# Definition:Base of Geometric Figure

## Definition

The base of a geometric figure is a specific part of that figure which is distinguished from the remainder of that figure and placed (actually or figuratively) at the bottom of a depiction or visualisation.

In some cases the base is truly qualitiatively different from the rest of the figure.

In other cases the base is selected arbitrarily as one of several parts of the figure which may equally well be so chosen.

## Base of Polygon

For a given polygon, any one of its sides may be temporarily distinguished from the others, and referred to as the base.

It is immaterial which is so chosen.

The usual practice is that the polygon is drawn so that the base is made horizontal, and at the bottom.

## Base of Segment of Circle

The base of a segment of a circle is the straight line forming one of the boundaries of the seqment.

In the above diagram, $AB$ is the base of the highlighted segment.

## Base of Solid Figure

The base of a solid figure is one of its faces which has been distinguished from the others in some way.

The solid figure is usually oriented so that the base is situated at the bottom.

### Base of Parallelepiped

One of the faces of the parallelepiped is chosen arbitrarily, distinguished from the others and called the base of the parallelepiped.

It is usual to choose the base to be the one which is conceptually on the bottom.

In the above, $ABCD$ would conventionally be identified as being the base

### Base of Pyramid

The polygon of a pyramid to whose vertices the apex is joined is called the base of the pyramid.

In the above diagram, $ABCDE$ is the base of the pyramid $ABCDEQ$.

### Base of Prism

The bases of a prism are the two parallel polygons which form the faces at either end of the prism.

In the above diagram, the faces $ABCDE$ and $FGHIJ$ are the bases of the prism.

### Base of Cone

The plane figure $PQR$ is called the base of the cone.

#### Base of Right Circular Cone

Let $\triangle AOB$ be a right-angled triangle such that $\angle AOB$ is the right angle.

Let $K$ be the right circular cone formed by the rotation of $\triangle AOB$ around $OB$.

Let $BC$ be the circle described by $B$.

The base of $K$ is the plane surface enclosed by the circle $BC$.

In the words of Euclid:

And the base is the circle described by the straight line which is carried round.

### Base of Cylinder

In the words of Euclid:

And the bases are the circles described by the two sides opposite to one another which are carried round.

In the above diagram, the bases of the cylinder $ACBEDF$ are the faces $ABC$ and $DEF$.