Polygons

Classification

Angles

Polygons are closed plane figures bounded by three or more line segments. In the world of geometry, polygons abound. The term refers to a multisided geometric form in the plane. The number of angles in a polygon always equals the number of sides. Polygons are named to indicate the number of their sides or number of noncollinear points present in the polygon (Table 1).

A square is a special type of polygon, as are triangles, parallelograms, and octagons. The prefix of the term, poly comes from the Greek word for “many,” and the root word gon comes from the Greek word for “angle.”

Classification

A regular polygon is one whose sides and interior angles are congruent. Regular polygons can be inscribed by a circle such that the circle is tangent to the sides at the centers, and circumscribed by a circle such that the sides form chords of the circle. Regular polygons are named to indicate the number of their sides or number of vertices present in the figure. thus, a hexagon has six sides, while a decagon has ten sides. Examples of regular polygons also include the familiar square and octagon (Figure 1).

Not all polygons are regular or symmetric. Polygons for which all interior angles are less than 180^°are called convex. Polygons with one or more interior angles greater than 180^° are called concave.

The most common image of a polygon is of a multisided perimeter enclosing a single, uninterrupted area. In reality, the sides of a polygon can intersect to form multiple, distinct areas. Such a polygon is classified as reflex.

Angles

In a polygon, the line running between nonadja-cent points is known as a diagonal. The diagonals drawn from a single vertex to the remaining vertices in an n-sided polygon will divide the figure into n–2 triangles. The sum of the interior angles of a convex polygon is then just (n–2)×180.

If the side of a polygon is extended past the intersecting adjacent side, it defines the exterior angle of the vertex. Each vertex of a convex polygon has two possible exterior angles, defined by the continuation of each of the sides. These two angles are congruent,

KEY TERMS

Angle— A geometric figure created by two lines drawn from the same point.

Concave— A polygon whose at least one angle is larger than the straight angle (180^°).

Convex— A polygon whose all angles are less than the straight angle (180^°).

Diagonal— The line which links-connects any two non-adjacent vertices.

Equiangular— A polygon is equiangular if all of its angles are identical.

Equilateral— A polygon is equilateral if all the sides are equal in length.

Parallelogram— A rectangle with both pair of sides parallel.

Perimeter— The sum of the length of all sides.

Rectangle— A parallelogram in which all angles are right angles.

Reflex polygon— A polygon in which two nonadja-cent sides intersect.

Regular polygon— An equilateral, equiangular polygon.

Rhombus— A parallelogram whose adjacent sides are equal.

Square— A four-sided shape whose sides are equal.

Vertex— The point at which the two sides of an angle meet.

however, so the exterior angle of a polygon is defined as one of the two angles. The sum of the exterior angles of any convex polygon is equal to 360^°.

Kristin Lewotsky

Polygons

Polygons are closed plane figures bounded by three or more line segments. In the world of geometry , polygons abound. The term refers to a multisided geometric form in the plane. The number of angles in a polygon always equals the number of sides.

Polygons are named to indicate the number of their sides or number of noncollinear points present in the polygon.

A square is a special type of polygon, as are triangles, parallelograms, and octagons. The prefix of the term, poly comes from the Greek word for many, and the root word Gon comes from the Greek word for angle .

Classification

A regular polygon is one whose whose sides and interior angles are congruent. Regular polygons can be inscribed by a circle such that the circle is tangent to the sides at the centers, and circumscribed by a circle such that the sides form chords of the circle. Regular polygons are named to indicate the number of their sides or number of vertices present in the figure. Thus, a hexagon has six sides, while a decagon has ten sides. Examples of regular polygons also include the familiar square and octagon.

Not all polygons are regular or symmetric. Polygons for which all interior angles are less than 180° are called

convex. Polygons with one or more interior angles greater than 180° are called concave.

The most common image of a polygon is of a multisided perimeter enclosing a single, uninterrupted area. In reality, the sides of a polygon can intersect to form multiple, distinct areas. Such a polygon is classified as reflex .

Angles

In a polygon, the line running between non-adjacent points is known as a diagonal. The diagonals drawn from a single vertex to the remaining vertices in an n-sided polygon will divide the figure into n-2 triangles. The sum of the interior angles of a convex polygon is then just (n-2)* 180.

If the side of a polygon is extended past the intersecting adjacent side, it defines the exterior angle of the vertex. Each vertex of a convex polygon has two possible exterior angles, defined by the continuation of each of the sides. These two angles are congruent, however, so the exterior angle of a polygon is defined as one of the two angles. The sum of the exterior angles of any convex polygon is equal to 360°.

Kristin Lewotsky

KEY TERMS

Angle

—A geometric figure created by two lines drawn from the same point.

Concave

—A polygon whose at least one angle is larger than the straight angle (180°).

Convex

—A polygon whose all angles are less than the straight angle (180°).

Diagonal

—The line which links-connects any two non-adjacent vertices.

Equiangular

—A polygon is equiangular if all of its angles are identical.

Equilateral

—A polygon is equilateral if all the sides are equal in length.

Parallelogram

—A rectangle with both pair of sides parallel.

Perimeter

—The sum of the length of all sides.

Rectangle

—A parallelogram in which all angles are right angles.

Reflex polygon

—A polygon in which two non-adjacent sides intersect.

Regular polygon

—An equilateral, equiangular polygon.

Rhombus

—A parallelogram whose adjacent sides are equal.

Square

—A four-sided shape whose sides are equal.

Vertex

—The point at which the two sides of an angle meet.

Polygon

A polygon is a geometric figure in two dimensions with three or more sides. The name comes from two Greek words, poly, meaning "many,"

and gon, meaning "angle." A polygon always has as many angles as it has sides. And in general, polygons are named to indicate the number of sides or angles they contain. Thus, a hexagon has six (hexa- means "six") sides and six angles.

Terminology used in describing polygons

Parts and properties of polygons.

Side: Any one of the straight lines that make up the polygon.

Vertex: A point where any two of the sides of a polygon meet to form an angle.

Angle: A figure formed by the intersection of two sides.

Diagonal: A line that joins any two nonadjacent (not next to each other) vertices.

Perimeter: The sum of the length of all sides.

Area: The space enclosed within the polygon.

Types of polygons.

Equilateral: A polygon in which all sides are equal in length.

Equiangular: A polygon in which all angles are the same size.

Regular: A polygon that is both equilateral and equiangular.

Examples of polygons

The most common kinds of polygons include:

Parallelogram: A quadrilateral (four-sided figure) in which both pairs of sides are parallel and equal.

Rhombus: A parallelogram in which all four sides are equal.

Rectangle: A parallelogram in which all angles are right angles.

Square: A rectangle in which all four sides are equal.

polygons

pol·y·gon / ˈpäliˌgän/ • n. Geom. a plane figure with at least three straight sides and angles, and typically five or more.DERIVATIVES: po·lyg·o·nal / pəˈligənl/ adj.po·lyg·o·nal·ly adv.