Geometry
Surface area of a rectangular pyramid
Each face is a triangle of base b and slant height l. A rectangular pyramid has two different slant heights.
The Formula
A = base area + sum of triangular faces
Each face is a triangle of base b and slant height l. A rectangular pyramid has two different slant heights.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Surface area | square metres | Total outside area including the base. |
| B | Base area | square metres | Area of the base. |
| l | Slant height | metres | Slant height for the face in question. |
What Each Symbol Means
Asquare metres
Surface area
Total outside area including the base.
Bsquare metres
Base area
Area of the base.
lmetres
Slant height
Slant height for the face in question.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate the volume of a pyramid page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate The Volume Of A Pyramid, filed under Math. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.