How many faces does a square pyramid have?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
A square pyramid has 5 faces.
A square pyramid is a three-dimensional geometric figure with a square base and four triangular faces that connect the base to a single point called the apex. The structure of a square pyramid includes one base and four lateral faces.
The base is a square, meaning it has four equal sides and four right angles. This is considered one face of the pyramid. The four other faces are triangular in shape and are formed by connecting each edge of the square base to the apex. These triangular faces are isosceles if the apex is directly above the center of the base, meaning two of their sides are of equal length. Each triangle shares one of its sides with the square base and meets at the apex, forming the pyramid’s peak.
Therefore, the total number of faces is calculated by adding the square base (1 face) and the four triangular faces (4 faces), resulting in:
1 (square face) + 4 (triangular faces) = 5 faces
The concept of a face in geometry refers to a flat surface that forms part of the boundary of a solid object. In the case of a square pyramid, all faces are polygons: one square and four triangles. These faces intersect at edges (straight lines where two faces meet), and the edges meet at vertices (points where three or more edges converge).
Square pyramids appear in architecture and art due to their symmetry and aesthetic proportions. One historical example is the Pyramid of Khufu in Egypt, although its base is not a perfect square today due to erosion and construction irregularities.
Understanding the number of faces is essential for tasks such as calculating surface area, visualizing three-dimensional shapes, and solving problems related to polyhedra.
