Lecture Notes in MAT209 (Solid Geometry)

M. Macayayong

Chapter 4: Pyramids

Definition 1. A pyramid is a solid whose base is a plane polygon and sides are triangles.
In other words, a polyhedron is a pyramid if and only if all faces except one have a vertex in common.

4.1 Parts of a Pyramid

The apex is the common vertex.

The base is the face that does not contain the apex.
The axis is the line segment joining the apex and the centroid of the base
The lateral faces are the triangular faces.
The lateral edges are the intersections of two lateral faces.
The base edges are the sides of the base polygon.
The altitude is the line segment joining the apex and the base; and its length is the height, denoted by h.

4.2 Name of a Pyramid

Pyramids are named by the type of polygon in the base. If the base is a triangle, rectangle, or hexagon, the
pyramid is called as a triangular pyramid, a rectangular pyramid, a hexagonal pyramid, respectively.

A pyramid is a right pyramid if the axis is perpendicular to the base; otherwise, it is an oblique pyramid.

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Lecture Notes in MAT209 (Solid Geometry)
M. Macayayong

Theorem 2. The lateral area AL of a regular pyramid equals one-half the product of the slant height l and
the perimeter of the base PB, or
AL = ½ l PB.

Theorem 3. The total area AT of a regular pyramid equals the lateral area AL plus the area of the base AB, or

AT = AL + AB.

Theorem 4. The volume V of a pyramid is one-third the product of its height h and the area of its base AB, or

V = 1/3 AB h.

4.3 Regular Pyramid

A regular pyramid is a pyramid whose base is a regular polygon and its lateral edges are congruent; that
is, the lateral faces are congruent isosceles triangles.

In a regular pyramid:
 The radius of the pyramid is a line segment joining the centroid and one vertices of the base,
denoted by r. It is the radius of the circumcircle.
 The apothem of the base polygon is a perpendicular segment joining the centroid and the midpoint
of the side, denoted by a. It is the radius of the incircle.

 The slant height is the distance from the apex to a base edge, denoted by l.
Note: The slant height is sometimes referred to as the apothem of the pyramid.

Pythagorean Properties:

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Lecture Notes in MAT209 (Solid Geometry)
M. Macayayong

4.3.1 Regular Triangular Pyramid

A regular triangular pyramid has an equilateral base and three congruent
isosceles triangles as lateral faces making the same angle with the base.

Values of a, b, and hB
𝑟
𝑎 =
2
𝑏 = 𝑟√3
ℎ𝐵 = 𝑟 + 𝑎, where hB is the height of the base polygon
𝑏√3
ℎ𝐵 =
2

Exercise 5. Determine the volume of each regular triangular pyramid.

a. b.

Exercise 6. Determine the total area of each regular triangular pyramid.

a. b.

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Lecture Notes in MAT209 (Solid Geometry)
M. Macayayong

4.3.2 Regular Square Pyramid

A regular square pyramid has square base and four congruent isosceles
triangles as the lateral faces making the same angle with the base.

Values of a, b, and r
𝑏 = 2𝑎
𝑟 = 𝑎√2

SEATWORK

1. Find the lateral area, total area, and volume of each regular pyramid.
a. b. c.

2. A regular pyramid has a square base and the lateral area is 144 in2.
a. If the slant height is twice the length of a base edge, find the length of the base edge, the
slant height, and the total area.
b. Find the height of the pyramid.

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Lecture Notes in MAT209 (Solid Geometry)
M. Macayayong

4.3.3 Regular Hexagonal Pyramid

A regular square pyramid has regular hexagon as a base and six
congruent isosceles triangles as the lateral faces making the same
angle with the base.

Values of a, b, and r
𝑏=𝑟
𝑏√3
𝑎 =
2
3√3 2
𝐴𝐵 = 𝑏
2

Exercise 7. Find the lateral area, total area and volume.

a. b.

Exercise 8. Find the volume.

a. b.

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Lecture Notes in MAT209 (Solid Geometry)
M. Macayayong

Exercise 9. A right pyramid 10m high has a square base of which the diagonal is 10m. Find its lateral area.

Exercise 10. The base of a right pyramid is a regular hexagon of side 4m and its slant surfaces are inclined
to the horizontal at an angle of 30o. Find the volume.

Exercise 11. The area of the base of a hexagonal pyramid is 54√3 sq. m. and the area of one of its face is
9√6 sq. m. Find the volume of the pyramid.

Exercise 12. An equilateral triangular pyramid is inscribed in a right circular cylinder with 6-cm radius and
8-cm height. Find the volume of the pyramid.

Exercise 13. Popcorn is sold in boxes with square bases measuring 4 in. on each side and 8 in. in height.
The company decides to switch to new pyramid-shaped containers having the same size base and height. If
the old boxes sold for Php75 each, what is the fair price for the new containers? Justify your answer.

Exercise 14. A packager is investigating containers shaped like regular pyramids. If the perimeter of the
base is to be 20 in. and the height 5 in., will a square-based or a pentagonal-based container hold more?
How much more?