POLYGONS

Name and surname: /247

1
1
Class: Date: 1ºESO Unit 5
 Polygons
2

Polygons are two dimensional shapes. They are made of straight lines, and the shape is "closed" (all the lines connect up).

Types of Polygons
1. A regular polygon has all angles equal and all sides equal, otherwise it is irregular
2. A convex polygon has no angles pointing inwards. More precisely, no internal angle can be more than
180°. If any internal angle is greater than 180° then the polygon is concave (tip: concave has a "cave"
in it).
3. A simple polygon has only one boundary, and it doesn't cross over itself. A complex polygon
intersects itself! Many rules about polygons don't work when it is complex.
4. We can also classify polygons according to its number of sides

vertex
Parts of a regular polygon
1. Side: each of the segments that make up the polygon
2. Vertex: point of intersection between two adjacent sides. The vertices of a polygon are named
anticlockwise. internal
3. Diagonal: segment connecting two non-consecutive vertices angle
4. Centre: point that is equidistant from the vertices and the sides. It is the centre of the incircle and the centre
circumcircle, which is the circumference that passes through all the vertices of the polygon
5. Apothem: segment that connects the centre of the polygon to the midpoint of its sides. It is the radius diagonal
of the incircle, which is the circumference that is tangent to all the sides of the polygon.
6. Radius: segment that connects the centre of the polygon to its vertices. It is the radius of the
circumcircle
7. Internal angle: angle that two sides of the polygon make inside the polygon
 Triangles
3

Triangles are the basic geometrical shape. All other polygons can be divided into triangles.

The sides of a triangle are named with the same letter as the opposite vertex.

Exercise: Fill in the gaps using the following words: segments, polygon, closed, base, vertices, altitude (6p)
A triangle is a ___________________________ shape consisting in three line
____________________________, linked end-to-end, so it has three __________________________. It is
a three-sided _________________________. The ______________________________ can be any of its
three sides, but it is usually drawn at the bottom. The __________________________ of a triangle is the
distance from the base to the opposite vertex. Exercise: construct an equilateral
triangle given the side (6p)
Constructing an equilateral triangle given the side

1. We generally start our constructions with a thin auxiliary horizontal ray. Its endpoint will be vertex A.
We copy the length of the side on the auxiliary line and we get vertex B.
2. As all the sides measure the same the other vertex will be at the same distance from the two
vertices we already have. We put the point of the compass on vertex A and we make an arc using
the length of the side as radius.
3. We put the point of the compass on vertex B and we make an arc using the length of the side as
radius. Vertex C will be were both arcs meet.
4. We join the three vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t rub out anything
You can watch a video in Spanish to help you
Constructing triangles
4

Constructing a scalene triangle when we know the three sides Exercise: Draw a scalene triangle when we
know the three sides (6p)
1. We generally start our constructions with a thin auxiliary horizontal ray. Its endpoint will
be vertex A. We copy the length of one side on the auxiliary line and we get vertex B.
2. We put the point of the compass on vertex A and we make an arc using the length of
another side as radius.
3. We put the point of the compass on vertex B and we make an arc using the length of
the last side as radius. Vertex C will be were both arcs meet.
4. We join the three vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t rub out
anything

Exercise: Draw a scalene triangle when we

know two sides and the angle they form (6p)

Constructing a scalene triangle when we know two sides and the angle they form

1. We generally start our constructions with a thin auxiliary horizontal ray. Its endpoint will
be vertex A. We copy the length of one side on the auxiliary line and we get vertex B. A
2. We put the point of the compass on vertex A and we make an arc using the length of
the other side as radius.
3. We copy the angle on the vertex. Vertex C will be were the arc and the line from the
angle meet.
4. We join the three vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t rub out
anything
Constructing triangles II
5

Constructing a scalene triangle knowing one side and its adjacent angles

1. We generally start our constructions with a thin auxiliary horizontal ray. Its
endpoint will be vertex B. We copy the length of the side on the auxiliary
line and we get vertex C.
2. We copy angle B on vertex B.
3. We copy angle C on vertex C. Vertex A will be were the sides of both
angles meet.
4. We join the three vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t
rub out anything

Exercise: Draw a triangle given one side and its adjacent angles (6p)

B
C

Exercise: Draw a right-angled triangle given a leg and the hypotenuse. Tip: you can draw the right angle using your set squares (6p)

b
Exercise: which side must be the hypotenuse? (1p)
 Triangles exercises
6

Exercise: Construct a triangle given 3 sides Exercise: Construct a triangle given one side Exercise: Construct an equilateral triangle
(6p) and its adjacent angles (6p) given the side (6p)

a
B
C

Exercise: Construct a right-angled Exercise: Construct a triangle given two Exercise: Draw and name the parts of the
triangle given one leg and the sides and the angle they make (6p) polygon (9p)
hypotenuse (6p)
b c

A
Notable lines of triangles I
7

Perpendicular bisectors of the sides

The perpendicular bisector of a side of a triangle is the line perpendicular to the segment that passes through its midpoint
Exercise: Find the perpendicular bisector of the indicated sides (6p)

Bisectors of the angles

The bisector of an angle of a triangle is the line that divides the angle in two halves.
Exercise: Find the bisector of the indicated angles (6p)

A B
Notable lines of triangles II
8

Medians of the sides

The median of a side of a triangle is the line that joins the midpoint of the side with the opposite vertex
Exercise: Find the median of the indicated sides (6p)

Alttude of the sides

The altitude of a side of a triangle is the line perpendicular to the side that passes through the opposite vertex
Exercise: Find the median of the indicated sides (6p)

c
a
Points of concurrency of triangles
9

Its the centre of the

circumcircle

Its the centre of the incircle

Its the centre of gravity of

the triangle.

The orthocenter, centroid, and circumcenter of any triangle are collinear - that is, they always lie on the same straight line called the Euler
line, named after its discoverer.

In the case of an equilateral triangle, all four of the above centers occur at the same point.
Notable points of a triangle (points of concurrency)
10

Exercise: Find the circumcircle of the triangles (12p) Exercise: Find the incircle of the triangles (12p)
Notable points of a triangle (points of concurrency) II
11

Exercise: Find the centroid of the triangles (12p) Exercise: Find the orthocentre of the triangles (12p)
 Properties of the points of concurrency
12
You will need cardboard

Watch the video and copy the triangle at the bottom of this page. Fold a paper to find its circumcentre

Find the incentre of the triangle you cut. Fold the paper along its bisectors, cut it and observe the result

Exercise: Try to balance the triangle on the tip of a pencil. You will see the centre of balance (and gravity) is the centroid. Then join with cellotape
all the triangles of the group against each other, and try to place it upright on the table. You will notice that when the centroid is on top of the base,
the figure stays. If it is outside it falls.
 Quadrilaterals
13

Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the numbers 2 or 4 (4p)

Quadrilaterals have _____ sides, ____ vertices, _____ diagonals and ______ internal angles. The interior angles add up to 360º.

The vertices of all polygons are named anti-clockwise. The sides of all polygons except triangles are called as the previous vertex.

4 equal sides and Square

4 right angles

2 pairs of equal sides Rectangle

2 pairs of Parallelograms and 4 right angles
parallel sides
4 equal sides and 2
pairs of equal angles Rhombus

2 pairs of equal sides

and 2 pairs of equal Rhomboid
angles
Quadrilaterals

2 parallel sides Right-angled trapezium

perpendicular to another

Only 2 parallel Trapeziums

sides 2 equal non-parallel Isosceles trapezium
sides

No equal or
perpendicular side Scalene trapezium

No parallel Trapezoids
sides
Constructing quadrilaterals
14

Constructing a square given the side

1. We generally start our constructions with a thin auxiliary horizontal ray. Its endpoint will be vertex A. We copy the length of the side on the
auxiliary line and we get vertex B.
2. We make 90º angles on vertices A and B using the set squares
3. We copy the length of the side on both perpendicular rays and we obtain vertices C and D.
4. We join the four vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t rub out anything

Exercise: Construct a square given the side (6p)

1 2 3 4

Constructing a rectangle given two different sides

1. We generally start our constructions with a thin auxiliary horizontal ray. Its endpoint will be vertex A. We copy the length of one side on the
auxiliary line and we get vertex B.
2. We make 90º angles on vertices A and B using the set squares
3. We copy the length of the other side on both perpendicular rays and we obtain vertices C and D.
4. We join the four vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t rub out anything

Exercise: Construct a rectangle given two different sides (6p)

 Constructing quadrilaterals II
15

Constructing a rectangle given the diagonal and a side

1. We generally start our constructions with a thin auxiliary horizontal ray. Its endpoint will be vertex A. We copy the length of the diagonal on the
auxiliary line and we get vertex C. The midpoint of segment AC will be the centre of the circumcircle of the rectangle. We put the point of the
compass on the midpoint and we draw the circumcircle using half the segment as radius.
2. We put the point of the compass on vertex A and we make an arc using the length of the side as radius. Vertex B will be where it intersects the
circumcircle. We put the point of the compass on vertex C and we make an arc using the length of the side as radius. Vertex D will be wherein
intersects the circumcircle.
3. We join the four vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t rub out anything
Exercise: Construct a square rectangle given the diagonal and a side (6p)

Constructing a rhombus given the 2 diagonals

1. We generally start our constructions with a thin auxiliary horizontal ray. Its endpoint will be vertex A. We copy the length of the diagonal on the
auxiliary line and we get vertex C. We draw the perpendicular bisector of segment AC.
2. We divide the other diagonal in two equal parts. We measure with the compass half of this diagonal.
3. We put the point of the compass on the midpoint of segment AC and we make two arcs (one up and one down) on its perpendicular bisector
that measures half the other diagonal. The intersections between the line and the arcs will be vertex B and D.
4. We join the four vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t rub out anything
Exercise: Construct a rhombus given the 2 diagonals (6p)

d1 d2
 Quadrilaterals exercises
16
Exercise: Construct a square given the side (6p)

Exercise: Identify each type of quadrilateral (6p)

Exercise: Construct a square given the diagonal (6p)

Exercise: Construct a rectangle given the diagonal and a side (6p)

d a

Exercise: Construct a rhombus given the two diagonals (6p)

d1 d2
Regular polygons given the circumcircle
17

Construct a regular hexagon given the radius of the circumcircle.

In the case of the regular hexagon, the radius measures the same as the side.
1. We draw a circle with the given radius. It will be the circumcircle. We draw one of its diameters and where it intersects the circle will be
two of the vertices of the hexagon.
2. We put the point of the compass on those vertices and we draw arcs that intersect with the circumcircle.
4. We join the six vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t rub out anything
Exercise: Construct a hexagon given the side (6p)

Construct a regular octogon given the radius of the circumcircle.

To draw an octogon we must divide its circumcircle into 8 equal parts

1. We draw a circle with the given radius. It will be the circumcircle. We draw one of its diameters and where it intersects the circle will be
two of the vertices of the octogon.
2. We draw the perpendicular bisector of that diameter,
3. We draw the bisectors of the resultant 90º angles.
4. We join the eight vertices. We mark the answer (IMPORTANT). We don’t rub out anything
Exercise: Construct an octogon given the radius (6p)
 Polygons exercises
18

Exercise: construct a square given the Exercise: construct an equilateral triangle Exercise: Construct the circle that passes
radius of the circumcircle. Tip: the diagonal is given the radius of the circumcircle. Tip: it has through three points. Tip: it is the circumcircle
the diameter of the circumcircle (6p) halve the number of sides of a hexagon (6p) of the triangle made by the three points (6p)

C
.

.B

A .

Exercise: Construct a rectangle Exercise: Construct a rhomboid given two Exercise: Construct a regular hexagon given
given two diagonals (6p) different sides and the angle they make (6p) the radius of the circumference (6p)

a d
d1 d2
A
Other tasks: polygon crossword
19
Other tasks: polygon robot
20
Draw a polygonal robot following the instructions

Head

- 4 sides
- 2 pairs of parallel lines
- No right angles

This is a _____________________

Arms

- 3 equal sides
- 3 acute angles
- No parallel lines

This is a _____________________

Body

- 4 sides
- 2 pairs of parallel lines
- Not all equal sides
- 4 right angles

This is a _____________________

Hands

- I have the same radius and side

This is a _____________________

Feet

- The internal angles measure 135º

This is a _____________________