How_To_Be_Good_At_Math

GEOMETRY • PRISMS 227

TRY IT OUT

Spot the non-prism

Which of these shapes is

not a prism? Check to see

if it has parallel faces at

either end. Also, if you

sliced through the shape,

parallel to the end faces,

would all the cross

sections be the same?

Answer on page 320

The sides of a

prism are made of

parallelograms

Triangular prism

A triangular prism, like the

tent, has ends that are triangles.

Hexagonal prism

A hexagonal prism’s parallel ends

are hexagons – six-sided polygons.

Pentagonal prism

A pentagonal prism has a

pentagon at each end and five

rectangular sides.

Cuboid

A cuboid is a prism. The opposite

ends are rectangles, so we also call

it a rectangular prism.

Types of prism

There are many prisms in geometry.

Here are some of the most common.

226_227_3D_Prisms.indd 227 29/02/2016 18:05