SAT Math : How to find the volume of a pyramid

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #281 : Geometry

The volume of a 6-foot-tall square pyramid is 8 cubic feet. How long are the sides of the base?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Volume of a pyramid is

Thus:

Area of the base is .

Therefore, each side is .

Example Question #1 : Pyramids

A right pyramid with a square base has a height that is twice the length of one edge of the base.  If the height of the pyramid is 6 meters, find the volume of the pyramid.

Possible Answers:

18

12

6

24

30

Correct answer:

18

Explanation:

If the height, which is twice the length of the base edges, measures 6 meters, then each base edge must measure 3 meters.  

Since the base is a square, the area of the base is 3 x 3 = 9.  

Therefore the volume of the right pyramid is V = (1/3) x area of the base x height = 1/3(9)(6) = 18.

Example Question #52 : Solid Geometry

Find the volume of the pyramid shown below: 

Screen shot 2015 10 27 at 3.33.57 pm

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The formula for the area of a pyramid is . In this case, the length is , the width is , and the height is 

 and 

Example Question #4 : Pyramids

Pyramid question

Figure not drawn to scale

In the pyramid above, the base is a square. The distance between points C and D is 6 inches and the length of side b is 5 inches. What is the volume of this pyramid?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Pyramid question notes1

To find the volume of a pyramid, you need to use the equation below:

To find the height (shown by the yellow line), we can draw a right triangle using the yellow line, blue line and side b (5 inches). Because the hypotenuse is 5 inches, using the common Pythagorean 3-4-5  triple. The blue line is 3 inches and the yellow line (height) is 4 inches. Also, to find side a, we can use the blue line (3 inches) and half of the red line (3 inches)  and the Pythagorean Theorum.

 

Because the base is a square, the area of the base is equal to the square of side a:

Now we plug in these values to find the volume:

Example Question #3 : Pyramids

Pyramid

Calculate the volume of the rectangular pyramid with height , base width , and base length 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The volume  of a rectangular pyramid with height , base width , and base length  is given by 

.

For this pyramid, , and  To calculate its volume, substitute the values for , and  into the formula:

Therefore, the volume of the given rectangular pyramid is 

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