FTCE General Knowledge Math Practice Test

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Prepare for the FTCE General Knowledge Math Test with interactive quizzes and detailed explanations. This resource will enhance your math skills and boost your confidence before the exam. Conquer the test and excel in your teaching career!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

A prism must have which characteristic regarding its bases?

Both bases must be circular
Both bases must be congruent and parallel
One base must be longer than the other
Both bases must be elongated

The correct answer is: Both bases must be congruent and parallel

A prism is defined by having two congruent and parallel bases that are connected by rectangular faces. The bases may take various shapes, such as triangles, rectangles, or polygons, but they must always be congruent, meaning they are identical in shape and size. Additionally, being parallel ensures that the sides of the prism maintain a consistent distance apart, which is crucial for the overall structure and volume of the prism. The requirement for congruency and parallelism is what distinguishes a prism from other polyhedral shapes, as it guarantees that the cross-section of the prism remains constant along its height. This is fundamental to understanding the properties of prisms in geometry, such as calculating their volume and surface area. Other potential characteristics are not required for a prism; for example, while it's possible for the bases to be circular, this is not a requirement as the bases can be any congruent shape. Similarly, the bases need not be elongated, nor is there any stipulation for one base to be longer than the other, which would contradict the definition of a prism.