Lateral and Surface Area of Triangular Pyramids

How do you find the lateral and total surface area of a triangular
pyramid?

Essential Question

Academic Vocabulary

●Lateral faces

●Total Faces

●Lateral Area

●Total Area

●Area of the Base

Introduction

The base and all three faces of a triangular pyramid are equilateral triangles with side lengths of 3 ft. The height of each triangle is 2.6 ft. Use the net to find the lateral area and the total surface area of the triangular pyramid.

Kwame’s team will make two triangular pyramids to decorate the entrance to the exhibit. They will be wrapped in the same metallic foil. Each base is an equilateral triangle. If the base has an area of about 3.9 square feet, how much will the team save altogether by covering only the lateral area of the two pyramids? The foil costs $0.22 per square foot.