The sides of the base of a triangular pyramid are 3, 4 and 5 feet and the altitude is 6 feet. What is the number of cubic feet in the volume of the pyramid?
To find the volume of a triangular pyramid, I need to multiply the area of the base by the height and divide by 3. The base is a right triangle with sides 3, 4 and 5 feet, so the area of the base is half the product of the lengths of the legs. That means the area of the base is (1/2)(3)(4) = 6 square feet. The height of the pyramid is given as 6 feet, so the volume is (1/3)(6)(6) = 12 cubic feet. 