FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

How is the lateral area of a pyramid expressed?

1. 1/2PI

2. 1/3Bh

3. B + 1/2PI

4. 2(3.14)(rh)

The correct answer is: 1/2PI

The lateral area of a pyramid is calculated based on the perimeter of the base and the height of the lateral sides. To find the lateral area, you typically use the formula that involves the slant height and the perimeter of the base. The correct expression for the lateral area is related to the formula for calculating the area of the triangular faces that make up the sides of the pyramid. Specifically, for a pyramid with a base perimeter denoted as P and a slant height as l, the lateral area can be expressed as: Lateral Area = (1/2) * P * l This calculation emphasizes how the base's perimeter and the height of the sides contribute to the overall lateral area. The incorrect choices do not satisfy the reasoning needed to compute the lateral area effectively. For example, the context of options involving B (which refers to the volume of a pyramid) or D (which implies a relation to a cylinder rather than a pyramid) diverges from the lateral area calculation focus. The first option, while it may allude to a formula involving a circle (given the use of π), does not apply to the lateral area of pyramids, which rely on geometric properties specific to their triangular side shapes. Understanding how the lateral area