Chapter 5: Polygons

5.1 Polygons
A ___________________ is a closed figure which is the
union of line segments. _________________ have sides and
corners. Those corners are called __________________. (A
single one is called a _________________.)
We can classify polygons according to the number of sides
they have:
Numbers of sides
3

Name
triangle

quadrilateral

5
6
7
8
9
10

Example

When were labeling a polygon, we choose one vertex as a

starting place. Then we go from one vertex to the next, either
in clockwise or counter-clockwise orderit doesnt matter
which, but it is important that the vertices be labeled in
order.
________________________ VERTICES of a polygon are
vertices that share a side. So, for example, in the diagram
below of quadrilateral ABCD, A & B, B & C, C & D and D & A
are all consecutive vertices.
A

_______________________ SIDES are, predictably

enough, sides that share a common vertex. Using the same
quadrilateral,
_____ & _____ , _____ & _____ , _____ & _____ , and
_____ &_____ are all consecutive sides.

5.2 The Interior and Exterior Angles of Polygons.

We will explore the angles of various polygons and develop the
formulas needed.

Summary of Formulas:
Sum of Interior Angles

Each Interior Angle

Sum of Exterior Angles

Each Exterior Angle

5.3 The Regular Polygon Chart

Name
#
Sum of
of
Sides Interior
Polygon
s

Measure
of Each
Interior

Sum of
Exteriors

Measure
of Each
Exterior