Exterior Angles of Polygons

Jasmine Vincent
www.drfrost.org
@DrFrostMaths

Contact the resource team:

resources@drfrost.org
@DrFrostResource

Dr Frost Learning is a registered

Last modified:28th August 2024 charity in England and Wales (no
1194954)
How to use these slides
Though many slides in this resource will have titles specific to the topic, the slide titles in the
table below are used consistently within DFL resources for specific pedagogical purposes.
Any atypical use of a slide type, including any change of animation* or intended use, will be
outlined in the Teacher Notes for the slide.
Slide Title Explanation Default Animations*
To be used as a prior knowledge check or to review
Recap prerequisite knowledge. Can be used as a starter or as part of Green click-to-reveal boxes.
the main lesson.
To be used to highlight key concepts or theorems. This could
Usually in sequence with
The Big include the ‘why’ of the topic - including “real-life” contextual
some green click-to-reveal
Idea scenarios, or putting into context of other mathematical
boxes.
concepts (past and future).
Solution animates in
Example To be modelled by the teacher.
sequence.
Green click-to-reveal boxes.
Test Your
To be completed by students and used for Assessment for For multi-step answers,
Understandi
Learning, primarily using mini-whiteboards. reveal in parts or click final
ng
answer to reveal full solution.
To be used as ‘Example’ &‘Test Your Understanding’ above, Example animates in
To be used as ‘Example’ &‘Test Your Understanding’ above,
Example within the same slide to provide scaffold via visible modelled sequence,
Examplefollowed
animates byinTYU
Example within the same slide to provide scaffold via visible modelled
Problem solution. question with
sequence. Clickgreen click-to-
the header to
Problem solution.
Pair TYU column is blank initially, to focus attention on example. reveal boxes for solution
reveal TYU question, then
Pair TYU column is blank initially, to focus attention on example.
Reveal question by clicking ‘Test Your Understanding’ steps.
green click-to-reveal boxes.
banner.
To be used as fluency practice. Multiple questions in rapid Green click-to-reveal boxes.
Quickfire succession,
To be used for calculations
as fluency that can
practice. be completed
Multiple questions mentally.
in rapid For multi-step
Green answers,
click-to-reveal boxes.
Questions
Quickfire Often used forfor
succession, shorter questions/
calculations that formulae or to isolate
can be completed a small
mentally. reveal in parts oranswers,
For multi-step click final
Questions Often used for shorterpart of the method.
questions/ formulae or to isolate a small line toin
reveal reveal
partsfull solution.
or click final
part of the method. line to reveal full solution.
To be used as a diagnostic question. Multiple choice questions,
Multi-choice with
To be plausible
used distractors,
as a diagnostic to allow
question. teachers
Multiple
Dr Frost to diagnose
choice
Learning is questions, Arrowinpoints
a registered charity Englandto answer,
and Wales on (no
Using the Dr Frost online platform
TEACHERS STUDENTS
Generate a Start an
random independent
worksheet practice involving
involving skills in skills in this
this PowerPoint PowerPoint.
(for printing or
online task
setting).
drfrost.org/w/75 drfrost.org/p/75
2 2

Clicking this box takes you to a single question practice for a

drfrost.org/s/123a
subskill to allow you further Test Your Understanding opportunities. (e.g.
drfrost.org/s/123a)
Skills in this Lesson
261 Interior and exterior angles of regular and irregular polygons
261d Calculate the size of the exterior angles of a regular polygon.
261h Determine the number of sides of a regular polygon given the size of its
exterior angles.
261i Determine the number of sides of a regular polygon given the size of its
interior angles.

Dr Frost Learning is a registered

charity in England and Wales (no
Using the Dr Frost online platform
Clicking this box takes you to a single question practice for a
drfrost.org/s/123a
subskill to allow you further Test Your Understanding opportunities. (e.g.
drfrost.org/s/123a)
Skills in this Lesson
261 Interior and exterior angles of regular and irregular polygons
261j Determine the number of sides of a polygon given a ratio between its
interior and exterior angles.
261k Determine angles in polygons within regular polygons.
261l Determine if a regular polygon will tessellate.
261m Determine the number of sides of an unknown regular polygon required
to complete a tessellation.

Dr Frost Learning is a registered

charity in England and Wales (no
Teacher Notes
Prerequisite
Knowledge Future Links
• Angles on a straight line and angles • Geometric proof involving angles
around a point • Alternate, corresponding and co-
• Vertically opposite angles interior angles
• Angle sum of a triangle including
base angles in an isosceles triangle
• Geometric notation for shapes and
lines
• Angle sum of a quadrilateral
• Solving linear equations with
unknowns on both sides
• Interior angles of polygons – including
regular polygons

Throughout the slides, this symbol refers to a web link.

Unless
Key: otherwise specified, this will be to some functionality
within DF.
Key Points Solution step – All slides include
click to reveal pedagogical detail in the
! To be written ‘Notes’ section for each
in books Question/Discussion slide.
Dr Frost Learning is a registered
Prompt charity in England and Wales (no
 Show

Prerequisite Check: Using Angle Rules all

solutio
ns

Calculate the missing angles; give reasons for your

1 answers. 4 99𝟏𝟏𝟎
° °
?
8 2 ° 𝟗𝟖? ° Angles that form a
99 °
straight line sum to
81°
2 52 °
Angles around a
? ° 71 °
𝟏𝟏𝟖 point sum to In a kite; the angles are
equal where the two pairs of
equal sides meet
171 °
Vertically
3 5 opposite angles
2 65 ° are equal
24 ° 79°
𝟕𝟖
? ° 95 ° 79°
Angles in a
quadrilateral
1 11 ° sum to
Base angles in an 𝟕𝟓
? °
isosceles triangle are
equal
Prerequisite Check: Interior Angles in Show
all
solutio
Polygons ns

1 Calculate the missing angle in 4 A regular polygon has sides.

this pentagon. Find the size of each of its
interior angles.
91 °
100 ° ( 28 −2 ) ×180
? =𝟏𝟔𝟕 . 𝟏°
? 28
104 °162 ° 5 A polygon has an angle sum of .
How many sides does the
2 Find the sum of the interior polygon have?
angles of a polygon with sides.
?
( 49− 2 ) ×180=𝟖𝟒𝟔𝟎°
?

3 Calculate the value of 6 A regular polygon has its interior

angles all equal to .
124 ° Find the number of sides of the
95 ° ? polygon.

2 𝑥 143 °
148 ° 𝑥 ?
The Big Idea: Definition of an Exterior
Angle
! An exterior angle of a
polygon is formed between
the line extended from one
side and the adjacent side

Is there a relationship
between the exterior angle of
a polygon and the interior
angle?

An interior and exterior angle

form a straight line

 At any vertex (i.e. corner):

The Big Idea: Definition of an Exterior
Angle
Is this an example of
an Exterior angle or
not?
Can you explain why?

Exterior Angles Not Exterior Angles

 Show

Test Your Understanding all

solutio
ns

Which letters below Which letters below

represent exterior angles? represent interior angles?

and
? ?
and

° °
°

° °
°
Example: Calculating an Exterior Angle
Calculate an exterior angle of Calculate an exterior angle of a
this regular octagon. regular dodecagon.

135° First calculate the interior angle of

a regular dodecagon:

First calculate the interior angle of

a regular octagon:
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 261d
s/

Calculate an exterior angle of Calculate an exterior angle of a

this regular hexagon. regular nonagon.

120° Interior?

Exterior?

Interior?

Exterior?
Example Test Your
Understanding
°
Determine
70 ° the exterior
𝑥 240 °
angle .
40 °
100 °
260°
110° 60 ° Determine
130° 𝑥 the exterior 40°
angle .

?
?
?
The Big Idea: Sum of Exterior Angles

How many
degrees would
you have turned
if you travelled
around the
outside of this
pentagon and
returned to your
starting position?

 The sum of the

You would have
completed one
exterior angles of
full turn; any polygon is
therefore
The Big Idea: Sum of Exterior Angles

This pentagon is
regular; what does that
tell you about the
angles?

All the interior angles

of a regular polygon are
equal; therefore all the
exterior angles are
also equal.

Therefore, each exterior

angle of this regular
pentagon is:

Can we write a
general rule for all  Single exterior angle of
regular polygons? a regular polygon =
Example Test Your
Understanding
A regular polygon has 24 sides. A regular polygon has 40 sides.

a)
a Find the size of each of its a)
a Find the size of each of its
exterior angles. exterior angles.
b)
b Find the size of each of its b)
b Find the size of each of its
interior angles. interior angles.

360 360
a)
a =𝟏𝟓 ° a)
a =𝟗 ° Exterior?
24 40
(24 −2)× 180 ( 40 −2) ×180
b)
b =𝟏𝟔𝟓 ° b)
b =𝟏𝟕𝟏 °
24 40
or
Interior?
Is there a different way we
could have calculated part b? 1 80 −9=𝟏𝟕𝟏°
interior +exterior=180°
1 80 −15=𝟏𝟔𝟓°
drfrost.org/ 261d
s/
 Show

Test Your Understanding all

solutio
ns

Calculate the exterior and interior angles for these regular

polygons
Shape Sides Exterior Interior
(regular) Angle Angle
Triangle ? ?
Square ? ?
Pentagon ? ?
Hexagon ? ?
Heptagon ? ?
Octagon ? ?
Dodecagon ? ?
Hectogon ? ?

What is the largest number of sides a regular polygon can

have such that it’s exterior angles and interior angles are
both integers?
It’s exterior angles will all be
? equal to and it’s interior
angles will all be equal to
Deeper Thinking
[CCEA GCSE Summer 2021 How might you start this
M6.1 Q12, M5.1 Q14] question?
ABCDE is a pentagon.
Lines AF and CG are straight Consider the exterior angle at
lines. point D
interior +exterior=180°
180 −50=130 °
Add this information to the
130° diagram
Angle sum for a pentagon is

Now we can calculate the sum of

the remaining interior angles (

Work out the value of

The Big Idea: Convex and Concave
Polygons
We know the
Calculate the exterior angles
remaining need to sum to
70 ° 110° exterior
90° angle.
120+50+70+90+110=440° Nathan
But the angles
260°
8 0° 60 ° already sum to
70° 110° 130° 120° more than !
How can that
50° be?
Imani
The exterior angle at that vertex is
Professor Cheng actually inside the polygon!

If you were travelling around the shape you would

need to turn in the opposite direction at this vertex
and therefore we subtract the angle when
calculating the angle sum

120+50 +70+ 90+110 +(−80)=360 °

The Big Idea: Convex and Concave
Polygons

What’s the same and

what’s different about
these two examples?

Both polygons are hexagons.

The hexagon on the right is concave

 A polygon is concave if it has one or more interior

angles larger than (reflex).
For concave polygons, the exterior angle at the
concave vertex is subtracted from the exterior angle
sum.
Geogebra

A polygon that is not concave is described as

convex
Test Your Understanding

Which of these
polygons are
concave?
A B C
?
and

D E F G
Example Test Your
Understanding
A regular polygon has it’s A regular polygon has it’s
exterior angles all equal to . exterior angles all equal to .
Find the number of sides of the Find the number of sides of the
polygon. polygon.

We can use the our 360

knowledge that a single 4=
exterior angle of a regular 𝑛
polygon =
×𝑛 ↓ ↓ ×𝑛 alternatively
360 𝑛
24 =
𝑛 4 𝑛=360
? ↓×
4
×𝑛 ↓ ↓ ×𝑛 ÷ 4↓ ↓÷ 4
24 𝑛=360 𝒏=𝟗𝟎
÷ 24 ↓ ↓ ÷ 24
𝒏=𝟏𝟓
This could also be done as a
single step of multiplying both
sides by drfrost.org/ 261h
s/
The Big Idea: Calculate the Number of
Sides
An irregular polygon has an exterior angle equal to
How many sides does it have?

How does this question differ from the previous

example?
Professor Cheng
This question is about an
irregular polygon rather than a
regular polygon
360
25 =
Remember the
𝑛 Logan
A shape can’t
formula is for ×𝑛 ↓ ↓ ×𝑛 have 14.4 sides –
regular polygons.
This question is 25 𝑛=360 the number of
sides should be an
impossible as the ÷ 25 ↓ ↓ ÷ 25 integer – what
shape is irregular.
𝒏=𝟏𝟒 .𝟒 have I done
wrong?
Recap: Calculate the Number of Sides
A regular polygon has its interior angles all equal
to .
Find the number of sides of the polygon.
There’s an easier
Nathan knew that the
way! We can use
angle sum for the
the formula to
polygon will be a
form an equation
multiple of ; he therefore
Nathan decided to use trial and ( )
𝑛− 2 ×180
in terms of Imani
error using the angle =171
sum formula for different 𝑛
values of n.
( 20 − 2 ) × 180=20 ×171
3 240 ≠ 342 0
( 30 − 2 ) × 180=30 ×171
5 040 ≠ 513 0
( 40 −2 ) ×180=40 ×171
6 840=684 0
Is there a more
𝒏=𝟒𝟎 efficient method?
The Big Idea: Calculate the Number of
Sides
A regular polygon has its interior angles all equal
to .
Find the number of sides of the polygon.
I can do it an
even quicker
way now by
171 ° 171 °
calculating the 9°
exterior angle
Nathan
180 −171=9 ° Rather than
solving the
Interior + Exterior equation each
360 time we can just
9= rearrange the Imani
𝑛 formula
×𝑛 ↓ ↓ ×𝑛
 Number of sides of a
9 𝑛=360 regular polygon:
÷9↓ ↓÷9
𝒏=𝟒𝟎
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 261i
s/

A regular polygon has its interior angles all equal

to .
Find the number of sides of the polygon.
(exterior angle)

?
sides

A regular polygon has its interior angles all equal

to .
Find the number of sides of the polygon.
(exterior angle)

?
sides
The Big Idea: Calculate the Number of
Sides
The size of each interior angle
For a question
of a regular polygon is times
like this it can
the size of each exterior angle.
help to draw a
Work out the number of sides
rough diagram Imani
the polygon has.

If we choose to label the

17 𝑥 exterior angle , what do we
need to label the interior
𝑥 angle as?

Now we can form and Now we’ve calculated the size of

solve an equation to work the exterior angle we can work
out the size of the angles. out the number of sides.

17 𝑥+𝑥 =¿
180 Interior + 360 360
Exterior 𝑛= 𝑛=
10 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒
18 𝑥=¿
180
𝑥=¿10 𝒏=𝟑𝟔
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 261j
s/

The size of each interior angle

of a regular polygon is times
4𝑥
Diagram?
the size of each exterior angle. 𝑥
Work out the number of sides
the polygon has. 4 𝑥+𝑥=¿ 180 360
Calculate
𝑛=
5 𝑥=¿180
Calculate ? 36 of
number
𝑥=¿ 36 sides?
𝒏=𝟏𝟎
[Edexcel IGCSE May2013-4H Q13]
The diagram shows an incomplete regular 2 𝑥+140=¿ 180
polygon. 𝑥=¿40?
2Calculate
𝑥=¿
𝑥+ 140
𝑥 360
Calculate
=𝟏𝟖 number of
20 sides?
The size of each interior angle is degrees
greater than the size of each exterior angle.
Work out the number of sides the regular
polygon has.
Recap: Tessellation
Shapes ‘tessellate’ if they fit
together, without overlap or
gaps, to form a repeating
pattern. The angles that meet
135 °9 0 °
at each intersection need to 135 °
sum to .
Professor Cheng

! If shapes tesselate then the interior angles around

any point where the shapes meet add to .

[OCR GCSE June 2015 4H Q3c]

Anna makes a patio using concrete slabs.
Each slab is a regular hexagon. 120 ° 120 °
Explain why Anna can fit three of these slabs together at a
point. 120 °
The interior angle of a regular hexagon is

? tesselate, there will be

Therefore, regular hexagons
hexagons at each intersection
The Big Idea: Tessellation

The diagram shows , an Angle (interior angle of an

equilateral triangle, , a regular equilateral triangle)
octagon, and part of another
Interior angle of a regular
regular polygon. octagon:
𝑦 =135 °
The intersection needs to sum to
𝐵 therefore we can calculate :
Let’s look at
𝐴𝑥 𝑦 the point 𝑧=165 °
where all
three Exterior angle of the unknown
𝑧 polygons
regular polygon:
meet

Find the number of sides of the

Calculate number of sides:
third polygon.
sides
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 261m
s/

The diagram shows , a regular Interior angle of a regular

pentagon, , a regular pentagon:
pentagon, and part of another Angles and ?
𝑥=108 °
regular polygon. 𝑦 =108 °
The intersection needs to sum to
therefore we can calculate :
𝑧 Angle ?
𝑥 𝑧=144 °
𝐴 𝑦
Exterior angle of the unknown
𝐵 Exterior angle of unknown
regular polygon:
polygon?

Calculate
Numbernumber
of sides of
of sides:
unknown
Find the number of sides of the
third polygon. polygon? sides
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 Work out the size of an 4 [Edexcel IGCSE May2013(R)-4H

exterior angle of a regular Q6b Edited]
polygon with 24 sides. Calculate the size of angle and .
360
=𝟏𝟓
? °
24
2 A regular polygon has its 𝟔𝟖 °
𝟑𝟗 ° 106 ° 112 °
exterior angles all equal to .
Find the number of sides of 141 °
the polygon. 113 ° 68 °
360
=𝟔𝟎
? sides
6
3 A regular polygon has its
interior angles all equal to . Step 1: Calculate missing
Find the number of sides of the interior angles
polygon. Step 2: Use parallel lines rules to
calculate interior angle at C
(exterior angle) Step 3: Use angle sum of
pentagon to calculate interior
360 ?
=𝟑𝟎
sides angle at E
12 Step 4: Calculate and
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

5 The size of each interior angle of 7 [Edexcel IGCSE Jan 2018 3H Q9]
a regular polygon is times the
size of each exterior angle.
Work out the number of sides the
polygon has.
14 𝑥 +𝑥=¿180
𝑥 =¿ ?
12
360
sides, 𝐴𝐵,𝐵𝐶 and 𝐶𝐷, of a
=𝟑𝟎
sides The diagram shows three
12
regular 𝑛-sided polygon.
Work out the value of 𝑛.
6 In a regular polygon,
interior angle : exterior angle
Work out the number of sides the
polygon has.
?
11 𝑥+𝑥=¿180
𝑥 =¿15 Exterior angle
360 ?
=𝟐𝟒
sides Number of sides
15
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
[OCR GCSE(9-1) June 2017 5H Q8b ns

8 Edited] 9 [Edexcel IGCSE Jan 2020 2H(R) Q12]

Imran joins two tiles together as The diagram shows two
shown below. congruent isosceles triangles
One tile is a regular hexagon and and parts of two congruent
the other tile is a regular regular polygons, X and Y.
pentagon.

It can be shown that .

Imran thinks that another tile in

have 𝑛 sides.
the shape of a regular polygon The two regular polygons each

Work out the value of 𝑛.

will fit exactly into angle .
Is Imran correct?
(exterior angle of unknown
polygon) Missing angle in triangle
Interior angle of X/Y
You cannot have sides therefore Exterior angle of X/Y
Imran is wrong. Number of sides
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

isosceles triangle is 𝑝∘ and an

10 An interior angle of an 11 [OCR GCSE Nov 2021 6H Q10b]

exterior angle is 𝑞∘
An equilateral triangle, a regular
10-sided polygon and another
regular polygon meet at a point.

It is given that
The ratio of
Work out the two different
possible sets of angles for the
isosceles triangle.
Work out the number of sides of
(angle ) the other regular polygon.
First possibility:
?
Second possibility: Missing angle in triangle
Interior angle of -sided polygon
Angle A ?
Exterior angle of other regular polygon
Number of sides
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

12 [AQA IGCSE FM Practice paper a)

set 3 P1 Q9a Edited]

An exterior angle of is 𝑥.
and are regular polygons.
b) Interior angle of A
Interior angle of B
Ratio of interior angles

Write the ratios as fractions

Here is some information about and put them equal to each
them. other

in 𝑥 for an exterior angle of

a)
a Write down an expression
(exterior angle)
polygon . Calculate number of sides

b)
b Find the number of sides of
polygon .
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns
[JMC 2017 Q11] Seven squares N [SMC 2009 Q14]
N
are drawn on the sides of a
are vertices of a regular polygon.
heptagon so that they are
The sides and are produced to
outside the heptagon, as shown
meet at , as shown in the
in the diagram.
diagram, and =∘.

What is the sum of the seven How many sides does the
marked angles? polygon have?

In the diagram there are groups Let the external angle of the
of angles each meeting at a regular polygon be Hence ∠XQR
point. This means that the total = ∠XSR =
angle sum is . and reflex angle ∠QRS =
Angle sum of a heptagon As the sum of the angles in a
Angles in the squares touching quadrilateral is then
?
the hexagon Hence and the exterior angle of
Sum of the marked angles: the polygon
Therefore the polygon has
sides