To find the slant height of a square pyramid, you need to know the length of the base and the perpendicular height from the base to the apex of the pyramid.
The slant height can be found using the Pythagorean theorem. Imagine a right triangle formed by the apex of the pyramid, the midpoint of one of the base edges, and the base itself.
Here’s how you can calculate it:
- Identify the base edge length (let’s call it b) of the square pyramid.
- Find the perpendicular height (h) from the base to the apex.
- Calculate half of the base edge length, which is (b/2).
- Use the Pythagorean theorem: slant height (l) = √((b/2)² + h²).
So, if you have specific measurements for the base length and height, plug those values into the formula to find the slant height. This distance is crucial for determining various aspects of the pyramid, such as surface area and volume.