Stack It Up Worksheet
Stack It Up Worksheet
Stack It Up!
Engineers always think about customer wishes when designing new things. We
call these customer requirements.
Your leader has asked you to design a pyramid with a base (or bottom) level that
measures 120 meters on each side. Your leader is picky she also wants the
pyramid you design to be 72 meters high.
1. The area of the base (or bottom layer) of your pyramid is calculated by multiplying the length
of the pyramid base by the width of the pyramid base, measured in square meters.
Calculate the area of the base of your pyramid, using the base length and base width
measurements in the drawing below. Please show your work.
2. Pyramids are created in many different styles, using different shapes and sizes of stones.
Circle which stone block size you will use to create the bottom level, or base, of your
pyramid:
3. Calculate the area of the block of stone you have chosen, showing your work.
Block Area = Block length x Block width
My block area =
4. To figure out how many blocks the stone cutters must remove from the quarry and transport
to build the base of your pyramid, divide the area of the whole base level of your pyramid
(your answer to question #1) by the area of one block of stone (your answer to question #3).
Number of blocks on base level = Base Area Block Area
6. Next, find the volume of the whole base layer of your pyramid by multiplying the area of
your base level (your answer to question #1) by the height of the block size you have chosen.
Show your work.
Volume of base layer = base area x block height
My pyramids base volume =
7. A stacked pyramid is a lot like a geometric pyramid, but with smooth sides. You can use the
approximate shape of a geometric pyramid to estimate the entire volume (including all
layers) of your pyramid.
Now calculate the volume of your pyramid, which has a base = 120 meters on each side, and
height = 72 meters. Set up your equation and show your work.