What is the Difference Between Triangular Prism and Triangular Pyramid (Tetrahedron)?

The main difference between a triangular prism and a triangular pyramid (Tetrahedron) lies in the number of bases and the shape of their faces. Here are the key differences:

Triangular Prism:
A triangular prism is a polyhedron with two congruent, parallel triangular bases and all other faces are parallelograms.
It has 5 sides, 6 vertices, and 9 edges.
The edges of the faces are parallel to each other.
If the faces are rectangles, it is referred to as a right triangular prism.
Triangular Pyramid (Tetrahedron):
A triangular pyramid is a polyhedron with one triangular base and all other faces are triangles.
It has 4 sides, 4 vertices, and 6 edges.
The edges of the triangular faces meet at a point above the base.

In summary, a triangular prism has two triangular bases and parallelogram faces, while a triangular pyramid has one triangular base and triangular faces that meet at a point above the base.

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What is the Difference Between Triangular Prism and Triangular Pyramid (Tetrahedron)?

Comparative Table: Triangular Prism vs Triangular Pyramid (Tetrahedron)

Here is a table comparing the differences between a triangular prism and a triangular pyramid (also known as a tetrahedron):

Feature	Triangular Prism	Triangular Pyramid (Tetrahedron)
Definition	A triangular prism is a three-dimensional shape with a triangular base, three rectangular faces, and two triangular faces. It has 6 faces, 9 edges, and 6 vertices.	A triangular pyramid, also known as a tetrahedron, is a three-dimensional shape with a triangular base and three triangular faces. It has 4 faces, 6 edges, and 4 vertices.
Faces	6 faces, including a triangular base and three rectangular faces	4 faces, including a triangular base and three triangular faces
Edges	9 edges	6 edges
Vertices	6 vertices	4 vertices
Types	Regular and irregular triangular prisms	Regular and irregular triangular pyramids
Regular Triangular Prism	A prism with equilateral triangles as its base and rectangular faces with equal side lengths	A pyramid with an equilateral triangle as its base and three equilateral triangular faces
Irregular Triangular Prism	A prism with a triangular base and unequal side lengths for the rectangular faces	A pyramid with a base that is not an equilateral triangle
Right Triangular Prism	A prism with a right-angle triangle as its base and rectangular faces with equal side lengths	A right triangular pyramid is a tetrahedron with a right-angle triangle as its base and three congruent isosceles triangles as its other faces

In summary, a triangular prism has a triangular base and three rectangular faces, while a triangular pyramid (tetrahedron) has a triangular base and three triangular faces. Both shapes can be regular or irregular, depending on the lengths of their edges and the equality of their faces.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.