1. The base of the pyramid ABCD is the isosceles triangle ABC (AB= 40 and AC= BC=25). The lateral edge CD=8 is perpendicular to the base. What is the total surface area of the pyramid?
2. The base of the pyramid ABCD is the triangle ABC (AB= 13, BC= 14, AC= 15). The lateral edge AD=16 opposite the medium-sized side of the base is perpendicular to the base. What is the total surface area (S1) of the pyramid?

in Geometry Answers by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
Anti-spam verification:
To avoid this verification in future, please log in or register.

1 Answer

(1) In ∆ABC, join C to midpoint E of AB. CE is the perpendicular bisector of AB because ∆ABC is an isosceles triangle. BE=AE=20. CE=√(BC²-BE²)=√(625-400)=15. ∆s BCD and ACD are right triangles because CD is perpendicular to the base triangle ABC. DE is the hypotenuse of ∆CDE, so DE=√(CD²+CE²)=√(64+225)=17. DE is the height of ∆ABD, so the area of ∆ABD=½(AB)(DE)=½×40×17=340. Areas of ∆s BCD and ACD are the same so their combined area is 8×25=200. The area of ∆ABC=½×40×15=300.

The total surface area of the pyramid is 340+200+300=840 square units.

(2) ∆s ACD and ABD are two right triangles. We can find the squares of the lengths of their hypotenuses:

CD²=AD²+AC²=256+225=481,

BD²=AD²+AB²=256+169=425.

If DE is the perpendicular from D on to BC, then we have two right triangles, BDE and CDE. DE²=BD²-BE²=CD²-CE². But CE=BC-BE=14-BE.

BD²-CD²=BE²-(14-BE)²=(BE+14-BE)(BE-14+BE)=14(2BE-14).

425-481=28BE-196, BE=(425+196-481)/28=5 and CE=9.

Therefore, DE²=425-25=481-81=400, DE=20, which is the height of ∆BCD.

If AF is the perpendicular from A on to BC, we have two right triangles, ABF and ACF. AF²=AB²-BF²=AC²-CF², and BF+CF=BC=14.

AB²-AC²=BF²-(14-BF)²=14(2BF-14),

169-225+196=28BF, BF=5 (so E and F are the same point), CF=CE=9.

AF²=169-25=225-81=144, AF=12, height of ABC with base BC=14.

Area of ∆ABC=½×14×12=84.

Area of ∆ABD=½×13×16=104.

Area of ∆ACD=½×15×16=120.

Area of ∆BCD=½×14×20=140.

S1=84+104+120+140=448 square units.

by Top Rated User (1.1m points)

Related questions

1 answer
1 answer
asked Mar 30, 2015 in Geometry Answers by haileygreen13 Level 1 User (120 points) | 588 views
0 answers
1 answer
asked Jan 17, 2013 in Geometry Answers by anonymous | 812 views
1 answer
asked Jan 13, 2013 in Geometry Answers by anonymous | 771 views
0 answers
asked Sep 4, 2012 in Geometry Answers by anonymous | 692 views
1 answer
1 answer
asked Jan 31, 2023 by anonymous | 899 views
2 answers
asked Aug 22, 2019 in Algebra 1 Answers by stevenscottoddballz Level 1 User (120 points) | 603 views
1 answer
1 answer
asked Mar 17, 2013 in Algebra 1 Answers by anonymous | 851 views
1 answer
asked Dec 8, 2020 in Other Math Topics by Arcie | 1.2k views
1 answer
asked Aug 19, 2014 in Word Problem Answers by anonymous | 608 views
1 answer
Welcome to MathHomeworkAnswers.org, where students, teachers and math enthusiasts can ask and answer any math question. Get help and answers to any math problem including algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus, trigonometry, fractions, solving expression, simplifying expressions and more. Get answers to math questions. Help is always 100% free!
87,551 questions
99,628 answers
2,417 comments
441,128 users