ISEE Upper Level Quantitative : How to find the surface area of a pyramid

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Quantitative

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Pyramids

A pyramid with a square base has height equal to the perimeter of its base. Which is the greater quantity?

(A) Twice the area of its base

(B) The area of one of its triangular faces

Possible Answers:

(A) and (B) are equal

(B) is greater

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(A) is greater

Correct answer:

(B) is greater

Explanation:

Since the answer is not dependent on the actual dimensions, for the sake of simplicity, we assume that the base has sidelength 2. Then the area of the base is the square of this, or 4.

The height of the pyramid is equal to the perimeter of the base, or . A right triangle can be formed with the lengths of its legs equal to the height of the pyramid, or 8, and one half the length of a side, or 1; the length of its hypotenuse, which is the slant height, is 

This is the height of one triangular face; its base is a side of the square, so the length of the base is 2. The area of a face is half the product of these dimensions, or 

Since twice the area of the base is , the problem comes down to comparing  and ; the latter, which is (B), is greater.

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