Step by step
The question
Question: find the volume of a pyramid with a square base 3 cm by 3 cm and height 7 cm.
1 Area of the base
The base is a square, 3 by 3.
Its area is side times side: A = 3 × 3.
3 times 3 is 9.
So the base is A = 9 cm².
2 A third of the box
Draw a box around the pyramid, with the same base and the same height.
Fill the pyramid with sand 3 times.
That fills the box exactly.
So the pyramid is one third of the box.
The box is A times height.
So the pyramid is V = ⅓ × A × height.
Now put the numbers in: A = 9 and height = 7.
Keep the numbers small: divide 9 by 3 first.
9 divided by 3 is 3.
So V = 3 × 7.
3 times 7 is 21.
So the volume is 21 cm³.
Let's look back.
First: area of the base.
Last: a third of the box.