The correct answer is option A. 576 cm^3
The volume of cube if side 12 cm = 12*12*12 cm^3
= 1728 cm^3
Now, volume of square pyramid = [tex] a^{2} \frac{h}{3} [/tex]
For maximum volume of square pyramid, a = h = 12 cm
Therefore, volume of square pyramid = [tex] \frac{ a^{3} }{3} [/tex] = 1728/3 = 576cm^3