Find the length of the base of a square pyramid if the volume is 576 cubic inches and has a height of 3 inches. Use 3.14 for pi and round your answer to the nearest hundredth.

a. 4 inches
b. 8 inches
c. 16 inches
d. 24 inches

Question

Find the length of the base of a square pyramid if the volume is 576 cubic inches and has a height of 3 inches. Use 3.14 for pi and round your answer to the nearest hundredth. 

a. 4 inches
b. 8 inches
c. 16 inches
d. 24 inches

e.mccormick · Answer

Well, know the formula for the volume of a square pyramid?

anonymous · Answer

yes

anonymous · Answer

I got b for the answer but is it right?

anonymous · Answer

my teacher graded my homework and said it was wrong.

e.mccormick · Answer

So $V=\dfrac{1}{3}b^2h$ 

You are given $h=3$ and $V = 576$

$576=\dfrac{1}{3}b^23$

e.mccormick · Answer

So when you solve that for b, what do you get?

anonymous · Answer

a?

e.mccormick · Answer

$576=\dfrac{1}{3}b^23~ \leftarrow $ I mean that b.  As in the length or height of the base, since on a square they are the same.

anonymous · Answer

oh so it is 24?

e.mccormick · Answer

Yah.  The 1/3 and 3 cancel and you are left with finding the root of 576 or 24.