REGULAR

POLYGONS
 DEFINITION:
A polygon is a closed plane shape with straight sides.
A polygon is regular when all the angles and
sides are equal (otherwise it is "irregular").
Square
A polygon placed inside a circle with each
vertex of the polygon lying on the
circumference is called an inscribed polygon.
 CONSTRUCTIONS
1.TRIANGLE
Given a circle.

1.Draw a diameter of the circle, labeling the endpoints A and B.

2. With the same radius of the circumference, place the compass point on B and draw an arc CD.
3.Connect point A with B and C to form the equilateral triangle.

A A A

D C D C
B B B
2.SQUARE
Given a circle.

1.Draw a diameter of the circle AB.

2.Draw a perpendicular line bisector of the diameter using the method described in unit 02. This is
also a diameter of the circle.
3.The resulting four points on the circle are the vertices of the inscribed square.
A A A

D C
C
D

B B B
 3.PENTAGON
Given a circle.

1.Draw a diameter of the circle AB.

2.Draw a perpendicular line bisector of the radius OB (using the method described in unit 02)
obtaining point E.
3.Centering in E and radius EC, draw an arc to obtain F.
4.CF is the side of the pentagon that we are looking for.

C C C

A B
E F E F

D
4.HEXAGON
Given a circle.

1.Draw a diameter of the circle AB.

2.With the same radius of the circumference, place the compass point on B and draw an arc.
3.Centering in A, repeat the last step.
4.Connect the six points on the circle.

A A A

B B B
5. HEPTAGON
Given a circle.

1. Trace a vertical diameter 1-2.

2. Centered in 2 draw an arc, with a radius equal to the circle´s, intersecting in two points, a and b.
3. Connect a with b obtaining m. a-m is the dimension of the side for the inscribed heptagon.

1 1

2 2
6. OCTAGON
Given a circle.

1. Draw a diameter of the circle AB.

2. Trace a perpendicular diameter to the first one.
3. Trace angle bisectors (2 are enough) to the four quadrants.
4. Connect the eight points on the circle.

A B

B
7. NONAGON
Given a circle.

1. Draw a diameter of the circle AP.

2. Trace a perpendicular diameter to the first one (Q-R) and extend it.
3. Centered in A draw an arc with a radius equal to the circle´s obtaining the point 1.
4. Centered in P and opening until 1, draw an arc
obtaining point 2.
5. Centered in 2 and opening until A, draw an arc
obtaining point 3.
6. Q-3 is the length of the side.
8. GENERAL METHOD
Given a circle.
1. Draw a diameter of the circle AB.
2. Trace an auxiliary segment and divide it into as many portions as the number of sides we are
looking for.
3. Connect the last auxiliary segment´s mark with B.
4. Trace parallels through the division marks intersecting the diameter obtaining the division
wanted on it.
5. Centered in A and B and with radius the diameter trace two arcs in which both intersections we
will find two focuses.
6. From each of the focus trace rays through the even divisions on the diameter to intersect the
circle. A
7. Connect all the points obtained on the circle.