Use the image to answer the question.

An illustration shows a pyramid with a rectangular base. The length of the base is labeled 14 centimeters and the width as 12 centimeters. The perpendicular heights from the apex to the base length of 14 is 10 centimeters and to the base width of 12 is 10.6 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 area of the rectangular pyramid?

cm2

1 answer

To calculate the surface area of a rectangular pyramid, we need to consider both the area of the base and the area of the triangular faces.

  1. Calculate the area of the rectangular base: \[ \text{Area of the base} = \text{length} \times \text{width} = 14 , \text{cm} \times 12 , \text{cm} = 168 , \text{cm}^2 \]

  2. Calculate the area of the triangular faces: The pyramid has two triangular faces corresponding to the length and width of the base.

    • For the triangular faces with base length 14 cm: The height from the apex to the base of these triangles is 10.6 cm. \[ \text{Area of one triangular face} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times 14 , \text{cm} \times 10.6 , \text{cm} = 74.2 , \text{cm}^2 \] Since there are two such triangular faces: \[ \text{Total area for two triangular faces} = 2 \times 74.2 , \text{cm}^2 = 148.4 , \text{cm}^2 \]

    • For the triangular faces with base width 12 cm: The height from the apex to the base of these triangles is 10 cm. \[ \text{Area of one triangular face} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times 12 , \text{cm} \times 10 , \text{cm} = 60 , \text{cm}^2 \] Since there are two such triangular faces: \[ \text{Total area for two triangular faces} = 2 \times 60 , \text{cm}^2 = 120 , \text{cm}^2 \]

  3. Combine all areas to find the total surface area: \[ \text{Total Surface Area} = \text{Area of the base} + \text{Area of two triangular faces (length)} + \text{Area of two triangular faces (width)} \] \[ \text{Total Surface Area} = 168 , \text{cm}^2 + 148.4 , \text{cm}^2 + 120 , \text{cm}^2 \] \[ \text{Total Surface Area} = 436.4 , \text{cm}^2 \]

Thus, the surface area of the rectangular pyramid is \( \text{436.4 cm}^2 \).