FORMULA DERIVATION FOR THE VOLUME OF TRIANGULAR PYRAMID

Figure 1

Assume and solve first the cross section on a regular triangle, since a triangular pyramid is made of 4
regular triangles.

Figure 2

If we take out the cross section, it will look like this, S represents the side of a regular triangle and is
considered equal.

1. HOW TO SOLVE b THE BASE?

Figure 3

Take one face of the triangle from Figure 1 in order to solve for s.

s = represents the base of the cross section

x = represents the height of the cross section from the apex

b = represents the base of the triangular pyramid

h = represents the height of the pyramid from the apex

x h
=
s b
bx sh
=
h h
bx
=s
h
bx
Therefore, base =
h
2. HOW TO SOLVE FOR THE HEIGHT?

Figure 4

Use the equation derive for the base to get the height.

y = represents the height of the cross section from the apex

To get the solve of y, use the Phytagorean Theorem: a 2+ b2=c 2

bx bx
Where: a = y , b = , c=
2h h

2 b2 h2 b 2 x 2
y + = 2
4h h
 y= √ 3 b2 x2
√ 4 h2
bx √3
y=
2h
bx √ 3
Therefore, height ¿
2h
3. HOW TO SOLVE FOR THE AREA

bx
Base ¿ - refer to solution in Figure 3
h

Height y=
√ 3 b2 x2 - refer to solution in Figure 4
√ 4 h2
1
A ( x )= bh
2

¿ ( )(
1 bx
2 h
√ 3 b2 x 2
√ 4 h2 )
b2 x 2 √ 3
A ( x )=
4 h2

b x √3
2 2
Therefore, Area= 2
4h
4. HOW TO SOLVE FOR THE VOLUME OF TRIANGULAR PYRAMID?

b x √3
2 2
A ( x )= -refer to solution in step 3
4 h2
Figure 5

Point 0 to h, represents the height of the pyramid

V ( x )=A ( x ) dx

b x √3
2 2
V ( x )= 2
dx
4h

b2 √3 x 3
¿ 2
•
4h 3

b2 √3 h3
•
4 h2 3
 2
1 2 1 b h
V ( x )= b h∨
4√3 √3 4
The formula is then simplified to V ( x )=( Area of thebase ) ( Height of the pyramid )

Note: Both the formula derives the same answer.