Polygon
Modified by Lisa Palen
Polygons
Definition: A closed figure formed by a finite number of coplanar
segments so that each segment intersects exactly two
others, but only at their endpoints.
These figures are not polygons These figures are polygons
Classifications of a
Polygon
Regular: A polygon in which all angles are congruent and all
sides are congruent
That’s an equiangular equilateral polygon.
Irregular: A polygon that is not regular
Classifications of a
Polygon
Concave:Like a cave.
Has indentations.
A polygon that has at least one angle that
measures more than 180 (a reflex angle)
A polygon for which there is a line
containing a side of the polygon and a point
in the interior of the polygon.
Convex: Has no indentations.
A polygon with no angles measuring more than 180
No line containing a side of the polygon
contains a point in its interior
Polygon
Names
3 sides Triangle
4 sides Quadrilateral
5 sides Pentagon
6 sides Hexagon
7 sides Heptagon
8 sides Octagon
9 sides Nonagon
10 sides Decagon
12 sides Dodecago
n sides n
n-gon
Diagonal of a Polygon
a segment connecting nonconsecutive
vertices of a polygon
Interior Angle of a Polygon
The interior angles of a polygon are the angles
inside the polygon, formed by two adjacent sides.
For example, ∆ABC has interior B
angles:
ABC, BAC, BCA
A
Exterior Angle of a Polygon
An exterior angle of a polygon is an angle that
forms a linear pair with an interior angle. It is an
angle outside the polygon formed by one side and
one extended side of the polygon.
For example, ∆ABC has
exterior angle: Exterior Angle
Interior Angles
A
ACD. It forms a linear
pair with ACB.
B D
C
What is the sum of the
measures of the interior angles
of a 3-gon?
m<A + m<B + m<C = 180
GeoGebra Applet at Geometry Online
What is the sum of the measures
of the interior angles of a convex
4-gon?
180+ 180=
360
GeoGebra Applet at Geometry Online
What is the sum of the measures of
the interior angles of a convex 5-
gon?
180 + 180 + 180 =
540
GeoGebra Applet at Geometry Online
What is the sum of the measures
of the interior angles of a convex
6-gon? (a hexagon)
180 + 180 + 180 + 180 =
720
GeoGebra Applet at Geometry Online
What is the sum of the measures
of the interior angles of a regular
n-gon?
sum (n 2)180
What is the sum of the measures of
the interior angles of a convex n-
gon?
Sum of
Measures of
Number of Interior
Polygon Sides Angles
Triangle 3 180°
Quadrilateral 4 360°
Pentagon 5 540°
Hexagon 6 720°
n-gon n (n - 2)180°
What is the measure of each
interior angle of a regular 3-
gon?
sum 180
60
n 3
60
60
60
What is the measure of
each interior angle of a
regular 4-gon?
sum 360
90
n 4
90
90
90
90
What is the measure of
each interior angle of a
regular 5-gon? sum 540
108
n 5
108
108 108
108 108
What is the measure of
each interior angle of a
regular 6-gon?
sum 720
120
n 6 120 120
120 120
120 120
What is the measure of
each interior angle of a
regular n-gon?
sum (n 2)180
n n
What is the measure of each
interior angle of a regular n-gon?
Measure of
Number of Each Interior
Polygon Sides Angle
Triangle 3 60°
Quadrilateral 4 90°
Pentagon 5 108°
Hexagon 6 120°
n-gon n (n - 2)180°/n
What is the sum of the
measures of the exterior
angles of a 3-gon? (a triangle)
Sum of Measures of Exterior Angles =
360
What is the sum of the
measures of the exterior
angles of a 4-gon? (a
quadrilateral)
Sum of Measures of Green Angles = 360
GeoGebra Applet at Geometry Online
What is the sum of the
measures of the exterior
angles of a 5-gon? (a
pentagon)
Sum of Measures of Green Angles = 360
GeoGebra Applet at Geometry Online
What is the sum of the
measures of the exterior
angles of a 6-gon? (a hexagon)
Sum of Measures of Green Angles = 360
GeoGebra Applet at Geometry Online
What is the sum of the
measures of the exterior
angles of a convex n-gon?
sum 360
Yes, always, no matter what n is!
What is the sum of the
measures of the exterior angles
of a convex n-gon?
Sum of
Measures of
Number of Exterior
Polygon Sides Angles
Triangle 3 360°
Quadrilateral 4 360°
Pentagon 5 360°
Hexagon 6 360°
n-gon n 360°
What is the measure of
each exterior angle of a
regular 3-gon?
sum 360
? n n
360
? 120
3
?
What is the measure of
each exterior angle of a
regular 4-gon?
sum 360
?
n n
?
360
? 90
4
?
What is the measure of
each exterior angle of a
regular 5-gon?
?
? sum 360
?
n n
? 360
? 72
5
What is the measure of
each exterior angle of a
regular 6-gon?
? sum 360
?
?
n n
? 360
? 60
? 6
What is the measure of
each exterior angle of a
regular n-gon?
sum 360
n n
What is the measure of each
exterior angle of a regular n-
gon?
Measure of
Number of Each Exterior
Polygon Sides Angle
Triangle 3 120°
Quadrilateral 4 90°
Pentagon 5 72°
Hexagon 6 60°
n-gon n 360°/n
For a convex polygon with n
sides:
The sum of the measures of the interior angles is
n 2 180
The sum of the measures of the exterior angles
360 is
For a regular polygon with n sides:
The measure of one interior angle is
n 2 180
n
The measure of one exterior angle is
360
n
