Anonymous

How Do You Find The Surface Area Of A Rectangular Based Pyramid ?

3

3 Answers

JJJJJJ BBBBBB Profile
JJJJJJ BBBBBB answered
Consider that the pyramid has 4 triangular sides and one rectangular (not square) side. Call the height of the pyramid "H", the length of the rectangle "L" and the width "W".

Area = L*W + (L*H) + (W*H)

Normally a triangle's area is (W*H)/2, but since we have a rectangle for a base we have to compute the area of two pairs of equal triangles.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Does it have isosceles triangle faces?
If so, then let's say that the two sides of the rectangle measure 8 ft and 6 ft, and the height of the triangle measures 6 ft.
This is the formula:
SA = Area of Base + 2(1/2 x base x height) + 2(1/2 base x height)
SA = (8 x 6) + 2(1/2 x 8 x 6) + 2(1/2 x 6 x 6)
SA = 48 + 2(1/2 x 48) + 2(1/2 x 36)
SA = 48 + 2(24) + 2(18)
SA = 48 + 48 + 36
SA = 132
There you go. ;-P

Answer Question

Anonymous