Question

A cross section is made by the intersection of a plane and a square pyramid at an angle either parallel or perpendicular to the base.

The cross section can be which of these shapes? Select three options.

square
triangle
trapezoid
circle
non-square rectangle

Answer 1

Square, triangle, trapezoid.

Reason:
- A plane parallel to the base cuts a smaller, similar square.
- A plane perpendicular to the base that passes through the apex gives a triangle.
- A plane perpendicular to the base that does not pass through the apex cuts a quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides (a trapezoid).
- A circle is impossible (all faces are flat), and a non-square rectangle cannot occur from these slices of a square pyramid.