1. The problem is to understand what a prism is in geometry. 2. A prism is a solid geometric figure with two parallel, congruent bases connected by rectangular faces. 3. The bases can be any polygon, and the sides are parallelograms (usually rectangles). 4. The volume of a prism is calculated by the formula $$V = B \times h$$ where $B$ is the area of the base and $h$ is the height (distance between the bases). 5. The surface area is the sum of the areas of all faces, including the two bases and the lateral faces. 6. For example, if the base is a triangle with area $B$ and the height of the prism is $h$, then the volume is $$V = B \times h$$. 7. Understanding prisms helps in calculating volumes and surface areas in 3D geometry problems.