6.

1: Properties of Polygons

Objectives
Classify polygons based on their sides and
angles.
Vocabulary Sketch Things to Remember
A closed figure formed by 3 or
Polygon more segments that intersect
only at their endpoints.

A segment that connects non-

Diagonal consecutive vertices.

Quadrilateral 4 A four-sided polygon.

Pentagon 5 A five-sided polygon.

A six-sided polygon.
Hexagon 6
Vocabulary Sketch Things to Remember

Heptagon 7 A seven-sided polygon.

Octagon 8 An eight-sided polygon.


 

Nonagon 
9

 A nine-sided polygon.
 

Decagon 10 A ten-sided polygon.

Dodecagon 12 A twelve-sided polygon.

Vocabulary Sketch Things to Remember

A polygon with n number of

n-gon sides.

Regular An equilateral AND

Polygon equiangular polygon.

Irregular Any polygon that is NOT

Polygon regular.

Concave Any part of the diagonal lies in the

Polygon exterior of the polygon.

Convex All diagonals lie in the

Polygon interior of the polygon.
 6.1: Properties of Polygons
Each segment that forms a polygon is a side of
the polygon. The common endpoint of two sides
is a vertex of the polygon. A segment that
connects any two nonconsecutive vertices is a
diagonal.
 Example 1A: Identifying Polygons

Tell whether the figure is a polygon. If it is a

polygon, name it by the number of sides.

polygon, hexagon
 Example 1B: Identifying Polygons

Tell whether the figure is a polygon. If it is a

polygon, name it by the number of sides.

polygon, heptagon
 Example 1C: Identifying Polygons

Tell whether the figure is a polygon. If it is a

polygon, name it by the number of sides.

not a polygon
 Check It Out! Example 1a

Tell whether each figure is a polygon. If it is a

polygon, name it by the number of its sides.

not a polygon
 Check It Out! Example 1b

Tell whether the figure is a polygon. If it is a

polygon, name it by the number of its sides.

polygon, nonagon
 Check It Out! Example 1c

Tell whether the figure is a polygon. If it is a

polygon, name it by the number of its sides.

not a polygon
All the sides are congruent in an equilateral polygon.
All the angles are congruent in an equiangular
polygon. A regular polygon is one that is both
equilateral and equiangular. If a polygon is not
regular, it is called irregular.
A polygon is concave if any part of a diagonal
contains points in the exterior of the polygon. If no
diagonal contains points in the exterior, then the
polygon is convex. A regular polygon is always
convex.
 Example 2A: Classifying Polygons

Tell whether the polygon is regular or irregular.

Tell whether it is concave or convex.

irregular, convex
 Example 2B: Classifying Polygons

Tell whether the polygon is regular or irregular.

Tell whether it is concave or convex.

irregular, concave
 Example 2C: Classifying Polygons

Tell whether the polygon is regular or irregular.

Tell whether it is concave or convex.

regular, convex
 Check It Out! Example 2a

Tell whether the polygon is regular or irregular.

Tell whether it is concave or convex.

regular, convex
 Check It Out! Example 2b

Tell whether the polygon is regular or irregular.

Tell whether it is concave or convex.

irregular, concave
To find the sum of the interior angle measures of a
convex polygon, draw all possible diagonals from
one vertex of the polygon. This creates a set of
triangles. The sum of the angle measures of all the
triangles equals the sum of the angle measures of
the polygon.
Remember!
By the Triangle Sum Theorem, the sum of the
interior angle measures of a triangle is 180°.
In each convex polygon, the number of triangles
formed is two less than the number of sides n. So
the sum of the angle measures of all these triangles
is (n — 2)180°.
Example 3A: Finding Interior Angle Measures and
Sums in Polygons

Find the sum of the interior angle measures of a

convex heptagon.

(n – 2)180° Polygon  Sum Thm.

(7 – 2)180° A heptagon has 7 sides,

so substitute 7 for n.
900° Simplify.
Example 3B: Finding Interior Angle Measures and
Sums in Polygons
Find the measure of each interior angle of a
regular 16-gon.

Step 1 Find the sum of the interior angle measures.

(n – 2)180° Polygon  Sum Thm.

(16 – 2)180° = 2520° Substitute 16 for n

and simplify.
Step 2 Find the measure of one interior angle.

The int. s are , so divide by 16.

Example 3C: Finding Interior Angle Measures and
Sums in Polygons

Find the measure of each

interior angle of pentagon
ABCDE.

(5 – 2)180° = 540° Polygon  Sum Thm.

Polygon 
mA + mB + mC + mD + mE = 540° Sum Thm.

35c + 18c + 32c + 32c + 18c = 540 Substitute.

135c = 540 Combine like terms.
c=4 Divide both sides by 135.
 Example 3C Continued

mA = 35(4°) = 140°

mB = mE = 18(4°) = 72°

mC = mD = 32(4°) = 128°

 Check It Out! Example 3a

Find the sum of the interior angle measures of

a convex 15-gon.

(n – 2)180° Polygon  Sum Thm.

(15 – 2)180° A 15-gon has 15 sides, so

substitute 15 for n.
2340° Simplify.
 Check It Out! Example 3b

Find the measure of each interior angle of a

regular decagon.
Step 1 Find the sum of the interior angle measures.

(n – 2)180° Polygon  Sum Thm.

Substitute 10 for n
(10 – 2)180° = 1440°
and simplify.

Step 2 Find the measure of one interior angle.

The int. s are , so divide by 10.

In the polygons below, an exterior angle has been
measured at each vertex. Notice that in each case,
the sum of the exterior angle measures is 360°.
Remember!
An exterior angle is formed by one side of a
polygon and the extension of a consecutive side.
 Example 4A: Finding Interior Angle Measures and
Sums in Polygons
Find the measure of each exterior angle of a
regular 20-gon.
A 20-gon has 20 sides and 20 vertices.

sum of ext. s = 360°. Polygon  Sum Thm.

A regular 20-gon has
measure of one ext.  = 20  ext. s, so
divide the sum by
20.
The measure of each exterior angle of a regular
20-gon is 18°.
Example 4B: Finding Interior Angle Measures and
Sums in Polygons

Find the value of b in polygon

FGHJKL.

Polygon Ext.  Sum Thm.

15b° + 18b° + 33b° + 16b° + 10b° + 28b° = 360°

120b = 360 Combine like terms.
b=3 Divide both sides by 120.
 Check It Out! Example 4a
Find the measure of each exterior angle of a
regular dodecagon.

A dodecagon has 12 sides and 12 vertices.

sum of ext. s = 360°. Polygon  Sum Thm.

A regular dodecagon
measure of one ext. has 12  ext. s, so
divide the sum by
12.
The measure of each exterior angle of a regular
dodecagon is 30°.
 Check It Out! Example 4b

Find the value of r in polygon JKLM.

4r° + 7r° + 5r° + 8r° = 360° Polygon Ext.  Sum Thm.

24r = 360 Combine like terms.

r = 15 Divide both sides by 24.
 Example 5: Art Application

Ann is making paper stars for

party decorations. What is the
measure of 1?

1 is an exterior angle of a regular

pentagon. By the Polygon Exterior
Angle Sum Theorem, the sum of the
exterior angles measures is 360°.

A regular pentagon has 5 

ext. , so divide the sum by 5.
 Check It Out! Example 5

What if…? Suppose the

shutter were formed by 8
blades instead of 10
blades. What would the
measure of each exterior
angle be?

CBD is an exterior angle of a regular octagon. By

the Polygon Exterior Angle Sum Theorem, the sum
of the exterior angles measures is 360°.
A regular octagon has 8  ext.
, so divide the sum by 8.
 Lesson Quiz
1. Name the polygon by the number
of its sides. Then tell whether the
polygon is regular or irregular,
concave or convex.
nonagon; irregular; concave
2. Find the sum of the interior angle
measures of a convex 11-gon. 1620°

3. Find the measure of each interior angle of a

regular 18-gon. 160°

4. Find the measure of each exterior angle of a

regular 15-gon. 24°