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Applied Math Mensuration of Pyramid

Chapter 17
Mensuration of Pyramid

17.1 Pyramid:
A pyramid is a solid whose base is a plane polygon and sides are
triangles that meet in a common vertex. The triangular sides are called
lateral faces. The common vertex is also called Apex.
A pyramid is named according to the shape of its base. If the base
is a triangle, square, hexagon etc. the pyramid is called as a triangular
pyramid, a square pyramid, a hexagonal pyramid etc. respectively.
Altitude (or height):
The altitude of a pyramid is the perpendicular distance from the
vertex to the base.
Axis:
The axis of a pyramid is the distance from the vertex to the centre
of the base.
17.2 Right or Regular Pyramid:
A pyramid whose base is a regular polygon and congruent
isosceles triangles as lateral faces.
In a regular pyramid the axis is
perpendicular to the base. Thus in a regular
pyramid th axis and the altitude are identical.
Slant Height:
The slant height of a regular pyramid
is the length of the median through the apex
of any lateral face. In the Fig 17.1 OG is the
slant height. It is denoted by .
Fig. 17.1

Fig. 17.1
Lateral edge:
It is the common side where the two, faces meet. In the OA is the
lateral edge.
17.3 The surface area and Volume of a Regular Pyramid:
If a is the side of the polygon base, h is the height and is the slant
height of a regular pyramid, then
(i) Lateral surface area = Sum of the triangular sides forming the
pyramid, which are all equal in areas
= n (area of one triangle of base a and slant
height )
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1
= n a
2
1
= (n a) x
2
1
= Perimeter of the base x slant height
2
(ii) Total surface area = Lateral surface area + area of the base
(iii) Volume:
The volume of a pyramid
may be easily derived from the
volume of a cube. By joining the
centre O of the cube with all
vertices, six equal pyramids are
formed. The base of each pyramid
is one of the faces of the cube.
Hence the volume of each pyramid
is one-sixth of the volume of the
cube. The height of each pyramid
is
a
h=
2
1
Volume of each pyramid = the volume of the cube
6
1 3
= a
6
1 2 a
= a .
3 2
1 2
= a h
3
1
Volume of the pyramid = area of the base x height
3
Example 1:
Find the volume, the lateral surface area and the total surface area
of the square pyramid of perpendicular height 9.41cm and the
length of the side of base 2.92cm.
Solution:
Here h = 9.41cm, a = 2.92cm
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1
(i) Volume = area of the base x height
3
1
= a 2h
3
1
= 8.526 x 9.41
3
= 26.74 cu. cm

(ii) For the lateral surface area we

first calculate the slant height .
In the right triangle OAB, OA =
a
h = 9.41 cm, AB = = 1.45 cm
2
By Pythagorean theorem, 2 h 2 AB2
= 85.55 + 2.13
2
= 90.68
= 9.52
1
Now lateral surface area = perimeter of the base x
2
1
= 4a x
2
= 2 x 2.92 x 9.52
= 55.60 sq. cm.
(iii) Total surface area= Lateral surface area + Area of the base
= 55.60 + (2.92)2
= 55.60 + 8.53
= 64.13 sq. cm.
Example 2:
A right pyramid 10m high has a
square base of which the diagonal
is 10m. Find its slant surface.
Solution:
Here h = 10m
AB = d = 10m
d
BC = = 5m
2
In the right triangle BCD,
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Applied Math Mensuration of Pyramid

CD = BD
So BC2 = CD2 + BD2
25 = 2 CD2
5
Or CD = m
2
Side of the base
5
a = BE = 2 BD = 2 .
2
=5 2
Now, in the right triangle OCD,
OD2 = OC2 + CD2
2 25
= 100 + = 112.50
2
= 10.6m
1
The slant surface area = perimeter of the base x
2
1
= 4a
2
= 2 5 2 10.6
= 150 sq. m.
Example 3:
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 30 o. Find
the volume.
Solution:
Here, a = 4m
= B = 30o
n a2 180
Area of the base = cot
4 n
6 x 42
= cot 60o
4
1
= 24 13.86 sq. m
3
In the right triangle ABC,
a
BC = = 2m
2
Angle C = 60o
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Applied Math Mensuration of Pyramid

AB
So, tan 60o = OR AB2 = AC2 BC2
CB
AB = 2 3 m
AB = 2 3
Now, in the right triangle OAB
h
tan 30o =
AB
1
=2 3 x
3
h = 2m
1
Volume = area of the base x height
3
1
= x 13.86 x 2
3
= 9.25 cu. m
Example 4:
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.
Solution:
Here, area of the base = 54 3 sq. m
Area of one side face = 9 6 sq. m
1
Volume = area of the base x h
3
1
= ( 54 3 ) x h
3
To find h, we have to find and AB.
n a2 180
Area of the hexagon = cot
4 n
2
6xa
54 3 cot 30o
4
6
54 3 x 3 a 2
4
a2 = 36
a = 6m
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1
Area of one triangle, say, OCD = a
2
1
9 6 x6x
2
=3 6 m
In the right triangle ABC,
AC = 6m, BC = 3m
2
So AB = AC2 BC2
= 36 9 = 27
AB = 3 3 m
Now, in the right triangle OAB
OA2 = OB2 AB2
h2 = 2 AB2
= 54 27 = 27
h= 3 3
1
Therefore, volume = (54 3) x 3 3 = 162 cu. m.
3
Exercise 17(A)
Q.1: Find the volume of a pyramid whose base is an equilateral triangle
of side 3m and height 4m.
Q.2: Find the volume of a right pyramid whose base is a regular
hexagon each side of which is 10m and height 50m.
Q.3: A regular hexagonal pyramid has the perimeter of its base 12cm
and its altitude is 15cm. Find its volume.
Q.4; A pyramid with a base which is an equilateral triangle each side of
which is 3m and has a volume of 120 cu. m find its height.
Q.5: A pyramid on a square base has every edge 100m long. Find the
edge of a cube of equal volume.
Q.6: The faces of a pyramid on a square base are equilateral triangles. If
each side of the base is 10m. Find the volume and the whole
surface of the pyramid.
Q.7: Find the whole surface of a pyramid whose base is an equilateral
triangle of side 3m and its slant height is 6m.
Q.8: The slant edge of a right regular hexagonal pyramid is 65 cm and
the height is 56cm. Find the area of the base.
Q.9: Find the slant surface of a right pyramid whose height is 65m and
whose base is a regular hexagon of side 48 3 m.
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Applied Math Mensuration of Pyramid

Q.10: The sides of the base of a square pyramid are each 12.5cm and
height of the pyramid is 8.5cm. Find its volume and lateral surface.
Q.11: Find volume of a square pyramid whose every edge is 100cm long.
Answers 17(A)
Q1. 3 3 cu.m Q2. 4330.127 cu. m Q3. 51.96 cu. m
Q4. 92.376 m Q5. 61.77m Q6. 235.70 cu. m; 273.2 sq. m
Q7. 30.897 sq. m Q8. 3772.296 sq. cm Q9. 13968 3 sq. m
Q10. 1328.125 cu. cm, 263.76 sq. cm Q11. 235702.26 cu.cm

17.4 Frustum of a Pyramid:

When a pyramid is cut through by a plane parallel to its base, the
portion of the pyramid between the cutting plane and the base is called a
frustum of the pyramid. Each of the side face of the frustum of the
pyramid is a trapezium.
Slant height:
The distance between the mid points of
the sides of base and top. It is denoted by .
17.5 Volume and surface area of
Frustum of a Regular
Pyramid:
Let, A1 by the area of the base, and
A2 be the area of the top, a is the side of the
base and b is the side of the top, is the
slant height and h is the height of the
frustum of a pyramid, then
(i) Volume of the frustum of a pyramid
h
= (A1 A 2 A1A 2 )
3
(ii) Lateral surface area = Sum of the areas of all the trapezium
faces, which are equals
= n (area of one trapezium, say, ABAB)
a+b 1
= n x = (na + nb) x
2 2
1
= sum of the perimeters of the base and top x slant height
2
(iii)Total surface area= Lateral surface area + area of the base and
the top
Example 5 :
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Applied Math Mensuration of Pyramid

A frustum of a pyramid has rectangular ends, the sides of the base

being 20m and 32m. If the area of the top face is 700 sq. m. and the
height of the frustum is 50m; find its volume.
Solution:
Here A1 = 20 x 32 = 640 sq. m , A2 = 700 sq. m
h
Volume = [A1 A 2 A1A 2 ]
3
50
= [640 700 640 x 700]
3
50 50
= [1340 + 669.33] = (2009.33)
3 3
= 33488.80 cu. m.
Example 6 :
A square pyramid 12m high is cut 8m from the vertex to form a
frustum of a pyramid with a volume of 190
cu. m. Find the side of the base of the frustum
of a pyramid.
Solution:
Here, volume of frustum of a pyramid = 190 cu. m
Height of pyramid = h = 12m
Height of the frustum of a pyramid = h1 = 4m
OC = 8m
If a and b are the sides of base and top,
then since the right triangles OAB and OCD are
similar.
AB OA
So
CD OC
1
a
2 12
1
b 8
2
a 3
OR
b 2
2a
OR b
3
Now, Volume of the frustum of a pyramid
h1
= [A1 A 2 A1A 2 ]
3
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Applied Math Mensuration of Pyramid

4
190 [a 2 b 2 ab]
3
4 2 4a 2 2a 2
190 [a ]
3 9 3
4 19a 2
190 [ ]
3 9
190 x 27
a2 67.5
76
a = 8.22m

Exercise 17(B)
Q.1 Find the volume and the total surface area of a frustum of a
pyramid; the end being square of sides 8.6m and 4.8m respectively
and the thickness of the frustum of a pyramid is 5m.
Q.2 Find the lateral surface area and volume of frustum of a square
pyramid. The sides of the base and top are 6m and 4m respectively
and the slant height is 8m.
Q.3 Find the net area of material required to make half dozen lamp
shades each shaded as a hollow frustum of a square pyramid,
having top and bottom sides of 10cm and 18cm respectively, and
vertical height 16m.
Q.4 The sides of the top and bottom ends of a frustum of a square
pyramid are 6m and 15m respectively. Its height being 30m. it is
capped at the top by a square pyramid 12m from the base to the
apex. Find the number of cu. m in the frustum of a square pyramid
and in the cape.
Q.5 Find the cost of canvas, at the rate of Rs. 5 per square meter,
required to make a tent in the form of a frustum of a square
pyramid. The sides of the base and top are 6m and 4m respectively
and the height is 8m, taking no account of waste.
Q.6 A square pyramid 15cm height and side of the base 12cm is cut by
a plane parallel to the base and 9cm from the base. Find the ratio of
the values of the two parts thus formed.
Q.7 What is the lateral area of a regular pyramid whose base is a square
12cm. on a side and whose slant height is 10cm? If a plane is
passed parallel to the base and 4cm. from the vertex, what is the
lateral area of the frustum?

Answers 17(B)
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Applied Math Mensuration of Pyramid

Q1. 229.63 cu. m ; 239.88 sq. m Q2. 201.15 cu. m ; 160.00 sq. m
Q3. 5541.45 sq. cm
Q4. Volume of frustum = V1 = 2106 cu. m.
Volume of cape = V2 = 144 cu. m
Number of cubic m = V1 + V2 = 2250 cu. m.
Q5. Rs. 806.23 Q6. 1 : 14.6 Q7. 240 sq. cm ; 180 sq. cm.

Summary
1. Lateral surface area of regular pyramid
1
= (perimeter of the base) x slant height
2
2. Total surface area of regular pyramid
= Lateral surface area + area of the base
1
3. Volume of pyramid = (area of the base) x height
3
h
4. Volume of the frustum of a pyramid = [A1 A 2 A1A 2 ]
3
5. Lateral surface area of frustum of a pyramid
1
= (sum of the perimeters of base and top) x slant height
2
1
i.e. (P1 + P2) x
2
6. Total surface area of frustum of a pyramid
= lateral surface + area of the base and top
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Short Questions

Write the short answers of the following.

Q.1: Define pyramids.
Q.2: Find the volume of a pyramid whose base is an equilateral triangle
of side 1m and whose height is 4 m.
Q.3: Find the whole surface of a pyramid whose base is an equilateral
triangle of side 3 m and its slant height is 6m.

Q.4: Find the volume of a pyramid with a square base of side 10 cm.
and height 15 cm.

Q.5: Find the volume of a pentagonal based pyramid whose area of base
is 15 sq.cm and height is 15 cm.

Q.6: A square pyramid has a volume of 60 cu.cm and the side of the
base is 6 cm. Find height of the pyramid.

Q.7: Find the volume of a square pyramid if the side of the base is 3cm.
and perpendicular height is 10 cm.

Q.8: The height of pyramid with square base is 12 cm. and its volume is
100 cu.cm. Find length of side of square base

Answers

Q2. 0.58 cu.cm Q3. 30.897 sq.m Q4. 500 cu.cm.

Q5. 75 cu.cm Q6. 5 cm. Q7. 30 cu.cm.

Q8. 5cm
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Applied Math Mensuration of Pyramid

Objective Type Questions

Q.1 Each questions has four possible answers. Choose the correct
answer and encircle it.
___1. A solid figure whose base is a plane polygon and sides an triangles
that meet in a common vertex is known as
(a) pyramid (b) cube
(c) frustum of a pyramid (d) None of these
___2. If the base of pyramid is hexagon, the pyramid is called
(a) triangular pyramid (b) square pyramid
(c) hexagonal pyramid (d) pentagonal pyramid
___3. If the base of pyramid is square, the pyramid is called
(a) square pyramid (b) hexagonal pyramid
(c) triangular pyramid (d) Rectangular pyramid
___4. If area of base of pyramid is A and height h then volume of
pyramid
1 1 1
(a) Ah (b) Ah (c) Ah (d) Ah
3 2 6
___5. Volume of a pyramid whose area of base 6a2 and height h is
1 2
(a) a h (b) 2a2h (c) 3a2h (d) a2h
3
___6. Lateral surface area of regular pyramid if perimeter of base is P
and slant height is
1 1 1
(a) P (b) P (c) P (d) P
3 2 6
___7. The length of median through vertex (apex) of any lateral surface
of a regular pyramid is
(a) length of diagonal (b) slant height
(c) height (d) axis
___8. Volume of frustum of pyramid is
h h
(a) [A1 A 2 A1A 2 ] (b) [A1 A 2 A1A 2 ]
3 2
h
(c) [A1 A 2 A1A 2 ] (d) h[A1 A2 A1A2 ]
3
___9. Each of the side face of frustum of the pyramid is a
(a) triangle (b) rectangle
(c) trapezium (d) square
___10. If P1 and P2 are perimeters of base and top of frustum of pyramid
respectively then lateral surface area is
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Applied Math Mensuration of Pyramid

1 1
(a) P1P2 (b) (P1 +P2 )
2 2
1 1
(c) (P1 +P2 )h (d) (P1 +P2 )
2 3
Answers
Q.1 1. a 2. c 3. a 4. a
5. b 6. c 7. b 8. a
9. c 10. b