Use the image to answer the question.

An illustration shows a pyramid with a rectangular base. The length of the base is labeled 20 centimeters and the width as 18 centimeters. The perpendicular heights from the apex to the base length of 20 is 16.6 centimeters and to the base width of 18 is 17.2 centimeters. The perpendicular heights are denoted by two right angle symbols on two of the lateral faces from the apex to the base by dashed lines.

What is the surface of the rectangular pyramid?

(1 point)
Responses

1,001.6 cm2
1,001.6 cm squared

1,178.8 cm2
1,178.8 cm squared

102,787.2 cm2
102,787.2 cm squared

1,643.2 cm2
1,643.2 cm squared

1 answer

To calculate the surface area of the rectangular pyramid, we need to find both the area of the base and the areas of the triangular lateral faces.

  1. Area of the Base: The base is rectangular with dimensions:

    • Length (L) = 20 cm
    • Width (W) = 18 cm

    The area of the base (A_base) is calculated as: \[ A_{\text{base}} = L \times W = 20 , \text{cm} \times 18 , \text{cm} = 360 , \text{cm}^2 \]

  2. Lateral Faces: There are four triangular lateral faces. We need to find the area of each triangular face.

    • For the triangular face opposite the length (20 cm), we use:

      • Base = 20 cm
      • Height = 17.2 cm (perpendicular height from the apex)

      The area of this triangular face (A_triangle1) is: \[ A_{\text{triangle1}} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times 20 , \text{cm} \times 17.2 , \text{cm} = 172 , \text{cm}^2 \]

    • The same calculation applies for the opposite triangular face (it shares the same dimensions), so: \[ A_{\text{triangle2}} = 172 , \text{cm}^2 \]

    • For the triangular face opposite the width (18 cm), we use:

      • Base = 18 cm
      • Height = 16.6 cm (perpendicular height from the apex)

      The area of this triangular face (A_triangle3) is: \[ A_{\text{triangle3}} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times 18 , \text{cm} \times 16.6 , \text{cm} = 149.4 , \text{cm}^2 \]

    • The same calculation applies for the opposite triangular face, so: \[ A_{\text{triangle4}} = 149.4 , \text{cm}^2 \]

  3. Total Area of Lateral Faces: The total area of the lateral faces (A_lateral) is: \[ A_{\text{lateral}} = 2 \times A_{\text{triangle1}} + 2 \times A_{\text{triangle3}} = 2 \times 172 , \text{cm}^2 + 2 \times 149.4 , \text{cm}^2 = 344 , \text{cm}^2 + 298.8 , \text{cm}^2 = 642.8 , \text{cm}^2 \]

  4. Total Surface Area of the Pyramid: The total surface area (A_total) is given by: \[ A_{\text{total}} = A_{\text{base}} + A_{\text{lateral}} = 360 , \text{cm}^2 + 642.8 , \text{cm}^2 = 1002.8 , \text{cm}^2 \]

Based on the options given, the closest match is 1,001.6 cm².

Thus, the correct response is: 1,001.6 cm²