Introduction to Polygons - 1

1 Polygons are closed figures made only of line segments.

Polygons Not Polygons

Triangle Pentagon

2 The triangle is the simplest polygon possible.

Since we need at least three sides to form a closed figure.

3 Regular Polygons

BOTH the following conditions should be satisfied:

• All sides should be equal.
• All angles should be equal.
o Both the interior and the exterior angles.
e.g. The equilateral triangle is a regular polygon as all angles are equal AND all sides are equal.

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Introduction to Polygons - 2

4 If all the angles of a polygon are equal, they are considered as equiangular polygons.

Equiangular polygons may or may not have equal sides.

e.g. rectangle

5 If all the sides of a polygon are equal, they are considered as equilateral polygons.

Equilateral polygons may or may not have equal angles.

e.g. rhombus

6 The number of interior angles = the number of exterior angles = the number of sides.

Interior Angles Exterior Angles

A A
4
1

2 3 5
B C B
6 C

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Introduction to Polygons - 3

7 Each interior angle is a supplement of each exterior angle.​

Interior Angles Exterior Angles Interior+Exterior = 180º

A A A
4 4
1 1

2 3 5 5
2 3
B C B B
6 C 6 C

8 An n-sided polygon can be divided into (n-2) non-overlapping triangles.

Pentagon
E B
1 3
• No. of sides = 5
• No. of non-overlapping triangles = 5 – 3 = 2
2

D C

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Introduction to Polygons - 4

9 The sum of all interior angles of an n-sided polygon is (n-2)×180 degrees.​

• The sum of all interior angles of a regular triangle = (3-2) ×180º =180º.
• The sum of all interior angles of a regular quadrilateral = (4-2) ×180º =360º

10 Each interior angle of a regular polygon of n sides = ((n-2)×180)/n degrees.

Each interior angle of an equilateral triangle = (3-2) × 180º / 3 =60º.

11 The sum of all exterior angles of an n-sided polygon is always 360 degrees.​

The sum of all the exterior angles of a triangle = the sum of all the exterior angles of a quadrilateral = 360º.

12 Each exterior angle of a regular polygon of n sides = 360/n degrees.

Each exterior angle of a square = 360/4 = 90 degrees

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Introduction to Polygons - 5

13 The central angle is the angle made at the center of the regular polygon by any two adjacent vertices of the regular polygon.

A B

Note: The central angle is defined only for a regular polygon as the
O
F C center of only a regular polygon is equidistant from all its vertices.
60º

E D

14 Each central angle formed in a regular polygon of n sides = 360/n degrees.

Each central angle of a square = 360/4 = 90º.

15 The area of any 2-D space measures the amount of space it occupies within its boundary.

Area of the shape = Shaded region

Unit of area = Square units, e.g. cm2, m2, etc.

Triangle Pentagon Rectangle

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Introduction to Polygons - 6

16 The perimeter of any 2-D space measures the length of its boundary.

A A A D

B E
Unit of perimeter = units, e.g. cm, m etc.
B C C D B C

P = AB + BC + AC P = AB + BC + CD + DE + EA P = AB + BC + CD + DA

17 An n-sided polygon with a given perimeter has a maximum area when it is regular. ​

If the perimeter of a polygon is given as p units, the area of a polygon with the perimeter p will be maximum when the figure formed is a regular
polygon.

18 An n-sided polygon with a given area has a minimum perimeter when it is regular. ​

If the area of a polygon of n sides is given as 'a' square units, the perimeter of a polygon of n sides with the area 'a' square units will be minimum
when it is regular.

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