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The surface area of this square pyramid is 644 ft2. can the value of x be 20? explain

The surface area of this square pyramid is 644 ft2. can the value of x be 20? explain-example-1
User Natt
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The value of x for the surface area of the square pyramid can not be 20, rather it is 16.

The square pyramid have four triangular surfaces and a square base the surface area is the sum of all four triangle faces and that of the square base.

The area of a triangle is 1/2 × base × height, we can find the height x by equating the area of each triangular faces and the square base to 644 ft²

4(1/2 × 14 ft × x) + 196 ft²= 644 ft²

4(7x) ft = 644 ft² - 196 ft² {collect like terms}

28x ft = 448 ft²

divide both sides by 28

x = (448/28) ft

x = 16 ft

Therefore, the value of x is equal to 16 ft for the square pyramid and not 20.

User Edam
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