Volume of a Square Pyramid - Formulas and Examples

The volume of a square pyramid defines the total space occupied by the pyramid in three-dimensional space. The measure of this volume is obtained by multiplying the area of the base of the pyramid by its height and dividing the product by three. The base is a square, so we find its area by squaring one of its side lengths. Volume is a three-dimensional measure, so we use cubic units to represent it.

Here, we will learn about the formula that we can use to calculate the volume of square pyramids. Then, we will use this formula to solve some practice problems.

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formula for the volume of a square pyramid

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Learning about the volume of a square pyramid.

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GEOMETRY

Relevant for…

Learning about the volume of a square pyramid.

See examples

Formula to find the volume of a square prism

The volume of any pyramid is found by multiplying the area of its base times the length of its height and dividing by three. This means that we have the following formula:

$\text{Volume}=\frac{1}{3}\text{Area base}\times \text{Height}$

We know that the base of a square pyramid is a square. Furthermore, we also know that the area of a square is found by squaring one of its side lengths. Therefore, we have the following formula:

where, l is the length of one side of the square base, and h is the height of the pyramid.

Volume of a square pyramid – Examples with answers

The following examples can be used to practice applying the formula for the volume of square pyramids. Try to solve the examples yourself before looking at the answer.

EXAMPLE 1

What is the volume of a square pyramid that has a height of 5 m and sides of length 4 m?

Solution

We have the following lengths

Sides of the square, $l=4$
Height of pyramid, $h=5$

Therefore, we use these values in the volume formula:

$V=\frac{1}{3}{{l}^2}\times h$

$V=\frac{1}{3}{{(4)}^2}\times (5)$

$V=\frac{1}{3}(16)\times (5)$

$V=26.67$

The volume is equal to 26.67 m³.

EXAMPLE 2

If we have a pyramid with a height of 6 m and a square base with sides of 5 m, what is its volume?

Solution

From the question, we get the following information:

Sides of the square, $l=5$
Height of pyramid, $h=6$

By substituting these values into the volume formula, we have:

$V=\frac{1}{3}{{l}^2}\times h$

$V=\frac{1}{3}{{(5)}^2}\times (6)$

$V=\frac{1}{3}(25)\times (6)$

$V=50$

The volume is equal to 50 m³.

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EXAMPLE 3

What is the volume of a pyramid that has a height of 9 m and a square base with sides of length 8 m?

Solution

We observe the following information:

Sides of the square, $l=8$
Height of pyramid, $h=9$

Using these values in the volume formula, we have:

$V=\frac{1}{3}{{l}^2}\times h$

$V=\frac{1}{3}{{(8)}^2}\times (9)$

$V=\frac{1}{3}(64)\times (9)$

$V=192$

The volume is equal to 192 m³.

EXAMPLE 4

A square pyramid has a volume of 96 m³. If its sides are 6 m long, what is the length of its height?

Solution

We have the following values:

Sides of the square, $l=6$
Volume, $V=96$

In this case, we have the volume and we want to find the length of the height of the pyramid. Therefore, we use the volume formula and solve for h:

$V=\frac{1}{3}{{l}^2}\times h$

$96=\frac{1}{3}{{(6)}^2}\times h$

$96=\frac{1}{3}(36)\times h$

$96=12 h$

$h=8$

The length of the height is equal to 8 m.

EXAMPLE 5

If a square pyramid has a volume of 75 m³ and a height of 9 m, what is the length of its height?

Solution

We have the following information:

Height, $h=9$
Volume, $V=75$

We use the volume formula and solve for it:

$V=\frac{1}{3}{{l}^2}\times h$

$75=\frac{1}{3}{{l}^2}\times (9)$

$75=3{{l}^2}$

${{l}^2}=25$

$l=5$

The length of the sides is equal to 5 m.

Volume of a square pyramid – Practice problems

Use the formula for the volume of square pyramids to solve the following practice problems. If you need help with this, you can look at the solved examples above.

What is the volume of a square pyramid that has sides of length 6m and height of 9m?

Choose an answer

$V=98{{m}^3}$

$V=108{{m}^3}$

$V=194{{m}^3}$

$V=324{{m}^3}$

If a square pyramid has sides of length 7m and height of 12m, what is its volume?

Choose an answer

$V=146{{m}^3}$

$V=175{{m}^3}$

$V=196{{m}^3}$

$V=216{{m}^3}$

If a square pyramid has a volume of 12 ${{m}^3}$ and a height of 4m, what is the length of its sides?

Choose an answer

$l=2m$

$l=2.5m$

$l=3m$

$l=4m$

If a square pyramid has a volume of 100 ${{m}^3}$ and sides of length of 5m, what is the length of its height?

Choose an answer

$h=9m$

$h=10m$

$h=11m$

$h=12m$

Volume of a Square Pyramid – Formulas and Examples

GEOMETRY

GEOMETRY

Formula to find the volume of a square prism

Volume of a square pyramid – Examples with answers

EXAMPLE 1

Solution

EXAMPLE 2

Solution

EXAMPLE 3

Solution

EXAMPLE 4

Solution

EXAMPLE 5

Solution

Volume of a square pyramid – Practice problems

What is the volume of a square pyramid that has sides of length 6m and height of 9m?

If a square pyramid has sides of length 7m and height of 12m, what is its volume?

If a square pyramid has a volume of 12 ${{m}^3}$ and a height of 4m, what is the length of its sides?

If a square pyramid has a volume of 100 ${{m}^3}$ and sides of length of 5m, what is the length of its height?

See also

Learn mathematics with our additional resources in different topics

GEOMETRY

GEOMETRY

Formula to find the volume of a square prism

Volume of a square pyramid – Examples with answers

EXAMPLE 1

Solution

EXAMPLE 2

Solution

EXAMPLE 3

Solution

EXAMPLE 4

Solution

EXAMPLE 5

Solution

Volume of a square pyramid – Practice problems

What is the volume of a square pyramid that has sides of length 6m and height of 9m?

If a square pyramid has sides of length 7m and height of 12m, what is its volume?

If a square pyramid has a volume of 12 and a height of 4m, what is the length of its sides?

If a square pyramid has a volume of 100 and sides of length of 5m, what is the length of its height?

See also

Learn mathematics with our additional resources in different topics

INFORMATION

RESOURCES

SUPPORT

If a square pyramid has a volume of 12 ${{m}^3}$ and a height of 4m, what is the length of its sides?

If a square pyramid has a volume of 100 ${{m}^3}$ and sides of length of 5m, what is the length of its height?