What is the cross section of a cylinder if it's cut perpendicular to the base?
It's either a rectangle or a circle but I'm not sure.
The cross section of a cylinder when it is cut perpendicular to the base can actually be either a rectangle or a circle, depending on how the cylinder is cut.
If the cut is made along a height of the cylinder (parallel to its axis), the resulting cross section will be a rectangle. This is because the cut will intersect both circular bases and create a shape with two parallel sides equal in length to the diameter of the base and two other sides equal in length to the height of the cylinder.
On the other hand, if the cut is made perpendicular to the height (perpendicular to the axis), the resulting cross section will be a circle. This is because the cut will only intersect one circular base of the cylinder, creating a circular shape.
To determine which shape is formed by a specific cut, it is important to consider the orientation of the cut in relation to the height and axis of the cylinder.