A prism is a three-dimensional geometric shape characterized by the following specific attributes:
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Parallel Identical Bases: A prism has two bases that are congruent and parallel to each other. These bases can be any polygon (triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, etc.), and they define the shape of the prism.
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Lateral Faces: The sides of a prism, known as lateral faces, are parallelograms (usually rectangles in the case of a right prism). The number of lateral faces corresponds to the number of sides of the base polygon. For example, a triangular prism has three lateral faces, while a rectangular prism has four.
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Height: The height of a prism is the perpendicular distance between the two bases. It determines how "tall" the prism is and is crucial in calculating the volume.
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Vertices, Edges, and Faces: A prism has vertices (corners), edges (the sides where two faces meet), and faces (the surfaces that make up the shape). The total number of faces is equal to the number of edges of the base plus two (the two bases).
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Volume and Surface Area: The volume of a prism can be calculated using the formula \( V = B \times h \), where \( B \) is the area of the base and \( h \) is the height. The surface area can be found by summing the areas of all the lateral faces and the two bases.
Overall, a prism is defined by its geometric properties, primarily the parallel bases and the nature of its lateral faces.