SOLIDS FOR WHICH VOLUME = (mean B) h

Frustum of Regular Pyramid

- A frustum of a regular pyramid is the portion of a regular pyramid included between the base
and a section parallel to the base.
Volume, V = ⅓ (sum of bases + mean
b proportional) x altitude
V = mean B x h
h
V = ⅓ (b + B + b B ) h
Lateral area, AL = mean perimeter of bases x
B slant height
AL = ½ (p + P) L
Properties:
a. The slant height of a frustum of a regular pyramid is the altitude of a face.
b. The lateral edges of a frustum of a regular pyramid are equal, and the faces are equal isosceles
trapezoids.
EXAMPLES
1. How many cubic meters of earth must be removed in digging an artificial lake 5 m deep, if the level
bottom is a rectangle 60 m by 7 m and the top is a rectangle 70 m by 9 m?
70 m
9m

5m
7m
60 m

V = ⅓ (b + B + bB ) h ; b = 60 x 7 = 420
B = 70 x 9 = 630
V = ⅓ [420 + 630 + 420 (630) ](5)
V = 2607.32 cu. m. ( volume of earth removed)
2. Find the depth of a hopper to hold 15 bu. of grains, if it is to be built in the shape of the frustum of a
square pyramid with the upper and lower bases measuring 7 and 4 ft on a side, respectively. (a
bushel = 1.25 cu. ft)

7
h

4
4

V = ⅓ (b + B + bB) h ; b = 4 x 4 = 16
B = 7 x 7 = 49
V = ⅓ [16 + 49 + 16 (49) ] h
V = 31 h ; V = 15 bu (1.25 ft3/bu) = 18.75 ft3
 18.75 = 31 h
h = 0.6048 ft
3. The flowerpot shown in the sketch has a uniform thickness of 3 in. and is 1 ft. high. Find the amount
of material necessary to construct 1000 such pots. (Neglect the drain in the bottom)
t 18 – 2t t
x (18 - 2t) - 2x x

18 in
9
12
18 in z
3
12 in 3
12 in 12

t 3 t 3
z = 122 + 32 = 12.37 = ; = ; t = 3.09
z 12 12.37 12
(18 – 2 t) = 18 – 2(3.09) = 11.82 in.
x 3
= ; x = 2.25 in
9 12
(18 – 2 t) – 2x = 11.82 – 2(2.25) = 7.32 in
Amount of material = (vol. big frustum of pyramid – vol. small frustum of pyramid)(1000)
For big frustum of pyramid:
VB = ⅓ (b + B + bB ) h ; b = 12 x 12 = 144
B = 18 x 18 = 324
VB = ⅓ [144 + 324 + 144 (324) ] (12)
VB = 2736 in3
For small frustum of pyramid:
VS = ⅓ (b + B + bB ) h ; b = 7.32 (7.32) = 53.582
B = 11.82 (11.82) = 139.712
VS = ⅓ [ 53.582 + 139.712 + 53.582 (139.712) ] (9)
VS = 839.448 in3
VT = VB - VS = 2736 – 839.448 = 1896.552 m3
Amount of material = 1896.552 (1000) = 1,896,552 in3 (1 ft/12 in)3
= 1097.54 ft3
CE Board Nov. 2002
A lateral edge of a frustum of a regular pyramid is 1.8 m long. The lower base is 2.4 m x 2.4 m square
while the upper base is 1 m x 1 m square. What is the volume of the frustum?

1m B
1m A A B
e = 1.8
h m e = 1.8
h
D m
E
C 2.4 m C D
E
2.4 m

V = ⅓ (b + B + bB ) h ; b = 1 m x 1 m = 1 m2
B = 2.4 m x 2.4 m = 5.76 m2
DE = CD – CE ; CE = AB
AB = 0.52 + 0.52 = 0.707 m
CD = 1.22 + 1.22 = 1.687 m
DE = 1.697 – 0.707 = 0.99 m
h = (BD)2 – (DE)2 = 1.82 – 0.992
h = 1.50 m
V = ⅓ [1 + 5.76 + 1 (5.76) ] (1.50)
V = 4.58 m3

Frustum of Right Circular Cone

- The frustum of a right circular cone is that portion of a right circular cone included between the
base and a section parallel to the base.

r
Volume, V = ⅓ (sum of bases + mean
b proportional) x altitude
V = mean B x h
h V = ⅓ (b + B + b B ) h
V = ⅓ π h (r2 + R2 + r R)
B Lateral area, AL = mean circumference of bases
x slant height
AL = ½ (c + C) L
R AL = π (r + R) L

Properties:
a. The altitude of a frustum of a right circular cone is the perpendicular distance between the two
bases.
b. All the elements of a frustum of a right circular cone are equal.
EXAMPLES
1. A water pail 0.30 m high is in the form of a frustum of a cone. If the diameters of the bases are 0.25
m and 0.30 m respectively, find its capacity in liters.

Diameter of upper base, D = 0.30 m ; R = 0.15 m

0.30 m Diameter of lower base, d = 0.25 m ; r = 0.125 m

V = ⅓ π h (r2 + R2 + r R)
= ⅓ π (0.30) [(0.125)2 + (0.15)2 + 0.125 (0.15)]
V = 0.01787 m3
Capacity = 0.01787 m3 (1000 liter/m3) = 17.87 liters
2. The chimney of a factory is constructed of brick and is surfaced on the inside with a heat-resisting
mortar. The inner and outer diameters at the bottom are 1 m and 2.5 m respectively. The chimney
tapers uniformly both inside and out, so that at the top the respective diameters are 0.80 m and
1.20 m. If the height of the chimney is 12 m, find the amount of material used in its construction and
the surface area exposed to the weather.

Upper base Lower base

12 m 1.25
0.40 0.60 0.50

Amount of material, V
V = vol. big frustum of circular cone – vol. of small frustum of circular cone
V = VB – VS ; VB = ⅓ πh (r2 + R2 + r R)
= ⅓ π (12)[(0.60)2 + (1.25)2 + 0.60 (1.25)]
= 33.58 m3
VS = ⅓ πh (r2 + R2 + r R)
= ⅓ π (12)[(0.40)2 + (0.50)2 + 0.40 (0.50)]
= 7.67 m3
V = 33.58 – 7.67 = 25.91 m3
0.60
Surface area exposed, AL
AL = π (r + R) L L = 122 + (0.65)2
12 m L = 12.02 m
= π (0.60 + 1.25)(12.02)
AL = 69.86 m2
0.65
1.25
3. The frustum of a right circular cone has a slant height of 2.75 m and the radii of the bases are 1.50
m and 2.00 m. Find the lateral area and the total area. What is the altitude of the frustum? Find the
altitude of the cone that was removed to leave this frustum.

1.50 m

h L = 2.75 m

h
2.00 m

AL = π (r + R) L
= π (1.50 + 2.00)(2.75)
AL = 30.24 m2
AT = b + B + AL = π (1.50)2 + π (2.00)2 + 30.24
AT = 49.87 m2
1.50

h2 = (2.75)2 – (0.50)2
h = 2.70 m L = 2.75
h

H H + 2.70
= 1.50 0.50
1.50 2.00
2 H = 1.50 H + 4.05
H = 8.10 m

Prismatoid
- A polyhedron having for bases two polygons in parallel planes, and for lateral faces triangles or
trapezoids with one side lying in one base, and the opposite vertex or side lying in the other
base, of the polyhedron.

b Volume, V = ⅙ (sum of bases + 4 x

midsection) x altitude
V = mean B x h
M h b + B + 4M
V = h
6
B

Properties:
a. The altitude of a prismatoid is the perpendicular distance between the planes of the bases.
b. The mid-section of a prismatoid is the section parallel to the bases and midway between them.
EXAMPLES
1. Find the volume of the block of earth shown in the sketch. The upper base is a right triangle; the
lower base is a rectangle. All face angles at A and B are right angles. The altitude AB is 18 ft. The
edges BC and AD are parallel, and all the faces are planes.
B 8 ft C
6 ft
15 ft
I H
I H
Mid-section h = 18 ft A1 6 ft
9 ft
G
E 22 ft G
A F D A2
E 11 ft F
12 ft 12 ft
A1 = 15 x 6 = 90
22 ft
A2 = ½ (11 + 15)(3) = 39
AM = 90 + 39 = 129 ft2
b + B + 4M b = ½ (6)(8) = 24 ft2
V = h B = 12 (22) = 264 ft2
6
24 + 264 + 4 (129)
V = (18) = 2412 ft3
6
2. A stone wall is 14 m long. One end is 3.00 m high, 0.60 m thick at the top, and 1.00 m thick at the
bottom. The other end is 6.00 m high, 0.60 m thick at the top, and 1.50 m thick at the bottom. Find
the volume of the wall if the ends lie in parallel planes.

0.60 m
0.60 m
0.60 m

1.00 m
1.25 m
1.50 m
14.00 m

b + B + 4M b = [½ (0.60 + 1.00)](3) = 2.40 m2

V = h B = [½ (0.60 + 1.50)](6) = 6.30 m2
6 M = [½ (0.60 + 1.25)](4.5) = 4.16 m2
2.40 + 6.30 + 4 (4.16)
V = (14) = 59.13 m3
6
3. A railway embankment across a valley has the following dimensions: width at top, 24 ft; width at
base, 66 ft; height, 14 ft; length at top, 286 ft; length at base, 210 ft. Find its volume.

286 ft
b = 24 (286) = 6864
B = 66 (210) = 13860
24 ft 248 M = 45 (248) = 11160
14 ft 210 ft
45
66 ft
 6864 + 13860 + 4 (11160)
V = (14) = 152516 ft3 (1 yd/3 ft)3
6
V = 5648.74 cu. yd.

REVIEW PROBLEMS
1. The volume of a frustum of a rectangular pyramid is 79.17 ft3. Its upper base is 2.50 ft. x 4 ft. and its
altitude is 5 ft. Find the area of the lower base.
2. The lateral surface area of a frustum of a regular square pyramid is 307.584 m 2. If the bases of the
frustum are 6 m x 6 m and 12 m x 12 m, respectively, find the altitude of the frustum.
3. The volume of the frustum of a regular triangular pyramid is 135 cu m. The lower base is an
equilateral triangle with an edge of 9 m. The upper base is 8 m above the lower base. What is the
upper base edge in meters?
4. The frustum of a regular triangular pyramid has equilateral triangles for its bases. The lower and
upper base edges are 9 m and 3 m, respectively. If the volume is 118.2 cu. m, how far apart are the
bases.
5. The bases of a frustum of a right circular cone are 6 ft. apart and have diameters of 5 ft and 8 ft.
Determine the volume of the frustum.
6. A lampshade is in the shape of a frustum of a cone. The vertical height of the shade is 25 cm and
the diameters of the ends are 20 cm and 10 cm, respectively. Determine the area needed to form
the lampshade.
7. Find the total surface area of a frustum of a cone having radius of the upper base of 2 cm, radius of
the lower base of 6 cm, and the altitude is 12 cm.
8. The sum of the radii of the bases of a frustum of a cone is 7 cm. If it has an altitude of 6 cm and a
volume of 232.48 cm3, find the radius of the larger base.
9. At what distance from the base of a right circular cone must a plane be passed parallel to the base
in order that the volume of the frustum formed shall be three-fifths of the volume of the given cone?
10. An irregular pile of coal with plane faces is 16 ft. high and covers 600 sq. ft. of level ground. Its mid-
section and level tops are estimated to contain 400 and 200 sq. ft., respectively. Find the cost of
transporting it at $ 75 per load, if the coal truck holds 110 cu. ft. of coal.
Try solving these review problems for your practice.
Answers
1. B = 22.50 ft2
2. h = 8m
3. r = 3m
4. h = 7m
5. V = 202.633 ft3
6. AL = 1201.42 cm2
7. AS = 443.57 cm2
8. r = 4 cm
9. y = 0.2632 h
10. Cost = $4363.50