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Angle Properties of Polygons

The document discusses calculating the sum of interior angles of polygons. It states that the formula to find the sum of interior angles of a regular polygon is (n - 2) × 180°, where n is the number of sides. It explains that any polygon can be divided into triangles by drawing full diagonals, and each triangle has a sum of 180°. The number of triangles equals the number of sides minus 2. So an octagon, which has 8 sides, can be divided into 8 - 2 = 6 triangles. Using the formula, the sum of interior angles of an octagon is 6 × 180° = 1080°.

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Stella Ann Oliver
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540 views3 pages

Angle Properties of Polygons

The document discusses calculating the sum of interior angles of polygons. It states that the formula to find the sum of interior angles of a regular polygon is (n - 2) × 180°, where n is the number of sides. It explains that any polygon can be divided into triangles by drawing full diagonals, and each triangle has a sum of 180°. The number of triangles equals the number of sides minus 2. So an octagon, which has 8 sides, can be divided into 8 - 2 = 6 triangles. Using the formula, the sum of interior angles of an octagon is 6 × 180° = 1080°.

Uploaded by

Stella Ann Oliver
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Angle properties of polygons

In your exam, you might be asked to find angles of polygons.


The formula for calculating the sum of the interior angles of a regular polygon is: (n - 2)
180 where n is the number of sides of the polygon.
This formula comes from dividing the polygon up into triangles using full diagonals.
We already know that the interior angles of a triangle add up to 180. For any polygon, count up
how many triangles it can be split into. Then multiply the number of triangles by 180.

This quadrilateral has been divided into two triangles, so the interior angles add up to 2 180 =
360.

This pentagon has been divided into three triangles, so the interior angles add up to 3 180 =
540.
In the same way, a hexagon can be divided into 4 triangles, a 7-sided polygon into 5 triangles
etc.
Can you see the pattern forming? The number of triangles is equal to the number of sides minus
2.

Question
What is the sum of the interior angles of an octagon?

If you find it difficult to remember formulae, just add 180 each time in the following way:

Number of sides

Sum of interior angles

180

180 + 180 = 360

360 + 180 = 540

540 + 180 = 720

900 + 180 = 1080

10

1260 + 180 = 1440

Shape

The exterior angle of a polygon and its corresponding interior angle always add up to 180
(because they make a straight line).

For any polygon, the sum of its exterior angles is 360.


You can see this because if you imagine 'walking' all the way round the outside of a poly

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