Cholula is the largest Pyramid in the

world (by volume)

(Mexico)
 Starter
The Louvre is an Art museum in Paris, part of
which is in the shape of a Pyramid. The Pyramid
is 20.6m high and has a Square base of side
35m. Calculate the amount of litres of air the
Pyramid would contain.
1 Litre = 1000cm3
Volume of a Pyramid = 1/3 x base x height

35m = 3500cm
Change the units first!
20.6m = 2060cm

Volume = 1/3 x base x height

Volume = 1/3 x (3500 x 3500) x 2060

Volume = 8,411,666,667cm3
÷ 1000
Litres = 8,411,666.667
 Frustums
• A Frustum is effectively a Cone or
Pyramid with a smaller Pyramid or Cone
cut off…
 Frustums
• We have looked at the Volume of a number of 3D solids

• Today we will be looking at calculating the Volume of a Frustum

Learning Objectives
All will be able to calculate the Volume of Pyramids and Cones
(Grade B/A)

Most will be able to for equations to calculate the missing length

required for the Volume of a Frustum (Grade A/A*)

Some will be able to calculate the Volume of a Frustum from

start to finish (Grade A*)
 Frustums
To calculate the Volume of a Frustum, you must xcm
consider the Full Cone, as well as the smaller
one which has been removed. 4cm

You will need to work out the missing height,

5cm
which is part of the full cone.
6cm
The RATIO of the height to the base will be
the same for both cones as they are similar.

x x+5 Multiply all of left fraction Small Cone Big Cone

=
4 6 by 6 and all of right fraction (Height divided (Height divided
by 4 (remember this doesn’t by base radius) by base radius)
6x = 4x + 20 change their actual values)
x x+5
24 24
Multiply both 4 6
sides by 24
6x = 4x + 20 Subtract 4x
2x = 20
Divide by 2
x = 10
 Frustums
To calculate the Volume of a Frustum, you must xcm
10cm
consider the Full Cone, as well as the smaller
one which has been removed. 4cm

Volume of a Pyramid/Cone = 1/3 x base x height

5cm

Big Cone 6cm

Vb = 1/3 x π x 62 x 15

Vb = 180π

Small Cone
Vs = 1/3 x π x 42 x 10

Vs = 160π
/3

Big Cone – Small Cone

Vf = 180π - 160π/3
Vf = 397.94 cm3
 Frustums
To calculate the Volume of a Frustum, you must xcm
consider the Full Cone, as well as the smaller
one which has been removed. 5cm

You will need to work out the missing height,

9cm
which is part of the full cone.
8cm
The RATIO of the height to the base will be
the same for both cones as they are similar.

x x+9 Small Cone Big Cone

5 = Multiply all of left fraction by
8 8 and all of right fraction by 5 (Height divided (Height divided
(remember this doesn’t change by base radius) by base radius)
8x = 5x + 45 their actual values)
x x+9
40 40
Multiply by 40 5 8
8x = 5x + 45 Subtract 5x
3x = 45
Divide by 3
x = 15
 Frustums
To calculate the Volume of a Frustum, you must xcm
15cm
consider the Full Cone, as well as the smaller
one which has been removed. 5cm

Volume of a Pyramid/Cone = 1/3 x base x height

9cm

Big Cone 8cm

Vb = 1/3 x π x 82 x 24

Vb = 512π

Small Cone
Vs = 1/3 x π x 52 x 15

Vs = 125π

Big Cone – Small Cone

Vf = 512π - 125π
Vf = 1215.8 cm3
 Plenary
To the right is a picture of The x
Temple of Kukulcán, in Mexico. By 19.52m
modelling it as a Frustum of a
Square-based Pyramid, estimate its 24m
Volume. (Ignore the top bit!)

x = x + 24
Make
19.52 55.3 55.3m
Fractions
Equivalent
55.3x = 19.52x + 468.48
1079.456 1079.456 ‘Remove’ the Small Pyramid Big Pyramid
Fraction (Height divided (Height divided
55.3x = 19.52x + 468.48 by base width) by base width)
Subtract
19.52x x x + 24
35.78x = 468.48
Divide by 19.52 55.3
35.78
x = 13.09
19.52 x 55.3 = 1079.456
 Plenary
To the right is a picture of The 13m
Temple of Kukulcán, in Mexico. By 19.52m
modelling it as a Frustum of a
Square-based Pyramid, estimate its 24m
Volume. (Ignore the top bit!)
Vb = 1/3 x 55.32 x 37.09
55.3m
Vb = 37,811.599 m3

Vs = 1/3 x 19.522 x 13.09

Vs = 1,662.988 m3

Vf = 37811.599 – 1662.988
Vf = 36,148.61 m3
 Summary
• Today we have seen how to calculate the
Volume of a Frustum

• This involved the fact that a Frustum is made

by removing a smaller cone/pyramid from a
bigger one, and that both are similar shapes

• This also recapped your knowledge of

equations containing fractions