a square pyramid has a base with edges of lenght 26ft. the edges connecting the base to the apex each has leng

Question

a square pyramid has a base with edges of lenght 26ft. the edges connecting the base to the apex each has length of 20ft . what is the slant height and the surface area

Answer 1

length of mid point of base to centre of base 13 ft.
slant height = l
l^2 = 20^2 - 13^2
l^2 = 400 - 169
l^2 = 231
slant height = square root of 231 ft.
Surface area = 26^2 + 4 x 26 x root of 231
= 676 + 104 x square root of 231 sq.ft.

Answer 2

The slant height is the altitude of the isoceles triangles that form the 4 sides. You use the right triangle equation to determine the altitude from the hypotenuse and 1/2 the length of the base.

That will allow you to calculate the areas of the 4 triangles as well. Then add the area of the square base and you're done.