Chapter 8

Frustums – cones and pyramids

Frustum of a pyramid (or cone) is a portion of pyramid (or cone) included between the base and the section
parallel to the base not passing through the vertex.
 

Formula for Volume of a Frustum

The volume of a frustum is equal to one-third the product of the altitude and the sum of the upper base, the
lower base, and the mean proportional between the bases. In symbols
 

V=13(A1+A2+A1A2−−−−−√)h

Properties of a Frustum of Regular Pyramid

 The slant height of a frustum of a regular pyramid is the altitude of the face.
 The lateral edges of a frustum of a regular pyramid are equal, and the faces are equal isosceles
trapezoids.
 The bases of a frustum of a regular pyramid are similar regular polygons. If these polygons become
equal, the frustum will become prism.

 
Frustum of a Right Circular Cone
Frustum of a right circular cone is that portion of right circular cone included between the base and a section
parallel to the base not passing through the vertex.
 

Properties of Frustum of Right Circular Cone

 The altitude of a frustum of a right circular cone is the perpendicular distance between the two bases. It
is denoted by h.
 All elements of a frustum of a right circular cone are equal. It is denoted by L.

Formulas for Frustum of Right Circular Cone

Area of lower base, A1

A1=πR2

 Area of upper base, A2

A2=πr2

 Lateral Area, AL

The lateral area of the frustum of a right circular cone is equal to one-half the sum of the circumference of the
bases multiplied by slant height.

Let C and c, the circumference of lower and upper bases, respectively.

AL=12(C+c)L
 

A more convenient formula is when we substitute C = 2πR and c = 2πr, giving us

AL=π(R+r)L

Volume, V

The volume of a frustum of any cone is equal to one-third of the product of the altitude and the sum of the upper
base, the lower base, and the mean proportional between the two bases.

For any Frustum, the volume is V=13(A1+A2+A1A2−−−−−√)h

. For frustum of right circular cone, A1=πR2 and A2=πr2

. Thus,

V=13[πR2+πr2+πR2(πr2)−−−−−−−−√]h

V=13[πR2+πr2+πRr]h

V=13π(R2+r2+Rr)h

Relationship between L, R, h, and r

The relationship between the lower base radius R, upper base radius r, altitude h, and element L is given by
(R−r)2+h2=L2
Example 1

A cone 12cm high is cut 8cm from the vertex to form a frustum with a volume of 190cu.cm. Find the radius of
the cone.

Example 2

A bucket is in the shape of the frustum of a right circular cone, as shown in the figure below. Find the volume
and the total surface area of the bucket.
Example 3

Example 4

 Find the volume of a frustum of a regular pyramid whose area of bases are 9 cm2, 10 cm2 and height is 9 cm ?

Solution:
Given
B1 = 9 cm2
B2 = 10 cm2
h = 9 cm

Volume formula,

V = h(B1+B2+B1B2√)3 

V = 9(10+12+10×12√)3

V = 98.86 cm3

Example 5
A block of granite is in the form of the frustum of a regular square pyramid whose upper and lower
base edges are 3 ft. and 7 ft., respectively. If each of the lateral faces is inclined at an angle of 62°30'
to the base, find the volume of granite in the block.

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to draw the figure as follows

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday Life

Since the length of the edges of the upper and lower bases are given, then we can solve for the area
of the bases. For the upper base, the area is

and for the lower base, the area is

The altitude of the frustum of a regular square pyramid is not given in the problem. If the angle of
inclination of each lateral faces to the lower base is given, then we can solve for the altitude by
isolating and label further the vertical section of the frustum of a regular square pyramid as follows
There are two equal right triangles in the vertical section of the frustum of a regular square pyramid.
This section is an isosceles trapezoid. By using simple trigonometric function, the altitude of the
section which is also the altitude of the frustum of a regular square pyramid is

Therefore, the volume of the frustum of a regular square pyramid which is the volume of a block of
granite is