Volume of a Rectangular Pyramid

What do we mean by the volume of a rectangular pyramid and how do we calculate it? Volume is nothing but the space an object occupies. So, the volume of a rectangular pyramid will be the space occupied by the rectangular pyramid. Volume of a rectangular pyramid can also be termed as the capacity of the rectangular pyramid.

Let's learn how to find the volume of a rectangular pyramid with the help of a few solved examples and practice questions.

The volume of the rectangular pyramid is defined as the capacity of the rectangular pyramid. In geometry, a rectangular pyramid is a three-dimensional geometric shape that has a rectangular base and four triangular faces that are joined at a vertex. A rectangular pyramid is a polyhedron (pentahedron) with five faces. The top point of the pyramid is called the apex. The bottom rectangle is called the base. The image below shows the shape of a rectangular pyramid.

The volume of a rectangular pyramid is the number of unit cubes that can fit into it. The unit of volume is "cubic units". For example, it can be expressed as m³, cm³, in³, etc. depending upon the given units.

Did you know that one of the oldest pyramid structures known to man is the "Great Pyramid of Giza?" It was constructed around 2550 BC, in Egypt. They are considered among the seven wonders of the world. They are pyramids, alright, but are they rectangular pyramids as well.

We can distinguish the rectangular pyramids on the basis of the lengths of their edges, position of the apex, and so on. Below are given the two main types of rectangular pyramids:

• Right Rectangular Pyramid
• Oblique Rectangular Pyramid

The formula to determine the volume of a rectangular pyramid is:

\(\text{Volume}=\dfrac{1}{3} \times \text{Base Area} \times \text{h}\)

Here 'h' is the perpendicular height and the rectangular base area = L × W.

• If the apex of the rectangular pyramid is right above the center of the base, it forms a perpendicular to the base, which marks its height. Such a rectangular pyramid is called the right rectangular pyramid. We will mention the right rectangular pyramid as a simply rectangular pyramid going forward.
• If the apex of the rectangular pyramid is not aligned right above the center of the base, the pyramid is called an oblique rectangular pyramid. This type of pyramid appears to have tilted. Thus, in the case of an oblique rectangular pyramid, height is taken as the length of the perpendicular drawn apex to the base of the pyramid.

As we learned in the previous section, the volume of a rectangular pyramid could be found using \(\dfrac{1}{3} \times \text{Base Area} \times \text{h}\). Thus, we follow the below steps to find the volume of a rectangular pyramid.

• Step 1: Determine the base area (L × W) and the height (h) of the pyramid.
• Step 2: Find the volume using the formula:\(\dfrac{1}{3} \times \text{Base Area} \times \text{h}\)
• Step 3: Represent the final answer with cubic units.

If the height of a rectangular pyramid h = 10 units and the length of the base edges are L = 9 units and W = 5 units, respectively, then, the volume of the rectangular pyramid is:

Volume = (1/3) × L × W × h
=(1/3) × 9 × 5 × 10
= (1/3) × 45 × 10
= 150 cubic units

What Is the Definition of the Volume of a Rectangular Pyramid?

The capacity of the rectangular pyramid is defined as the volume of the rectangular pyramid which can be calculated using the formula, \(\text{Volume}=\dfrac{1}{3} \times \text{Base Area} \times \text{h}\)

How Do You Find the Volume of a Right Rectangular Pyramid?

The volume (V) of a rectangular pyramid can be easily found out by just knowing the base area and its height and putting the values of these dimensions in the formula, V = 1/3 × Base Area × Height

What Units Are Used With the Volume of the Right Rectangular Pyramid?

In the metric system of measurement, the most common units of volume are milliliters and liters.

What Is the Formula for Finding the Volume of a Right Rectangular Pyramid?

The volume of a rectangular pyramid is found using the formula: V = (1/3) × L × W × h, where L x W represents the base area of the rectangular pyramid and h represents its total height.

How to Calculate the Volume of a Rectangular Pyramid?

To calculate the volume of a rectangular pyramid, we need to follow the steps given below:

• Step 1: Check for the given information like the length and width of the rectangular base and the height of the pyramid.
• Step 2: Put the given values in the volume of the rectangular pyramid formula.
• Step 3: Write the numerical value of volume so obtained with an appropriate unit

How to Find the Height When the Volume of a Rectangular Pyramid is Given?

In case the volume of a rectangular pyramid is given, together with the length and width of the base, then we can find the height of the rectangular pyramid,

• Step 1: Identify the given values, the volume of the rectangular pryramid, apothem length, and base length.
• Step 2: Divide the volume of the rectangular pyramid by its base area.

How to Find the Volume of a Rectangular Pyramid with Base Area and Height?

The simple formula to find the volume of a rectangular pyramid is the product of the base area of pyramid and height of the pyramid,

• base area = area of the base (which is a rectangle)
• height = height of the rectangular pyramid