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MATH 109 – SOLID MENSURATION

Solids for which V = (mean B) H
Frustum of a Pyramid

A frustum of a pyramid (cone) is a portion

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

* Frustum of a Regular Pyramid

Properties
 The slant height of a frustum of a regular pyramid is the altitude of a face.
 The lateral edges of a frustum of a regular pyramid are equal, and the faces are equal
isosceles trapezoids.

Formulas
Let a = upper base edge
b = lower base edge
e = lateral edge
H = altitude
L = slant height
A1 = area of upper base
A2 = area of lower base
n = number of edges of a base

The lateral area of a frustum of a regular pyramid is equal to one-half the product of its slant
height and the sum of the perimeters of the bases.

1
LA  n(a  b) L
2
or

1
LA  ( P1  P2 ) L
2

The volume of a frustum of a regular pyramid is equal to one-third the altitude multiplied by the
sum of the areas of the bases and the mean proportional between the bases.

V
1
3

A1  A2  A1 A 2 H 

Acorda, G., et al., (2005). Solid Mensuration (Workbook). Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City: Feliber Publishing House
nd
Bland, J. R., & Kern W. F. (1938). Solid Mensuration. 2 Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Solid Mensuration, http://www.math-principles.com
http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/solid-mensuration-solid-geometry/frustum-regular-pyramid
 2

Problem 1. An excavation 22 feet deep was dug in the form of an inverted frustum of a rectangular
pyramid. The top measured 18 ft. by 24 ft., and the bottom measured 12 ft. by 16 ft. Estimate the
number of cubic yards of earth that were removed.

Problem 2. The lateral area of a frustum of a regular square pyramid is 154 square inches. An edge of
one of the base is 3 inches and the slant height is 7 inches. Find the edge of the lower base.

Acorda, G., et al., (2005). Solid Mensuration (Workbook). Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City: Feliber Publishing House
nd
Bland, J. R., & Kern W. F. (1938). Solid Mensuration. 2 Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Solid Mensuration, http://www.math-principles.com
http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/solid-mensuration-solid-geometry/frustum-regular-pyramid
 3

Problem 3. Cleopatra’s Needle (the Egyptian Obelisk in New York) consists of a frustum of a pyramid
surmounted by a pyramid. The frustum has a square base. The upper base measures 4 ft. on a side
and the lower base measures 7 ½ ft. on a side. The altitude of the frustum is 61 ft. Find the weight of
the frustum, if it is made of stone which weighs 170 lb. per cu. ft.

Problem 4. What is the capacity of the box of the frustum of a pyramid 20 sq. cm. at the top, 22 sq. cm.
at the bottom, and 10 cm. deep?

Acorda, G., et al., (2005). Solid Mensuration (Workbook). Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City: Feliber Publishing House
nd
Bland, J. R., & Kern W. F. (1938). Solid Mensuration. 2 Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Solid Mensuration, http://www.math-principles.com
http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/solid-mensuration-solid-geometry/frustum-regular-pyramid
 4

Problem 5. The bases of the frustum of a square pyramid have sides 20 cm. and 30 cm. Its volume is
19,000 cu. cm. Find the altitude and lateral area of the frustum.

Problem 6. If the bases of the frustum of a pyramid are regular hexagons whose sides are 20 cm. and
30 cm., and the altitutde is 40 cm., find its volume and lateral area.

Acorda, G., et al., (2005). Solid Mensuration (Workbook). Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City: Feliber Publishing House
nd
Bland, J. R., & Kern W. F. (1938). Solid Mensuration. 2 Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Solid Mensuration, http://www.math-principles.com
http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/solid-mensuration-solid-geometry/frustum-regular-pyramid
 5

Problem 7. Find the cost in digging an artificial lake 4 ½ m. deep and the top and bottom are squares
whose edges are 7 ½ m. and 6 m., respectively. The cost per cubic meter is Php 300.00.

Problem 8. Find the volume and cost of painting the lateral surface of an octagonal tower whose slant
height is 7 m., and base edges are 1 m., and 1 ½ m. at Php 300.00 per square meter.

Acorda, G., et al., (2005). Solid Mensuration (Workbook). Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City: Feliber Publishing House
nd
Bland, J. R., & Kern W. F. (1938). Solid Mensuration. 2 Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Solid Mensuration, http://www.math-principles.com
http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/solid-mensuration-solid-geometry/frustum-regular-pyramid
 6

Problem 9. A baking pan has a rectangular base 14 inches by 8 inches. The sides and ends of the pan
slope outward, so that the upper edges measures 16 in. by 9 in. If the depth of the pan is 2 inches, find
the amount of cake butter required to fill the pan on-half of its depth.

Acorda, G., et al., (2005). Solid Mensuration (Workbook). Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City: Feliber Publishing House
nd
Bland, J. R., & Kern W. F. (1938). Solid Mensuration. 2 Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Solid Mensuration, http://www.math-principles.com
http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/solid-mensuration-solid-geometry/frustum-regular-pyramid
 7

Problem 10. 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.

Acorda, G., et al., (2005). Solid Mensuration (Workbook). Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City: Feliber Publishing House
nd
Bland, J. R., & Kern W. F. (1938). Solid Mensuration. 2 Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Solid Mensuration, http://www.math-principles.com
http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/solid-mensuration-solid-geometry/frustum-regular-pyramid