FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which space figure has a circular base and tapers to a point?

1. A cone

2. A cylinder

3. A prism

4. A tetrahedron

The correct answer is: A cone

A cone is defined as a three-dimensional geometric figure that features a circular base and narrows smoothly to a single point known as the apex or vertex. This characteristic of having a circular base that tapers upward sets a cone apart from other figures. In contrast, a cylinder has two parallel circular bases connected by a curved surface, maintaining a consistent radius throughout rather than tapering to a point. A prism consists of two parallel bases that are congruent polygons, with rectangular or quadrilateral sides connecting them; therefore, it does not taper at all. A tetrahedron, on the other hand, is a type of pyramid with a triangular base and three triangular faces, resulting in a different structural form entirely. Thus, when identifying a shape that specifically has a circular base that tapers to a single point, the cone is the figure that precisely fits this description.