# Volume of a Pyramid

To calculate volume of a pyramid, formula is used to solve the problems on pyramid using step-by-step explanation.

Worked-out examples on volume of a pyramid:

1. The base of a right pyramid is a rectangle of length 12 meters and breadth 9 meters. If each of the slant edges of the pyramid is 8.5 meters, find the volume of the pyramid.

Solution:

Let the rectangle WXYZ be the base of the right pyramid and its diagonal WY and XZ intersect at O. If OP be perpendicular to the plane of the rectangle at O then OP is the height of the right pyramid.
Join PW .

Then according to the question,

WX = 9 m, XY = 12 m. and PW = 8.5 m



Now, from the plane right angled ∆ WXY we get,

WY² = WX² + XY²

or, WY² = 9² + 12²

or, WY² = 81 + 144

or, WY² = 225

or, WY = 15²

Therefore, WY =15;

Hence, WO = 1/2 WY = 1/2 × 15 = 7.5

Since PO is perpendicular to the plane of rectangle WXYZ at O, hence PO ┴ OW

Therefore, from the right angled triangle POW we get;

OW² + OP² = PW²

or, OP² = PW² - OW²

or, OP² = (8.5)² - (7.5)²

or, OP² = 16

or, OP = √16

Therefore, OP = 4

i.e., the height of the pyramid = 4 m.

Therefore, the required volume of the pyramid

= 1/3 × (area of rectangle WXYZ) × OP

= 1/3 × 12 × 9 × 4 cubic metre.

= 144 cubic metre.

2. OX, OY , OZ are three mutually perpendicular line segments in space; if OX = OY = OZ = a,

Find the area of the area of the triangle XYZ and the volume of pyramid formed.

Solution:

According to the question, OX = OY = OZ = a

Again, OXOY;

Hence, from ∆ OXY we get,

XY² = OX² + OY²

or, XY² = a² + a²

or, XY² = 2a²

Therefore, XY = √2 a

Similarly, from triangle OYZ we get, YZ = √2 a (Since, OYOZ)

And from ∆ OZX we get, ZX = √2 a (Since, OZOX).

Thus, XYZ is an equilateral triangle of side √2 a.

Therefore, the area of the triangle XYZ is

(√3)/4 ∙ XY²

= (√3)/4 ∙ (√2 a)² = (√3/2) a² square units

Let Z be the vertex of the pyramid OXYZ; then the base of the pyramid is the triangle OXY.

Thus, the area of the base of the pyramid

= area of ∆ OXY

= 1/2 ∙ OXOY , (Since, OXOY) = 1/2 a ∙ a = 1/2 a²

Again, OZis perpendicular to both OX and OY at their at their point of intersection O.
Therefore, the height of the pyramid is OZ.

Therefore, the required volume of the pyramid OXYZ

= 1/3 × (area of ∆ XOY) × OZ

= 1/3 ∙ 1/2 a² ∙ a

= 1/6 a³ cubic units

3. The base of a right pyramid is a regular hexagon whose area is 24√3 square cm. If the area of a side face the pyramid is 4√6 square cm what should be its volume?

Solution:

Let the regular hexagon ABCDEF of side a cm. be the base of the right pyramid. Then the area of the base of the pyramid = area of the hexagon ABCDEF

= (6 a²/4) cot (π/6), [using the formulae (na²/4) cot (π/n), for the area of the regular polygon of n sides]

= (3√3/2) a² square cm.

According to the question,

(3√3/2) a² = 24√3

or, a² = 16

or, a = √16

or, a = 4 (Since, a > 0)

Let OP be perpendicular to the plane of the base of the pyramid at O, the centre of the hexagon; then OP is the slant height of the pyramid.

Draw OXAB and join OB and PX.

Clearly, X is the mid-point of AB;

Hence, PX is the slant height of the pyramid.

According to the question, the area of ∆ PAB = 4√6

or, 1/2 ∙ ABPX = 4√6, (Since, PXAB

or, 1/2 ∙ 4 ∙ PX = 4√6, (Since, AB = a = 4)

or, PX= 2√6

Again , OB = length of a side of the hexagon = 4
And BX = 1/2 ∙ AB = 2.

Therefore from right- angled ∆ BOX we get,

OX² + BX² = OB²

or, OX² = 4² – 2²

or, OX² = 16 – 4

or, OX² = 12

or, OX = √12

or, OX = 2√3

Again, OPOX;

hence, from the right – angled ∆ POX we get,

OP² + OX² = PX² or, OP² = PX² – OX²

or, OP² = (2√6)² - (2√3)²

or, OP² = 24 – 12

or, OP² = 12

or, OP = √12

or, OP = 2√3

Therefore, the required volume of the pyramid

= 1/3 × area of the base × OP.

= 1/3 × 24√3 × 2√3 cubic cm.

= 48 cubic cm.

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