The height of a pyramid on square base is 15cm. If the volume is 80cm\(^3\), find the length of the side of the base
Answer Details
The volume of a pyramid is given by the formula:
V = 1/3 * Base Area * Height
The base of a square pyramid is a square, so the Base Area is equal to the side length squared (B = s²).
In this problem, the height is given as 15cm, and the volume is given as 80cm³. We are asked to find the length of a side of the base. Let's call that length "s".
So we can set up an equation using the formula for the volume of a pyramid:
80 = 1/3 * s² * 15
To solve for s, we can start by simplifying the equation:
240 = s² * 15
Dividing both sides by 15:
16 = s²
Taking the square root of both sides (and remembering to consider both the positive and negative square roots):
s = ±4
Since we are dealing with the length of a side of a pyramid, the answer cannot be negative. Therefore, the length of a side of the base is 4cm (option C).
Answer: 4.0cm