Lateral Edge

Misskittycatcat

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Sep 27, 2005
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in a pyramid how do you find the lateral edge? It gives you the height and length of one side. My textbook doesnt explain but it asks about it! Test is soon so as much help as possible would be highly appreciated.
 
Hmm.

Use pythagoras' theorem.

Draw a cross section of the pyramid.
Draw a line from the top vertx to the middle of the base, forming a right triangle.

If I understand correctly you want the hypotenuse, c, of the triangle you have drawn you are given the height and the base is one half the side length.

c = sqrt(a^2 + b^2)
 
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