What is the shape and number of sides of a hexagon?

A hexagon is defined as a polygon that has six sides. The term "hexagon" itself is derived from Greek, where "hex" means six and "gon" means sides. Therefore, a hexagon must have exactly six edges or sides, which distinguishes it from other polygons.

In geometry, polygons are classified based on the number of their sides. A four-sided figure is known as a quadrilateral, a five-sided figure is called a pentagon, and an eight-sided figure is referred to as an octagon. Since a hexagon specifically has six sides, it fits perfectly into this classification as a 6-sided polygon, reaffirming the correctness of the answer.