyramids
C-EFA and A-BCD have the same volume.

D A-CFE and C-EFA are two names for the same pyramid, so you now have shown that the
three pyramids that form the triangular prism all have equal volume. Compare the volume

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of the pyramid A-BCD and the volume of the triangular prism. Write the volume of pyramid
A-BCD in terms of B and h.

Module 18 938 Lesson 2

 Reflect

1. Explain how you know that the three pyramids that form the triangular prism
all have the same volume.

Explain 1 Finding the Volume of a Pyramid

In the Explore, you showed that the volume of a “wedge pyramid”
having its vertex directly over one of the vertices of the base B3
h
is one-third the product of the base area and the height. Now B4
consider a general pyramid. As shown in the figure, a pyramid can
B2
be partitioned into nonoverlapping wedge pyramids by drawing
a perpendicular from the vertex to the base. The volume V of the B1
given pyramid is the sum of the volumes of the wedge pyramids.

That is, V = __
1
3 1
B h + __
1
B h + __
3 2
1
3 3
B h + __
1
3 4
B h.
Using the distributive property, this may be rewritten as V = __
3 ( 1
1
h B + B 2 + B 3 + B 4).
Notice that B 1 + B 2 + B 3 + B 4 = B, where B is the base area of the given pyramid.
So, V = __
1
3
Bh.
The above argument provides an informal justification for the following result.

Volume of a Pyramid
The volume V of a pyramid with base area B and height h is given by V= __13 Bh.

Example 1 Solve a volume problem.

A Ashton built a model square-pyramid with the dimensions shown. What is 16 cm

the volume of the pyramid?
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The pyramid is composed of wooden blocks that are in the shape of

cubes. A block has the dimensions 4 cm by 4 by 4 cm. How many wooden 24 cm
blocks did Ashton use to build the pyramid?
24 cm
• Find the volume of the pyramid.
The area of the base B is the area of the square with sides of length 24 cm.
So, B = 576 cm 2.
1 Bh = _
The volume V of the pyramid is _ 1 · 576 · 16.
3 3
So V = 3072 cm 3.

• Find the volume of an average block.

The volume of a cube is given by the formula V = s 3. So the volume W of a
wooden block is 64 cm 3.
• Find the approximate number of wooden blocks in the pyramid, divide V by W.
So the number of blocks that Ashton used is 48.

Module 18 939 Lesson 2

B The Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, is approximately a
square pyramid with the dimensions shown. The pyramid
is composed of stone blocks that are rectangular prisms.
An average block has
dimensions 1.3 m by 1.3 m 146 m
by 0.7 m. Approximately
how many stone blocks
were used to build the 230 m
pyramid? Round to the 230 m
nearest hundred thousand.

• Find the volume of the pyramid.

The area of the base B is the area of the square with sides of length 230 m. So,        .

​ 1 ​Bh = _
The volume V of the pyramid is _ ​  1 ​ ‧        ‧       .
3 3
So V ≈         .

• Find the volume of an average block.

The volume of a rectangular prism is given by the formula       . So the volume W of an

average block is       .

• Find the approximate number of stone blocks in the pyramid, divide       

  by       . So the approximate number of blocks is       .

Reflect

2. What aspects of the model in Part B may lead to inaccuracies in your estimate?

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3. Suppose you are told that the average height of a stone block 0.69 m rather than 0.7 m.
Would the increase or decrease your estimate of the total number of blocks
in the pyramid? Explain.
Goddard/iStockPhoto.com

Your Turn

4. A piece of pure silver in the shape of a rectangular pyramid with the 1.5 cm
dimensions shown has a mass of 19.7 grams. What is the density
of silver? Round to the nearest tenth.
(
​ Hint: density = _____ )
​  volume
mass
​  . ​
1.5 cm
2.5 cm

Module 18 940 Lesson 2

 Explain 2 Finding the Volume of a Composite Figure
You can add or subtract to find the volume of composite figures.

Example 2 Find the volume of the composite figure formed by a pyramid removed
from a prism. Round to the nearest tenth.

A
15 ft

12 ft
25 ft

• Find the volume of the prism.

V = lwh = (25)(12)( 15 ) = 4500 ft 3

• Find the volume of pyramid.

Area of base: B = (25)( 12 ) = 300 ft 2

Volume of pyramid: V = _ 1 (300)(15) = 1500 ft 3

3
• Subtract the volume of the pyramid from volume of the prism to find the volume
of the composite figure.
4500 - 1500 = 3000

So the volume of the composite figure is 3000 ft 3.

B
15 cm

12 cm
30 cm
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• Find the volume of the prism.

V = lwh = (30)( )( )=( ) cm 3
• Find the volume of the pyramid.
Area of base: B =
2
cm
1(
Volume of pyramid: V = _ )( )=( ) cm 3
3
• Subtract volume of pyramid from volume of prism to find volume of composite
figure.
- =

So the volume of the composite figure is cm 3.

Module 18 941 Lesson 2

 Your Turn

Find the volume of the composite figure. Round to the nearest tenth.

5. The composite figure is formed from two pyramids. The base of each
pyramid is a square with a side length of 6 inches and each pyramid has a
height of 8 inches.

6. The composite figure is formed by a rectangular prism with two square 3 ft

pyramids on top of it.

2 ft
5 ft
10 ft

Elaborate
7. Explain how the volume of a pyramid is related to the volume of a prism with the
same base and height.

8. If the length and width of a rectangular pyramid are doubled and the height stays
the same, how does the volume of the pyramid change? Explain.

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9. Essential Question Check-In How do you calculate the volume of a pyramid?

Module 18 942 Lesson 2

 Evaluate: Homework and Practice
• Online Homework
1. Compare the volume of a square pyramid to the volume of a square prism with • Hints and Help
the same base and height as the pyramid. • Extra Practice

2. Which of the following equations could describe a square pyramid? Select all that apply.
A. 3Vh = B
1 ℓwB
B. V = _
3
3V
C. w = _
ℓh
V =_
D. _ h
B 3
w 2h
E. V = _
3
F. 1
_ = VBh
3
3. Justify Reasoning As shown in the figure, polyhedron ABCDEFGH is a cube and P is
any point on face EFGH. Compare the volume of the pyramid PABCD and the volume
of the cube. Demonstrate how you came to your answer.

H
G
P
E F

C
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D
A B

Find the volume of the pyramid. Round your answer to the nearest tenth.
4. 8.1 mm 5.

15.2 mm

12.5 mm
17 in.

6 in.
4 in.

Module 18 943 Lesson 2

6. Find the volume of a hexagonal pyramid with a 7. The area of the base of a hexagonal pyramid
24
base area of 25 f​ t ​2​and a height of 9 ft. is ​ ______ ​​cm ​2​. Find its volume.
tan 30°

4√3 cm

4 cm

Find the volume of the composite figure. Round to the nearest tenth.

8. 9.
7.5cm
18 cm

5 cm
12.5 cm
12 cm 25 cm

12 cm
12 cm

10. Given a square pyramid with a height of 21 ft 11. Consider a pyramid with height 10 feet and a
and a volume of 3969 cubic feet, find square base with side length of 7 feet. How does
the length of one side of the square base. the volume of the pyramid change if the base
Round to the nearest tenth. stays the same and the height is doubled?

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Module 18 944 Lesson 2

 12. Algebra Find the value of x if the 13. Find the height of a rectangular pyramid with
volume of the pyramid shown is length 3 meters, width 8 meters, and volume
200 cubic centimeters. 112 cubic meters.

10 cm
10 cm

14. A storage container for grain is in the shape of a square pyramid with the 1m
dimensions shown.

a. What is the volume of the container in cubic centimeters?

1.5 m
b. Grain leaks from the container at a rate of 4 cubic centimeters per second.
Assuming the container starts completely full, about how many hours does
it take until the container is empty?
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15. A piece of pure copper in the shape of a rectangular pyramid 1.5 cm

with the dimensions shown has a mass of 16.76 grams.
What is the density of copper? Round to the nearest hundredth.
(
​ Hint: density = _
volume )
​  mass ​  . ​ 1.5 cm
2.5 cm

Module 18 945 Lesson 2

16. Represent Real World Problems An art gallery is a 6 story square pyramid
with base area __12 acre (1 acre = 4840 yd 2, 1 story ≈ 10 ft). Estimate the volume in
cubic yards and cubic feet.

17. Analyze Relationships How would the volume of 4 ft

the pyramid shown change if each dimension were
multiplied by 6? Explain how you found your answer.
7 ft 7 ft

18. Geology A crystal is cut into a shape formed 19. A roof that encloses an attic is a square pyramid
by two square pyramids joined at the base. Each with a base edge length of 45 feet and a height of
pyramid has a base edge length of 5.7 mm and a 5 yards. What is the volume of the attic in cubic
height of 3 mm. What is the volume of the crystal feet? In cubic yards?
to the nearest cubic millimeter?

5 yd
3 mm

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45 ft
5.7 mm

ge07sec10l07003a
AB

ge07se_c10l07004a
Module 18 946 Lesson 2
 H.O.T. Focus on Higher Order Thinking

20. Explain the Error Describe and correct the error in V = 1 (49)(10)
finding the volume of the pyramid. 2
= 245 ft3

10 ft

7 ft

21. Communicate Mathematical Ideas A pyramid has a square base and a height of
5 ft. The volume of the pyramid is 60 f​ t ​3​. Explain how to find the length of a side of
the pyramid’s base.
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22. Critical Thinking A rectangular pyramid has a base length of 2, a base width of x,
and a height of 3x. Its volume is 512 c​ m ​3​. What is the area of the base?

Module 18 947 Lesson 2

Lesson Performance Task
Genna is making a puzzle using a wooden cube. She’s going to cut the cube into three pieces.
The figure below shows the lines along which she plans to cut away the first piece. The result
will be a piece with four triangular sides and a square side (shaded).

1. Each cut Genna makes will begin at the upper left corner of the cube.
Write a rule describing where she drew the lines for the first piece.

2. The figure below shows two of the lines along which Genna will cut
the second piece. Draw a cube and on it, draw the two lines Genna
drew. Then, using the same rule you used above, draw the third line
and shade the square base of the second piece.

3. When Genna cut away the second piece of the puzzle, the third piece
remained. Draw a new cube and then draw the lines that mark the edges
of the third piece. Shade the square bottom of the third piece.

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4. Compare the volumes of the three pieces. Explain your reasoning.

5. Explain how the model confirms the formula for the volume of a
pyramid.

Module 18 948 Lesson 2