Volume of a pyramid

Look carefully at the pyramid shown below. The volume of a pyramid can be computed as shown.We will start with a pyramid that has a square as the base.



The base of the pyramid can be a rectangle, a triangle, a square, or even a pentagon. Compute the area of the base accordingly. In this lesson, you will learn how to compute the volume when the base is a square, a rectangle, or a triangle.

How to calculate the volume of a pyramid with a square base.

Example #1:

A square pyramid has a height of 9 meters. If a side of the base measures 4 meters, what is the volume of the pyramid?

Since the base is a square, area of the base = 4 × 4 = 16 m²

Volume of the pyramid = (B × h)/3

Volume of the pyramid = (16 × 9)/3

Volume of the pyramid = 144/3 = 48 m³

How to calculate the volume of a pyramid with a rectangular base

Example #2:

A rectangular pyramid has a height of 10 meters. If the sides of the base measure 3 meters and 5 meters, what is the volume of the pyramid?

Since the base is a rectangle, area of the base = 3 × 5 = 15 m²

Volume of the pyramid = (B × h)/3

Volume of the pyramid = (15 × 10)/3

Volume of the pyramid = 150/3 = 50 m³

How to calculate the volume of a pyramid when the base is a triangle

Example: #3

A triangular pyramid has a height of 8 meters. If the triangle has a base of 4 meters and a height of 3 meters, what is the volume of the pyramid?

Notice that here, you are dealing with two different heights. Avoid mixing the height of the pyramid with the height of the triangle.

Since the base is a triangle, area of the base = (b × h)/2 = (4 × 3)/2 = 12/2 = 6 m².

Volume of the pyramid = (B × h)/3 Volume of the pyramid = (6 × 8)/3 Volume of the pyramid = 48/3 Volume of the pyramid = 16 m³