How to Calculate the Volume of a Pyramid

Math with Mr. J

This educational video provides a clear, step-by-step tutorial on how to calculate the volume of a pyramid. Presented by Mr. J, the lesson begins by defining volume and introducing two equivalent formulas for finding the volume of a pyramid: V = (1/3)Bh and V = Bh/3. The video breaks down the meaning of the variable 'B' (area of the base) versus a simple side length, a critical distinction for students new to geometry formulas. The content covers two distinct examples. The first example features a pyramid with a square base, demonstrating how to square the side length to find the base area before applying the volume formula. The narrator solves this problem using both formula variations to prove they yield the same result. A significant portion of the video is dedicated to the conceptual understanding of *why* the formula includes a 1/3 fraction, using a visual demonstration of a pyramid fitting inside a prism of equal dimensions. The final section tackles a slightly more complex problem involving a rectangular base and a result requiring decimal rounding. This video is highly valuable for middle school math classrooms as it moves beyond rote memorization, encouraging students to understand the geometric relationship between prisms and pyramids while reinforcing procedural fluency in calculation and unit application.