Pyramids
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When we think of pyramids we think of the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
They are actually Square Pyramids, because their base is a Square.
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Parts of a Pyramid
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| A pyramid is made by connecting a base to an apex |
Types of Pyramids
There are many types of Pyramids, and they are named after the shape of their base.
Area and Volume
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The Volume of a Pyramid
1/3 × [Base Area] × Height
The Surface Area of a Pyramid
1/2 × Perimeter × [Side Length]
+ [Base Area]
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Explanation of Surface Area
The Surface Area has two parts: the area of the sides (the Lateral Area) and the area of the base (the Base Area).
The Base Area depends on the shape, there are different formulas for triangle, square, etc. See Area for formulas, or our Area Calculation Tool
But the Lateral Area is surprisingly simple. Just multiply the perimeter by the side length and divide by 2. This is because the sides are always triangles and the triangle formula is base times height divided by 2
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Right vs Oblique Pyramid
This tells you where the top (apex) of the pyramid is. If the apex is directly above the center of the base, then it is a Right Pyramid, otherwise it is an Oblique Pyramid.
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| Right Pyramid |
Oblique Pyramid |
Regular vs Irregular Pyramid
This tells us about the shape of the base. If the base is a regular polygon, then it is a Regular Pyramid, otherwise it is an Irregular Pyramid.
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| Regular Pyramid |
Irregular Pyramid |
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| Base is Regular |
Base is Irregular |
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