Question

A regular square pyramid has a slant height equal to the length of its base edge.
a) Write a formula for the surface area in terms of its base edge, e.
b) Find the surface area of the pyramid if e=200ft.

Answer 1

hmm do you know what a square pyramid is?

Answer 2

yes

Answer 3

so... I assume you know how to find the area of a triangle?

Answer 4

so the lateral surface area will be
the SUM of the area of each of those 4 triangular faces

Answer 5

um...okay....so the slant height is the same number as the base?

Answer 6

yeap

Answer 7

or one can say, the slant height of the pyramid, is the same as the base edge
or the altitude of the triangular face, is the same as it's base

Answer 8

wow. ok. so the answer is: 1000ft?

Answer 9

what formula should I use?

Answer 10

hmmm wel... you're supposed to write it
so just write the sum of all triangle's area
then simplify it

Answer 11

so I write: \[1/2 base * height = 100*100 = 1,000feet\]

Answer 12

1,000? where did that come from?

Answer 13

I read that the slant height is just "e"

Answer 14

if your base and slant height is 100, yes

Answer 15

so the base isn't 200?

Answer 16

Could you tell me the answer then? Cuz im confused.

Answer 17

@agent0smith

Answer 18

Is the equation: 200*200/2 ? @agent0smith