Digital Text Book

DIGITAL TEXT
BOOK
PREPARED BY,
SANDHYA B
B.Ed Mathematics
POLYGONS
Contents
TOPICS
PAGE#
Types of Polygons
Sum of the angles
Exterior Angles
Sum of the External Angles of a Polygon
Regular Polygons
10
TYPES OF POLYGONS
A polygon is a closed figure with 3 or more sides.
A triangle has 3 sides and 3 angles.
Below given are the names of some polygons with the number of sides and angles
Figure
Name
Sides
Quadrilateral
Angles
Pentagon
Hexagon
All the above closed figures are commonly known as polygons.

We can divide any polygon into another polygon with one side less and a triangle, by drawing a
line starting at any vertex, skipping one vertex and joining with the next.
SUM OF THE ANGLES

The sum of the angles of a triangle is 1800
Sum of the angles of a quadrilateral is 3600
Sum of the angles of the pentagon= Sum of the angles of the quadrilateral +Sum of the angles of
the triangle
=3600+1800
=5400
Generally speaking, we can divide any polygon into a previous polygon (meaning one side less)
and a triangle; and so its sum of angles will be more than the sum of the angles of the previous
one.
Thus, we have a scheme for computing the sum of the angles of a polygon:
Triangle
1800
Quadrilateral 1800+1800
=2x1800
Pentagon
1800+ (2x1800)
=3x1800
Hexagon
1800+ (3x1800)
=4x1800
How about a twenty-sided polygon?

Starting with the sum 1800 for a triangle, for each additional side, the sum increases by 1800.
20 sides means, 17 sides more than a triangle; and this means the sum increases by 17x1800.
The sum of the angles of a 20 sided polygon
=1800+(17x1800)
=18x1800
=32400
We can write this as a general principle, using a bit of algebra. To get an n-sided polygon, we
start with a triangle and add n-3 sides more. Adding each side increases the sum of angles by
1800. So, the sum of the angles of an n-sided polygon is (n-3) x 1800 more than the sum of the
angles of a triangle. That is, the sum of the angles is
1800 +[(n-3)x180]
[1+(n-3) x1800]
=
(n-2) x 1800
The sum of the angles of an n sided polygon is (n-2) x 1800.
Problems
What is the sum of the angles of a polygon with 102 sides?
Number of sides of the polygon (n) = 102
Sum of the angles = (n-2) x 1800
= (102-2) x 1800 = 18000
1. The sum of the angles of a polygon is 21600. What is the sum of the angles of a polygon with
one more side? What about a polygon with one side less?
2. The sum of the angles of a polygon is 27000. How many sides does it have?
3. Does any polygon have the sum of its angles equal to 10000? How about 9000?
4. A 10 sided polygon has all its angles equal. How much is each angle?
5. Each angle of a polygon is 1500. How many sides does it have?
EXTERIOR ANGLES
Look at this figure:
In ABC, the side BC is extended and this produces a new angle outside the triangle. This
angle ACD is called an external angle of the triangle.
What is the relation between this angle and the (internal) angle ACB of the triangle?
B
<ACB and <ACD form a linear pair, right?
So, <ACD=1800-<ACB
<ACB =1800-(<B+<A)
<ACD=1800-[1800-(<B+<A)]
=1800-1800+<B+<A
=<B+<A
From this, it is clear that exterior angle of a triangle is equal to the sum of its interior opposite
angles.
Problem
The angles of a triangle are 500, 500 and 800. Find the measures of its external angles.
E
B
D
A
<A= 500
<C=500
<B=800
<BCD=<A+<B
=500+800
=1300
<ABE= <A+<C
=500+500
=1000
<FAB =<B+<C
=800+500
=1300
Now try these problems
Three angles of a quadrilateral are 700, 800, 1200. Find the fourth angle. Also find all the four
external angles.
Three angles of a triangle are 30, 40, and 110. Find the measures of its external angles.
SUM OF THE EXTERNAL ANGLES OF A POLYGON

The sum of an external angle and the corresponding internal angle of a polygon is 1800 since it is
a linear pair.
An n-sided polygon has n internal angles. Therefore, the sum of all external angles and the
corresponding interior angles = n x 1800
We have studied in the previous class that the sum of the interior angles of an n-sided polygon is
(n-2) x 1800.
Sum of the external angles of an n-sided polygon =n x 1800-(n-2) x1800
=n x 1800- n x 1800 + 2 x 1800
=2 x 1800
=3600
Hence we can conclude that sum of the external angles of a polygon is 3600.
Each external angle of a polygon is 200. How many sides does it have?
Sum of external angles of a polygon is 3600.
Number of internal angles = 3600/20=18
Number of interior angles = number of sides of a polygon
Therefore, number of sides = 18.
10
Now, try these problems

A 10-sided polygon has all its angles equal. How much is each external angle?
In a 12-sided polygon, the external angles are equal. How much is each external angle and each
angle of the polygon?
REGULAR POLYGONS
If all the sides of a triangle are equal, then its angles are also equal. Such triangles are called
equilateral triangles.
If all the sides of a rectangle are equal, then it is called a square.
Polygons like this, with equal angles and lengths of sides also equal are called regular polygons.
Below given are some examples of regular and irregular polygons.
How much is each angle of a regular pentagon?

The sum of the angles is 3 x 1800 = 5400
Since it is regular, this is the sum of five equal angles. So, each angle is 1/5 x 5400 = 1080
Similarly, we can easily see that each angle of a regular hexagon is 1/6 x 4 x 1800= 1200
How much is an angle of a 36-sided regular polygon?
Number of sides, n = 36
Sum of the angles of the regular polygon
11
= (n-2) x 1800
=
(36-2) x1800
= 34 x 1800
= 61200
Each angle of the regular polygon
= 61200/36
=1700
Now try this problem
One angle of a regular polygon is 1440. How many sides does it have?
Below given are the pictures of regular polygons.

Digital Text Book

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Digital Text Book

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Digital Text Book

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DIGITAL TEXT

Sum of the angles

Sum of the External Angles of a Polygon

All the above closed figures are commonly known as polygons.

SUM OF THE ANGLES

How about a twenty-sided polygon?

The sum of the angles of an n sided polygon is (n-2) x 1800.

SUM OF THE EXTERNAL ANGLES OF A POLYGON

Now, try these problems

How much is each angle of a regular pentagon?

Below given are the pictures of regular polygons.

You might also like