If a cube has the same height and the same base area as the pictured shape, what is the volume of

the pyramid if the volume of the cube is 81 cubic units?

1 answer

To determine the volume of the pyramid based on the given information about the cube, we can follow these steps:

  1. Find the height of the cube: The volume of a cube is given by the formula:

    \[ V = s^3 \]

    where \(s\) is the length of one side of the cube. Given that the volume of the cube is 81 cubic units:

    \[ s^3 = 81 \]

    Taking the cube root of both sides:

    \[ s = \sqrt[3]{81} \]

    Since \(81 = 3^4\), we find:

    \[ s = 3 \sqrt[3]{3} \]

    But we can directly compute \(s\) as follows:

    \[ 81 = 3^4 \implies s = 3 \text{ units} \]

  2. Find the height of the cube: The height of the cube is \(s\), so:

    \[ \text{Height} = 3 \text{ units} \]

  3. Calculate the base area of the pyramid: Since the pyramid has the same base area as the cube, and since the base of a cube is a square, the area of the base (which is also \(s^2\)) is given by:

    \[ \text{Base Area} = s^2 = 3^2 = 9 \text{ square units} \]

  4. Determine the volume of the pyramid: The volume of a pyramid is given by the formula:

    \[ V = \frac{1}{3} \times \text{Base Area} \times \text{Height} \]

    Substituting in the base area and height:

    \[ V = \frac{1}{3} \times 9 \text{ (square units)} \times 3 \text{ (units)} \]

    Simplifying this:

    \[ V = \frac{1}{3} \times 27 = 9 \text{ cubic units} \]

Thus, the volume of the pyramid is 9 cubic units.