GRADE VI

SURFACE AREA OF A REGULAR PYRAMID WITH A SQUARE

BASE

Objective: Find the surface area of a regular pyramid with a square base.

REVIEW

Find the area of the following plane figures. Write your answer in your notebook.

1) 2) 3)
8 cm

8 cm 7 cm
7 cm

A = _____ A = _____ A = _____

6 cm
4) 5) 6)

10 cm
10 cm

12 cm

10 dm

STUDY AND LEARN

In the previous modules, you have learned how to find the surface area of a cube,
rectangular prism and triangular prism.

Now, we will explore pyramids. Did you get a perfect score in the Review Section? Very
good! It means that you are ready for this module.

1
 Do you know what surface area means? We will now explore the surface area of a
regular pyramid. Let’s take a look at a regular square pyramid.

face
height of the triangle A regular square pyramid is a pyramid with
five faces such that the four faces are congruent
triangles and the fifth face, which is the base, is a
base of the square.
pyramid
base of the triangle
Do you see the 5 faces of the pyramid in the figure?

Look at the figure on the right. 8 cm

This is how the pyramid looks like when
unfolded or flattened.
4 cm
Which face is the base of the pyramid? 4 cm O 8
Face U
4
8 8
4 U 4
L V
Which faces are congruent (the same in 4
size and shape)?
Face L, Face O, Face V and Face E E 8

Since the surface area of a solid figure is the sum of the areas of all its faces, to find the
surface area of a regular square pyramid:

 multiply the area of the congruent triangular face by 4

 add the area of the square base to the product.

In symbol form,
1
SA = 4( bh) + s2
2

In words,

Surface Area = 4(Area of the triangle) + (Area of the square)

2
For example:
Surface = 4(Area of the triangle) + (Area of the square)
= 4(5 cm x 8 cm) + (5 cm x 5 cm)
2
= 4(40 cm2) + 25 cm2
h = 8 cm 2
= 4(20 cm2) + 25 cm2

= 80 cm2 + 25 cm2

= 105 cm2
5 cm

Using the formula,

1
SA = 4( bh) + s2
2
1
= 4[ (5 x 8)] + 52
2
1
= 4[ (40)] + 25
2

= 4 (20) + 25

= 80 + 25

= 105 cm2

Let us have another example.

1
SA = 4[ (bh)] + s2
height=10 cm 2
1
= 4[ (6 x 10)] + 62
2
6 cm 1
= 4[ (60)] + 36 cm2
2
6 cm = 4(30 cm2) + 36 cm2

= 120 cm2 + 36 cm2

= 156 cm2

3
 TRY THESE

Find the surface area of the regular square pyramids below. Solve them in your notebook
and encircle your final answer.

1) 2) 3)
h = 12 m h = 18 cm
h = 13 dm

15 cm
5m
9 dm

4) 5) h=9m
h = 17 cm

12 cm
4m

WRAP UP

 A regular square pyramid is a pyramid with five faces such

that the four faces are congruent triangles and the fifth face,
which is the base, is a square.
 To find the surface area of a regular square pyramid:
- multiply the area of one of the congruent triangular faces
by 4
- add the area of the square base to the product
 You can also use the formula:
1
SA = 4( bh) + s2
2
Surface Area = 4(Area of the triangle) + (Area of the
square)

4
 ON YOUR OWN

A. Solve for the surface area of each of the following regular square pyramids. Write
your solutions in your notebook and encircle your final answers. Don’t forget to label
with the correct unit.

1) 2) 3)
h = 12 cm h=8m h = 12 cm

5m
7 cm 3m

B. Find the surface area of each of the following regular square pyramids. Write your
answer in your notebook.

1) 2) 3)
h = 10 m h = 15 cm h = 8 cm

8m 4 cm
6 cm

C. Solve. Write your solution in your notebook and encircle your final answer.

1) Find the surface area of a regular square pyramid with a base of length 12 dm and
a height of 9 dm.

2) What is the surface area of a regular square pyramid with a side of 8 dm and an
altitude of 12 dm?