Explore the Lesson

C. 3-D Objects

Some familiar three-dimensional objects are shown and labeled below.

 


Right prism
A prism whose bases (top and bottom) are directly one above the other and whose faces are rectangular and meet the bases at right angles

Right pyramid
A pyramid with its apex (highest point) directly above the center of its base and whose faces are triangles

 

The names for pyramids and prisms are determined by the shape of their base.

Example 1

The object shown below is a right pentagonal prism. The shape of its base is a pentagon (5 sides), and its faces are rectangles.