Question

Find the surface area of a square pyramid with side length 3 m and slant height 3 m.

For 50 points!

Answer 1

27 m²

Explanation:

Finding surface area

• Area (4 triangles) + Area (square base)
• 4 x 1/2 x 3 x 3 + 3 x 3
• 18 + 9
• 27 m²

Answer 2

27 m²

Explanation:

The surface area of a square pyramid comprises:

• one square
• 4 congruent triangles

Area of a square = x² (where x is the side length)

Area of a triangle = 1/2 × base × height

Given:

• slant height = height of triangle = 3 m
• side length = x = base of triangle = 3 m

Surface area = area of square + 4 × area of triangle

= 3² + 4(1/2 × 3 × 3)

= 9 + 4(9/2)

= 9 + 18

= 27 m²