John says the prism has 6 vertices. Is John correct? Motivate your answer.

John's statement that the prism has 6 vertices could be correct or incorrect depending on the type of prism he is referring to.

To clarify:

- **Prisms** are three-dimensional shapes with two parallel, congruent bases. The number of vertices depends on the shape of the bases:
  - For a **triangular prism**, the bases are triangles. A triangle has 3 vertices, and since there are two congruent bases, a triangular prism has \( 3 \times 2 = 6 \) vertices. In this case, John is **correct**.
  - For **rectangular prisms** or any prism with bases that are polygons with more than 3 sides (such as pentagonal or hexagonal prisms), there will be more than 6 vertices. For example, a rectangular prism has 8 vertices, so in this case, John would be **incorrect**.

Thus, John is only correct if he is referring to a **triangular prism**. Otherwise, he is wrong.

Would you like more details or have any questions about this?

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Here are 5 related questions to consider:
1. How do you calculate the number of edges in a prism?
2. What is the difference between a regular and irregular prism?
3. Can a prism have less than 6 vertices? Why or why not?
4. How do you find the surface area of a triangular prism?
5. What are the characteristics of other types of prisms, like pentagonal or hexagonal prisms?

**Tip:** The number of vertices in a prism is always twice the number of vertices in its base!

Learn how to determine the number of vertices in different types of prisms. This problem explains why a triangular prism has 6 vertices and explores the properties of prisms in geometry, suitable for students in Grades 5-7.

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