A right pyramid with a square base has a volume of 252 cubic centimeters. The length of one of the sides of its base is 6 centimeters. Rounded to the nearest centimeter, what is the vertical height of the pyramid?
Q. A right pyramid with a square base has a volume of 252 cubic centimeters. The length of one of the sides of its base is 6 centimeters. Rounded to the nearest centimeter, what is the vertical height of the pyramid?
Understand formula for volume: Understand the formula for the volume of a pyramid.The volume V of a pyramid with a square base is given by the formula V=31×base area×height.Here, the base area is the area of the square base, which can be calculated as side length squared.
Plug in given values: Plug in the given values into the volume formula.We know the volume V=252cm3 and the side length of the base is 6cm.First, calculate the base area: base area = side length ∗ side length = \(6 \, \text{cm} ∗6 \, \text{cm} = 36 \, \text{cm}^2\).
Use volume formula for height: Use the volume formula to find the height.We have V=31×base area×height, which means 252cm3=31×36cm2×height.
Solve for height: Solve for the height.Multiply both sides of the equation by 3 to get rid of the fraction: 3×252cm3=36cm2×height.This simplifies to 756cm3=36cm2×height.
Divide to isolate height: Divide both sides by the base area to isolate the height.756cm3/36cm2=height.This simplifies to height=21cm.
Round to nearest centimeter: Round the height to the nearest centimeter.The height is already an integer value, so rounding to the nearest centimeter does not change the value: height≈21cm.