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# 10.8: Surface Area of Pyramids

Difficulty Level: At Grade Created by: CK-12
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Practice Surface Area and Volume of Pyramids
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After about a week of working at the wrapping station, both Candice and Trevor were beginning to feel at ease. Neither one of them didn’t think that there was a package that was too difficult to wrap. They had wrapped lots of regular shaped boxes and also some odd shaped things too.

But after a week of wrapping, they felt like experts. Then one Saturday morning, an interesting dilemma came their way. A girl came up to the booth with a box in one hand.

“I wonder if you can help me,” she said. “I bought my brother a model pyramid and it needs paint. But the paint isn’t included. I need to know how much paint I’ll need.”

“Well, to figure that out, you need the dimensions of the pyramid to the amount of surface area that the paint will need to cover. Let me see the box and I’ll see if I can help you,” Candice said taking the box from the girl.

The box said that once the pyramid is built, that it will have a base of 7.7 cm, a height of 6.2 cm and a slant height of 7.3 cm.

“Okay, I know what to do,” Candice said smiling as she took out a piece of a paper and a calculator.

Do you know what to do? How can you use these measurements to find the surface area of the pyramid?

In this Concept you will learn how to find the surface area of a pyramid. Learn as you go through this Concept and at the end you can check out how Candice finds the surface area of the pyramid model.

### Guidance

A pyramid has sides that are triangular faces and a base. The base can be any shape. Let’s look at some pyramids.

Like pyramids, cones have a base and a point at the top. However, cones always have a circular base.

Surface area is the sum of all of the areas of the faces in a solid figure. Imagine you could wrap a pyramid or cone in wrapping paper, like a present. The amount of wrapping paper needed to cover the figure represents its surface area. To find the surface area, we must be able to calculate the area of each face and then add these areas together.

One way to find the surface area of a three-dimensional figure is using a net. A net is a two-dimensional diagram of a three-dimensional figure. Imagine you could unfold a pyramid so that it is completely flat. It might look something like this net.

With a net, we can see each face of the pyramid more clearly. To find the surface area, we need to calculate the area for each face in the net, the sides and the base.

The side faces of a pyramid are always triangles, so we use the area formula for triangles to calculate their area: A=12bh\begin{align*}A = \frac{1}{2} bh\end{align*}.

The area of the base depends on what shape it is. Remember, pyramids can have bases in the shape of a triangle, square, rectangle, or any other polygon. We use whichever area formula is appropriate for the shape. Here are some common formulas to find area.

rectangle:Asquare:Atriangle: A=lw=s2=12bh

Take a look at the pyramid below. Which formula should we use to find the area of the base?

The base of the pyramid is a square with sides of 6 centimeters, so we should use the area formula for a square: A=s2\begin{align*}A = s^2\end{align*}. Now we can find the area of the base.

AA=62=36 sq.cm

Next, we need to find the area of one of the triangles. There are four triangles, but we can work by finding the area of one of the triangles. We use the formula A=12bh\begin{align*}A= \frac{1}{2} bh\end{align*}. The base width is 6 cm and the slant height, the height of the side is 4 cm.

AAA=12(6)(4)=12(24)=12 sq.cm

There are four triangles, so we can take this number and multiply it by four and then add it to the area of the square.

SASASA=4(12)+36=48+36=84 sq.cm
Nets let us see each face of a pyramid so that we can calculate its area. However, we can also use a formula to represent the faces as we find their area. The formula is like a short cut, because we can put the measurements in for the appropriate variable in the formula and solve for SA\begin{align*}SA\end{align*}, surface area.

Here is the formula for finding the surface area of a pyramid.

SA=12 perimeter×slant height+B\begin{align*}SA = \frac{1}{2} \ \text{perimeter} \times \text{slant height} + B\end{align*}

The first part of the formula, 12 perimeter×slant height\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2} \ \text{perimeter} \times \text{slant height}\end{align*}, is a quick way of finding the area of all of the triangular sides of the pyramid at once. Remember, the area formula for a triangle is A=12bh\begin{align*}A = \frac{1}{2} bh\end{align*}. In the formula, b\begin{align*}b\end{align*} stands for base. The perimeter of the pyramid’s bottom face represents all of the bases of the triangular faces at once, because it’s their sum. The height of each triangle is always the same, so we can just call this the slant height of the pyramid.

Therefore “12 perimeter×slant height\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2} \ \text{perimeter} \times \text{slant height}\end{align*}” is really the same as 12bh\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2} bh\end{align*}.

The B\begin{align*}B\end{align*} in the formula represents the base’s area. Remember, pyramids can have bases of different shapes, so the area formula we use to find B\begin{align*}B\end{align*} varies. We find the base’s area first and then put it into the formula in place of B\begin{align*}B\end{align*}. Let’s give it a try.

What is the surface area of the pyramid below?

This is a square pyramid. The four sides of the base are all 8 inches, so the perimeter of the base is 8×4=32 inches\begin{align*}8 \times 4 = 32 \ inches\end{align*}. We also know we will need to use the area formula for squares to find B\begin{align*}B\end{align*}, the base’s area.

BBB=s2=(8)2=64 in.2

Now we have all the information that we need. We can put it into the formula and solve for SA\begin{align*}SA\end{align*}, surface area.

SASASASASA=12 perimeter×slant height+B=[12(32)×3]+64=(16×3)+64=48+64=112 in.2

The surface area of the pyramid is 112 square inches.

Here is another one.

Find the surface area of the figure below.

First of all, what kind of pyramid is this? It is a triangular pyramid because its base is a triangle. That means we need to use the area formula for triangles to find B\begin{align*}B\end{align*}. The base’s sides are all the same length, so we can calculate the perimeter by multiplying 16×3=48\begin{align*}16 \times 3 = 48\end{align*}. Now let’s find B\begin{align*}B\end{align*}.

BBBB=12bh=12(16)(13.86)=8(13.86)=110.88 cm2

Now we’re ready to put all of the information into the formula. Let’s see what happens.

SASASASASA=12 perimeter×slant height+B=[12(48)×6]+110.88=(24×6)+110.88=144+110.88=254.88 cm2

The surface area of this triangular pyramid is 254.88 square centimeters.

Write this formula down in your notebook.

Try a few of these on your own.

Find the surface area of each pyramid.

#### Example A

A square pyramid with side of 6 cm, slant height of 5 cm

Solution: 96 cm2\begin{align*}96 \ cm^2\end{align*}

#### Example B

A rectangular pyramid with a length of 6 in, a width of 4 in and a slant height of 3 in

Solution: 54 in2\begin{align*}54 \ in^2\end{align*}

#### Example C

A square pyramid with side of 8 in, slant height of 9 in

Solution: 208 in2\begin{align*}208 \ in^2\end{align*}

Here is the original problem once again.

After about a week of working at the wrapping station, both Candice and Trevor were beginning to feel at ease. Neither one of them didn’t think that there was a package that was too difficult to wrap. They had wrapped lots of regular shaped boxes and also some odd shaped things too.

But after a week of wrapping, they felt like experts. Then one Saturday morning, an interesting dilemma came their way. A girl came up to the booth with a box in one hand.

“I wonder if you can help me,” she said. “I bought my brother a model pyramid and it needs paint. But the paint isn’t included. I need to know how much paint I’ll need.”

“Well, to figure that out, you need the dimensions of the pyramid to the amount of surface area that the paint will need to cover. Let me see the box and I’ll see if I can help you,” Candice said taking the box from the girl.

The box said that once the pyramid is built, that it will have a base of 7.7 cm, a height of 6.2 cm and a slant height of 7.3 cm.

“Okay, I know what to do,” Candice said smiling as she took out a piece of a paper and a calculator.

First, Candice needs to find the surface area of the base. She can use this formula.

A=12bh\begin{align*}A = \frac{1}{2} bh\end{align*}

A=12(7.7)(6.2)\begin{align*}A = \frac{1}{2} (7.7)(6.2)\end{align*}

A=23.87 sq.cm\begin{align*}A = 23.87 \ sq. cm\end{align*}

Now she can use the formula for surface area..

SA=12P×sh+B\begin{align*}SA = \frac{1}{2}P \times sh + B\end{align*}

SA=12(23.1)×7.3+23.87\begin{align*}SA = \frac{1}{2} (23.1) \times 7.3 + 23.87\end{align*}

SA=84.315+23.87\begin{align*}SA = 84.315 + 23.87\end{align*}

SA=108.19 cm2\begin{align*}SA = 108.19 \ cm^2\end{align*}

The surface area of the pyramid is 108.19 sq. cm.

“You need to find paint that stretches across 108.19 sq. cm. That will give him just enough. Try the hobby shop. They will help you,” Candice said writing the figure on a piece of paper as she handed it to the girl.

The girl smiled and thanked her. Candice felt good about her ability to use math to figure out the problem.

### Vocabulary

Here are the vocabulary words that are found in this Concept.

Pyramid
a three-dimensional object with a polygon for a base and triangles for sides that join at a single vertex.
Surface area
the measurement of the outer covering or surface of a three-dimensional figure.

### Guided Practice

Here is one for you to try on your own.

Find the surface area of the following triangular pyramid.

Base of 8 cm, height of 7 cm, and a slant height of 6 cm.

First, we need to find the surface area of each of the four lateral faces. She can use this formula.

AAA=12bh=4[12(8)(7)]=112 sq.cm

Now she can find the area of the base.

AAA=s2=8(8)=64 sq.cm

The surface area of the pyramid is 176 sq. cm.

### Video Review

Here is a video for review.

### Practice

Directions: Find the surface area of each square pyramid. Remember that b\begin{align*}b\end{align*} means base and sh\begin{align*}sh\end{align*} means slant height.

1. b=4 in, sh=5 in\begin{align*}b = 4 \ in, \ sh = 5 \ in\end{align*}

2. b=4 in, sh=6 in\begin{align*}b = 4 \ in, \ sh = 6 \ in\end{align*}

3. b=6 in, sh=8 in\begin{align*}b = 6 \ in, \ sh = 8 \ in\end{align*}

4. b=5 in, sh=7 in\begin{align*}b = 5 \ in, \ sh = 7 \ in\end{align*}

5. b=7 m, sh=9 m\begin{align*}b = 7 \ m, \ sh = 9 \ m\end{align*}

6. b=8 m, sh=10 m\begin{align*}b = 8 \ m, \ sh = 10 \ m\end{align*}

7. b=9 cm, sh=11 cm\begin{align*}b = 9 \ cm, \ sh = 11 \ cm\end{align*}

8. b=11 m, sh=13 m\begin{align*}b = 11 \ m, \ sh = 13 \ m\end{align*}

9. b=6 in, sh=9 in\begin{align*}b = 6 \ in, \ sh = 9 \ in\end{align*}

10. b=10 cm, sh=12 cm\begin{align*}b = 10 \ cm, \ sh = 12 \ cm\end{align*}

Directions:Find the surface area of each rectangular pyramid.

11. l=10 in,w=8 in,sh=6 in\begin{align*}l = 10 \ in, w = 8 \ in, sh = 6 \ in\end{align*}

12. l=12 ft,w=8 ft,sh=10 ft\begin{align*}l = 12 \ ft, w = 8 \ ft, sh = 10 \ ft\end{align*}

13. l=4 in,w=2 in,sh=3 in\begin{align*}l = 4 \ in, w = 2 \ in, sh = 3 \ in\end{align*}

14. l=16 m,w=12 m,sh=11 m\begin{align*}l = 16 \ m, w = 12 \ m, sh = 11 \ m\end{align*}

15. l=15 in,w=10 in,sh=12 in\begin{align*}l = 15 \ in, w = 10 \ in, sh = 12 \ in\end{align*}

### Vocabulary Language: English

Cone

Cone

A cone is a solid three-dimensional figure with a circular base and one vertex.
Net

Net

A net is a diagram that shows a “flattened” view of a solid. In a net, each face and base is shown with all of its dimensions. A net can also serve as a pattern to build a three-dimensional solid.
Pyramid

Pyramid

A pyramid is a three-dimensional object with a base that is a polygon and triangular faces that meet at one vertex.
Surface Area

Surface Area

Surface area is the total area of all of the surfaces of a three-dimensional object.
Vertex

Vertex

A vertex is a point of intersection of the lines or rays that form an angle.
Volume

Volume

Volume is the amount of space inside the bounds of a three-dimensional object.
Cavalieri's Principle

Cavalieri's Principle

States that if two solids have the same height and the same cross-sectional area at every level, then they will have the same volume.
Base Edge

Base Edge

The base edge is the edge between the base and the lateral faces of a prism.
Slant Height

Slant Height

The slant height is the height of a lateral face of a pyramid.
Apothem

Apothem

The apothem of a regular polygon is a perpendicular segment from the center point of the polygon to the midpoint of one of its sides.

Nov 30, 2012

Sep 23, 2015