The base of a triangular pyramid is a triangle with corners at (3 ,4 ), (6 ,2 ), and (5 ,7 ). If the pyramid has a height of 7 , what is the pyramid's volume?

1 Answer
Oct 14, 2016

The volume is V = 91/6color(white).units^3

Explanation:

The volume, V, of a triangular pyramid is:

V =(1/3)Ah

where A is the area of the base and h is the height.

We are given h = 7

Therefore, we need a formula for the area of a triangle given the coordinates of its vertices :

Area = |(A_x(B_y − C_y) + B_x(C_y − A_y)+ C_x(A_y − B_y))/2|

Area = |(3(2 − 7) + 6(7 − 4)+ 5(4 − 2))/2|

Area = |(3(2 − 7) + 6(7 − 4)+ 5(4 − 2))/2|

Area = 13/2

V =(1/3)(13/2)7

V =(1/3)(13/2)7

V = 91/6color(white).units^3