Ahmad constructs a square-based pyramid and a cube out of newspaper. The two figures have the same height and the same base area. What is the volume of the pyramid if the volume of the cube is 54 cubic units?(1 point)

Responses

18 cubic units
18 cubic units

36 cubic units
36 cubic units

90 cubic units
90 cubic units

6 cubic units

1 answer

To find the volume of the square-based pyramid, we first need to determine the dimensions of the cube. The volume \( V \) of a cube is given by the formula:

\[ V = s^3 \]

where \( s \) is the length of a side of the cube. Given that the volume of the cube is 54 cubic units, we can solve for \( s \):

\[ s^3 = 54 \]

Taking the cube root of both sides, we find:

\[ s = \sqrt[3]{54} = 3\sqrt[3]{2} \]

Next, we need to find the height of the cube, which is equal to \( s \). Since the cube has height equal to its side length \( s \), the height of the cube (and therefore the height of the pyramid) is:

\[ h = s = 3\sqrt[3]{2} \]

Now, since the cube and the pyramid have the same base area and the same height, we need to find the base area of the cube. The base area \( A \) of the cube is:

\[ A = s^2 \]

Calculating the base area:

\[ A = (3\sqrt[3]{2})^2 = 9 \cdot \sqrt[3]{4} = 9 \cdot 2^{2/3} \]

Now, for the pyramid, the volume \( V_p \) is given by the formula:

\[ V_p = \frac{1}{3} \cdot \text{Base Area} \cdot \text{Height} \] Since the base area of the pyramid is the same as that of the cube, we have:

\[ V_p = \frac{1}{3} \cdot (9 \cdot 2^{2/3}) \cdot (3\sqrt[3]{2}) \]

Calculating the volume:

\[ V_p = \frac{1}{3} \cdot 9 \cdot 2^{2/3} \cdot 3 \cdot 2^{1/3} \]

Combine the powers of 2:

\[ V_p = \frac{1}{3} \cdot 9 \cdot 3 \cdot (2^{2/3} \cdot 2^{1/3}) = \frac{1}{3} \cdot 27 \cdot 2^{(2/3 + 1/3)} = \frac{1}{3} \cdot 27 \cdot 2^{1} = \frac{27 \cdot 2}{3} \]

\[ V_p = 9 \cdot 2 = 18 \text{ cubic units} \]

Thus, the volume of the pyramid is 18 cubic units. The correct response is:

18 cubic units.