Use the image to answer the question.
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, but its position is indicated by a dashed line. The back base edge is not visible, but its position is indicated by a dashed line. The left base edge is labeled a. The back left lateral edge is labeled e. 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 and is labeled r. 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. The dotted slant height line is labeled s.
For the square pyramid, the lateral edge length, e , is 25 in., and the slant height, s , is 24 in. Find the height of the pyramid, h . Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Hint: Before finding the length of h , you will first need to find the length of r
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5 answers
Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can write:
r^2 + h^2 = s^2
Substituting the values we know, we have:
r^2 + h^2 = 24^2
r^2 + h^2 = 576
We also know that the lateral edge length (e) is 25 in. Since the lateral edge is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs of length r and h, we can write another equation:
r^2 + h^2 = e^2
r^2 + h^2 = 25^2
r^2 + h^2 = 625
Now we have a system of equations:
r^2 + h^2 = 576
r^2 + h^2 = 625
By subtracting the second equation from the first equation, we can eliminate r^2:
576 - 625 = 0
-49 = 0
This is not possible, which means there is no solution to the system of equations. Therefore, the given measurements are not consistent with a possible square pyramid.
To find the height of the pyramid, we can use the given information and the Pythagorean theorem.
From the illustration, we know that the slant height (s) of the pyramid is 24 in. and the lateral edge length (e) is 25 in.
We can start by finding the length of the line labeled "r" using the Pythagorean theorem. The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
Setting up the equation:
s^2 = r^2 + h^2
Substituting the given values:
24^2 = r^2 + h^2
576 = r^2 + h^2
Since we don't know the exact values of r and h, we cannot directly solve for them. However, we do have the lateral edge length (e), which can help us find the relationship between r and h.
Looking at the right triangle formed by the lines labeled "e," "r," and "h," we can use the Pythagorean theorem again:
e^2 = r^2 + h^2
Substituting the given value:
25^2 = r^2 + h^2
625 = r^2 + h^2
Now we have a system of equations:
576 = r^2 + h^2
625 = r^2 + h^2
Subtracting the second equation from the first equation, we get:
576 - 625 = 0
-49 = 0
Since this is not a valid equation, it means that there is no real solution for the height (h) of the pyramid with the given measurements.
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The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
In this case, we have a right triangle formed by "r", "h", and "s".
Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can set up the equation:
r^2 + h^2 = s^2
Substituting the given values, we have:
r^2 + h^2 = 24^2
r^2 + h^2 = 576
Now we need to find the length of "r" in order to solve for "h". To find "r", we can use similar triangles.
From the image, we see that a dotted line extends from the midpoint of the base to the top vertex of the pyramid. Let's call this distance "m".
From the image, it is clear that the ratio of "m" to "r" is the same as the ratio of the height ("h") of the pyramid to the slant height ("s"). This can be represented mathematically as:
m/r = h/s
Substituting the given values, we have:
m/r = h/24
We can also notice that the lateral edge length ("e") is equal to "r" plus "m".
e = r + m
Substituting the given values, we have:
25 = r + m
Now we have two equations:
m/r = h/24
25 = r + m
We can solve this system of equations to find the length of "r" and consequently the height of the pyramid "h".
By substituting m = 25 - r into the first equation, we get:
(25 - r)/r = h/24
Cross-multiplying:
24(25 - r) = r * h
Expanding and rearranging:
600 - 24r = r * h
Now we can substitute this expression for "h" in the first equation:
(25 - r)/r = (600 - 24r)/24
Cross-multiplying:
24(25 - r) = r(600 - 24r)
Expanding:
600 - 24r = 600r - 24r^2
Simplifying:
24r^2 = 0
This simplifies to a quadratic equation with only one solution:
r = 0
Since "r" represents the length of a line segment, it cannot be zero. Therefore, there is no valid solution for the length of "r" or the height of the pyramid "h" using the given measurements.