i’m very very confused

Alright so the CAGED system on guitar uses the basic open chord shapes and applies them in a scale shape format formula that you could use to do rhythm/soloing around the whole fretboard in any key - a system you can move up and down the fretboard right?

Now the scale shapes themselves are they major scales, minor scales, or pentatonic scales?

If so, how do I determine the root note in which I could figure out where to place the scales to play in the key I want to? My friend told me that the beginning note of every scale is the root note, and I know this applies to the low E string when you do barre chords but I don’t think this applies to scales.

(Slightly unrelated): why is the infamous A Minor scale a minor scale when its scale shape is a G from the CAGED system?

I had a grasp on these concepts and thought I understood them but then today I figured out that I’ve been playing the A minor scale starting on the 5th fret instead of “ending” on it, and it's really throwing me off and questioning everything I’ve learned.

If anyone can understand this pleaseeeee help me