When you find an surface area of pyramids, you divide by 3. The triangular pyramid has 3 sides, I understand that, but what about the pyramid which has 4 sides? Why still divide it by 3 and not 4?????
+130037 I think you might be getting something confused, here.
The volume of a pyramid (with 3 or four sides) = (1/3) (area of the base) (height)
The surface area of one side is just (1/2 the base on that side) x ("slant height" on that side).
Thus, the surface area of all of the sides is found by totaling the surface area of all the individual sides.
If the base is an equilateral triangle, we can find the area of one side and multiply by 3. If it's a square, we can find the area of one side and multiply by 4. If it's a rectangle, we can find the area of two adjacent sides and multiply by 2.
Also, the area of the base must be considered. For a triangular base, it's just (1/2 the length of a side times an altitude drawn to that side). For a square base it's just the length of one of the sides squared. And if it's rectangular, then it's just the product of two adjacent side lengths.
I hope that helps.
+130037 I think you might be getting something confused, here.
The volume of a pyramid (with 3 or four sides) = (1/3) (area of the base) (height)
The surface area of one side is just (1/2 the base on that side) x ("slant height" on that side).
Thus, the surface area of all of the sides is found by totaling the surface area of all the individual sides.
If the base is an equilateral triangle, we can find the area of one side and multiply by 3. If it's a square, we can find the area of one side and multiply by 4. If it's a rectangle, we can find the area of two adjacent sides and multiply by 2.
Also, the area of the base must be considered. For a triangular base, it's just (1/2 the length of a side times an altitude drawn to that side). For a square base it's just the length of one of the sides squared. And if it's rectangular, then it's just the product of two adjacent side lengths.
I hope that helps.
