Surface Area of a Rectangular Pyramid. The surface area of a regular square pyramid is the sum of area of the base and area of four isosceles triangles. But for rectangular pyramid, with rectangular base, we can not use the standard formula of surface area because there is more than one slant height ($s_1$ and $s_2$).
Step 1. Drink plenty of water with your meals and between meals. Water helps soften your stool. If you do not drink enough fluids, your body will pull water from the colon, hardening the stools. Also avoid caffeinated beverages, which cause your body to lose water.
Exercise at least 30 minutes per day Photo Credit YanLev/iStock/Getty Images. You can prevent hard stools by using the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to go. Drink plenty of water every day to help soften stool. Exercise for at least 30 minutes per day to help make your bowels more active.