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An illustration shows a square pyramid with labeled parts. The left, front and right faces of the pyramid and base are visible. The back face is not visible. The back base edge is not visible but its position is indicated by a dashed line. The front base edge shows a length of 40 feet. A dotted line extends from the interior of the vertex straight down to the center of the base and is labeled h. A right angle is indicated where the dotted height line meets the base. Another dotted line extends from the center of the base where the height line meets to the center of the right base edge. A dotted line extends from the right base edge straight up the center of the right face of the prism and meets the height line at the vertex. This dotted line shows a slant height of 25 feet.

Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the height of the square pyramid, h

. Round the answer to the nearest tenth.
(1 point)
Responses

15.0 ft.
15.0 ft.
32.0 ft.
32.0 ft.
31.2 ft.
31.2 ft.
47.2 ft.

1 answer

To find the height \( h \) of the square pyramid using the Pythagorean Theorem, we need to consider the relationship between the height of the pyramid, the slant height, and half the length of the base.

Given:

  • Slant height \( l = 25 \) feet
  • Length of the base edge \( b = 40 \) feet

First, we can calculate half of the base edge: \[ \frac{b}{2} = \frac{40}{2} = 20 \text{ feet} \]

Now, we can apply the Pythagorean Theorem in the right triangle formed by the height \( h \), half the base edge \( 20 \) feet, and the slant height \( 25 \) feet: \[ l^2 = h^2 + \left(\frac{b}{2}\right)^2 \] Substituting the known values: \[ 25^2 = h^2 + 20^2 \] Calculating the squares: \[ 625 = h^2 + 400 \] To find \( h^2 \), we subtract \( 400 \) from \( 625 \): \[ h^2 = 625 - 400 = 225 \] Now take the square root to find \( h \): \[ h = \sqrt{225} = 15 \text{ feet} \]

Hence, rounded to the nearest tenth, the height \( h \) of the square pyramid is: \[ \boxed{15.0 \text{ ft.}} \]