What is the name of a solid shape with a polygon as a base and triangular faces meeting at a point?

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Prepare for the Texas Surveyor in Training Test. Review flashcards and multiple-choice questions featuring hints and detailed explanations. Be exam-ready!

A solid shape with a polygon as a base and triangular faces that converge at a single point is known as a pyramid. The base is defined as a flat polygon—this could be any shape, such as a triangle, square, or pentagon—while the triangular faces rise from each edge of the base and meet at the apex, or top point, of the pyramid. This characteristic formation of a polygonal base and triangular lateral faces is what distinctly identifies pyramids from other solid shapes.

In contrast, a prism consists of two parallel polygonal bases connected by rectangular faces, and it does not taper to a point. A cylinder, while it also has a circular base, features curved surfaces rather than triangular faces meeting at a point. Lastly, a polyhedron refers to any solid that has flat polygonal faces, which can include prisms and pyramids, but the term itself doesn’t specify the tapering to a point that characterizes pyramids. Thus, the description clearly points to the shape being a pyramid.

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