Final answer:
The volume of a frustum of a pyramid is given by adjusting the regular pyramid volume formula to account for the truncated top. The formula used is V = (1/3)h(B1 + B2 + sqrt(B1B2)).
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the volume of a frustum of a pyramid, you need to use the formula for the volume of a regular pyramid and adapt it for the frustum. The formula for the volume of a regular pyramid is V = (1/3)Ah, where A is the area of the base and h is the height. For a frustum, the volume can be calculated using the difference between two such pyramids.
The general formula for the volume of a frustum of a pyramid is V = (1/3)h(B1 + B2 + sqrt(B1B2)), where B1 and B2 are the areas of the two bases (the larger base and the smaller base) and h is the perpendicular height between these bases. When applying this formula, ensure that all measurements are in consistent units.
If the problem provides specific dimensions for the bases and the height, substitute these values into the formula to calculate the volume directly. As the area of the base may not always be straightforward to calculate, especially in frustums with non-square or non-circular bases, additional steps might be necessary to find B1 and B2 before using the volume formula.