What is the number of sides in a pentagon?

A pentagon is defined as a polygon that has five sides and five angles. The term "pentagon" comes from the Greek words "pente," meaning five, and "gonia," meaning angle. In geometric terms, the simplest way to visualize a pentagon is to think of a two-dimensional shape that connects five line segments end to end.

Understanding this, we can see why the correct answer is five. A pentagon is a common polygon studied in geometry, and it distinguishes itself from polygons with fewer or greater sides, such as triangles (three sides), quadrilaterals (four sides), and hexagons (six sides). Therefore, in the context of geometric shapes, the identification of a pentagon with five sides is an essential concept for basic understanding of polygons.