The base of a triangular pyramid is a triangle with corners at #(5 ,1 )#, #(2 ,7 )#, and #(3 ,6 )#. If the pyramid has a height of #4 #, what is the pyramid's volume?

1 Answer
Apr 4, 2017

#2 unit^3#

Explanation:

Volume of pyramid = #1/3# * base area * height

let say #x_1 = 5, x_2 = 2,x_3 = 3, y_1 = 1, y_2 = 7 and y_3 =6#

Base area #= 1/2 |(x_1*y_2 + x_2*y_3+x_3*y_1) - (y_1*x_2+y_2*x_3+y_3*x_1)|#

#= 1/2 |(5*7 + 2*6 + 3*1) - (1*2 + 7*3 + 6*5)|#

#= 1/2 |(35 + 12 + 3) - (2 + 21 + 30)|#

#= 1/2 |(50- 53)| = 1/2 |(-3)| = 3/2#

Volume of pyramid = #1/3 * 3/2 * 4 = 2 unit^3#