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Applied Math

Area of Polygons

Chapter 12
Area of Polygons
12.1

Polygon
A plane figure bounded by a number of straight lines is called
polygon. A polygon is said to be regular when all its sides and
angles are equal.
A five sided polygon is called a pentagon.
A six sided polygon is called a hexagon.
A seven sided polygon is called a heptagon.
A eight sided polygon is called an octagon.
A nine sided polygon is called a nonagon.
A ten sided polygon is called a decagon.
A twelve sided polygon is called a dodecagon.
Inscribed Polygon
If a circle passes through the corners of a polygons then this
polygon is called inscribed polygon and the circle is called the
circumscribed circle. If the inscribed polygon is a regular polygon the
centre of the circle is also the centre of the polygon. In the figure o is the
centre of the polygon and OF is the radius of the circumscribed circle and
is denoted by R.

Fig.
Circumscribed Polygon:
Fig.1
A polygon which is drawn outside a circle so that the sides touch
circumferences of the circle. In this case circle is called inscribed circle. If
the polygon is regular then the centre of the circle is also the centre of the
polygon. The radius of the inscribed circle is denoted by r in the figure
OG = r

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Interior Angle:
The interior angle of a regular
Polygon of n sides =

2n 4
x 90 o
n

For example for a hexagon, n = 6

Its interior angle

2 x 64
x 90
6
12 4
x 90
=
6
8
= x 90o 120o
6
=

Angle at the centre opposite to each side of a regular.

Polygon

360o
n

12.2

Method for Finding Area of Regular Polygon

A regular polygon can be divided into equal isosceles triangles by
joining all the corners to the centre. Obviously, the number of triangle is
the same as the number of sides of the polygon, then the area of the
polygon is equal to the area of any one triangle multiplied by the number
of triangle.
(i) Area of the Regular Polygon of n sides when length of a side
is given:
Let, AB = a be the length of the side of regular polygon of n sides,
o be the centre of the polygon, we formed n similar triangles.

Let, AOB be one of the n triangles.

Then <AOB =

360o
180o
, <AOG =
n
n

Area of the regular polygon = n x area of AOB

= nx

AB x OG
2

Fig.3

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= nx

a
x OG
2

Now, in right triangle AOG

OG
180o
= Cot
AG
n
180o
OG = AG Cot
n
o
a
180
= Cot
2
n
Area of polygon

a a
180o
x
Cot
2 2
n
2
o
na
180
=
Cot
Sq. unit
4
n

=nx

Perimeter of polygon = na
Example 1:
Find the cost of carpeting an octagonal floor with sides measuring
12 meter if the carpet costs Rs. 12/- per square meter.
Solution:
n = 8, a = 12m

na 2
180o
Area =
Cot
4
8
8x(12)2
180o
Cot
4
8
8x144
Cot 22.5
=
4
=

= 288 x 2.41
A
=695.29 Sq. m
Cost of carpeting = 695.29 x 12 = Rs. 8343.48
(ii) Area of a regular polygon of n side when the radius of the
inscribed circle r is given
Area of polygon = n x area of AOB
=n
AB = ?,
AB = 2AG

OG = r

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AG
180o
tan
OG
n
180o
AG = OG tan
n
AB
180o
r tan
2
n
180o
AB = 2r tan
n
Area of polygon

Perimeter

Fig.5

OG
2
180o r
= n x 2r tan
x
n
2
o
180
= nr2 tan
Sq. unit
n
180o
= 2nr tan
n
= n x AB x

Example 2:
A regular pentagon is circumscribed about circle with a radius of
20 cm. Find the area of the pentagon.
Solution:
Radius r = 20cm
n = 5 (pentagon)
Area of circumscribed polygon

180o
n
180o
= 5(20)2 tan
5

= nr2 tan

= 5 x 400 x tan 36o

= 2000 x (.726)
= 1453 sq. cm
(iii)Area of Regular Polygon of n sides when the radius of the
circumscribed circle R is given
Let, OA = R, the radius of the circumscribed circle
Area of the polygon = n area of AOB

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OA x OB
360o
Sin
2
n
o
RxR
360
= nx
Sin
2
n
2
o
nR
360
Area =
sq. unit
Sin
2
n
= nx

Perimeter
But

= n x side
= n x AB

AG
180o
Sin
OA
n
180o
AG OA Sin
n
AB = 2AG

AB
180o
=OA Sin
2
n
180o
AB = 2 OA Sin
n
Perimeter = n x AB

180o
n
180o
= n x 2 x R Sin
n
o
180
= 2n R Sin
n
= n x 2 OA Sin

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nR 2
360o
Sin
2
n
180o
P = 2n R Sin
n

A=

Example 3:
A regular polygon of 10 sides is inscribed in a circle whose radius
is 30 cm. Find the area and the perimeter of the polygon.
Solution:
We have,
R = 30cm, n = 10

nR 2
360o
Area =
Sin
2
n
10 x 30 x 30
360 o
=
Sin
2
10

= 4500 x Sin 36o

= 4500 x (.5078) = 2650 Sq. cm .

(1)

Perimeter = 2nR Sin

180
n

180o
= 2 x 10 x 30 x Sin
n
= 600 x Sin 18o
= 600 x (.31) = 186cm

(2)

Example 4:
Compare the areas of an equilateral triangle, a square and a regular
hexagon of equal perimeter.
Solution:
Let, perimeter of each figure = x

One side of equilateral triangle =

One side of square =

x
4

x
3

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One side of regular hexagon =

x
6

Area of an equilateral triangle

3 2
a
4
2
3x
=

4 3
=

3x 2
36

Area of a square

.
= a2
2

=
Area of regular hexagon

(i)

=
=
=
=

x
x
.

16
3
na 2
180o
Cot
4
n
2
6(x/6)
180o
Cot
4
6
2
6 x
x
Cot 30o
4 36
x2
( 3) .. (iii)
24
2

(ii)

Comparison of area is

3 2 x2 3 2
x : :
x
36
16 24
4
Multiplying by 2
x
3 1 3
: :
9 1 6
Multiplying by 36

4 3 :9:6 3
Example 5:
A grassy plot has the shape of a regular hexagon each side 100m.
Within the plot and along its sides a foot path is made 4m wide all
around. Find the area of the grassy plot left within.
Solution:
For inner hexagon

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Area of the regular polygon

na 2
180o
When side is given =
Cot
4
n
To find the length (side) CD, draw perpendicular CE and DF on AB.
In right angle triangle ACE

CE
tan 60o
AE
CE
AE
=
tan 60 o
4
=
1.723
AE = 2.30 = FB
FB = 2.30 similarly
Also, CD = EF = AB AE FB
= 100 2.30 2.30
CD
= 100 4.60 = 95.40m
Now,
n = 6, a = 95.40m

na 2
180o
A=
Cot
4
6
2
6(95.4)
=
x 1.723
4
A = 23644.81 Sq. meter

Exercise 12
Q1.
Q2.
Q3.
Q4.

Q5

The area of a regular octagonal room is 51 sq. m Find the length of

its side.
A regular decagon is inscribed in a circle the radius of which is
10cm. Find the area of the decagon.
Find the cross-sectional area of the largest hexagonal shank that
can be cut from a round bar of copper 2cm in diameter.
Regular polygons of 15 sides are inscribed in and circumscribed
about a circle whose radius is 12cm show that the difference of
their areas is nearly 20 square cm.
A regular octagon circumscribes a circle of 2cm radius. Find the
area of the octagon.

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Q6.

Q7.
Q8.
Q9.

Area of Polygons

The distance between the corners of a hexagonal nut is 2.28 cm.

Find the distance between the jaws of the wrench needed to fit this
nut.
Find the area of a regular hexagon whose perimeter is 48cm. What
is radius of its inscribed circle.
Find the area of a regular hexagon whose perimeter is 48cm, find
also the perimeter and area of circumscribed circle of hexagon.
What is the length of the side and area of the largest hexagon that
can be cut from 8cm. round bar.

Answers 12
Q1.
Q5.
Q7.
Q8.

3.25
Q2.
293.8 sq. cm
13.3 sq.cm
Q6. 1.97 cm
A = 166.72 sq. cm , r = 6.93cm
166.72 sq. cm, 50.28 cm, 201.14 sq. cm.

1.

The interior angle of a regular

Q3.

Q9.

2.59 sq. cm

41.569sq.cm

Summary
Polygon of n sides =
2.

2n 4
x 90o
n

Area of the regular polygon of n sides when length of a side a is

na 2
180o
give A =
Cot
Sq. Unit
n
n
3.

Perimeter = na
Area of a regular polygon of n side when the radius of the
inscribed aide r is given

180o
sq. unit
n
180o
P = 2nr tan
n
A = nr2 tan

4.

Area of regular polygon of n sides when the radius of the

circumscribed circle R is give
A=

nR 2
360o
Sq. unit
Sin
2
n

P = 2nR Sin

180o
n

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Short Questions
Q.1:

Define a polygons.

Q.2:

Define a regular polygon.

Q.3:

Define inscribed polygon (circumscribed circle).

Q.4:

Define circumscribed polygon (inscribed circle)

Q.5:

Write the formula to find the angle of a regular polygon of n sides.

Q.6:

Find the interior angle of hexagon.

Q.7:

Write the area of the regular polygon of n sides when the length of
a side is given.

Q.8:

Write the formula of area of a regular polygon of n sides when

the radius of inscribed circle r is given.

Q.9:

Write the area of regular polygon of n sides when the radius of

the circumscribed circle R is given.

Q.10: The perimeter of a regular hexagon is 12 cm, find its area

Q.11: Find the area of regular hexagon circumscribed about a circle of
radius 2 cm.

Answers
Q5.

The angle of a regular polygon of n sides is

Q6.

120o

Q10.

10.38 sq. cm.

2n -4
o
n 90 .
Q11. 6.94 sq. cm.

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Objective Type Questions

Q.1

Each questions has four possible answers. Choose the correct

answer and encircle it.
___1. A seven sided figure is called
(a)
Square (b)
octagon (c) heptagon (d) pentagon
___2. If a is the side of polygon of n sides, then its area is
(a)
(c)

na 2
180o
Cot
n
4
2
na
360o
Sin
2
n

(b)

na 2 180o
n
3

(d)

None of these

___3. Area of a regular polygon of n sides whose radius of circumscribed

circle is R is
(a)
(c)

nR 2
360o
Sin
2
n
2
R
180o
Cot
n
2

(b)

nR 2
360o
Sin
n
n

(d)

None of these

___4. Decagon have number of sides

(a)
8
(b)
9
(c)
10
_5. Area of a regular hexagon of side a is

r
4

(a)

(b)

2 2
a (c)
3

(d)

3 3 2
a (d)
4

12

2 3a 2

___6. The perimeter of a regular hexagon is 12 cm, its area is

(a)
10.932 sq. cm
(b)
10.392 cm2
(c)
10.239 sq2
(d)
10.329 cm2
___7. Each angle of an octagon is
(a)
60o
(b)
120o (c)
135o (d)
150o
___8. Area of regular octagon of side a is
(a)
4.2884 a2
(b)
4.24884 a2
2
(c)
4.8284 a
(d)
4.1884 a2
___9. A regular polygon having infinite number of sides is called
(a)
Octagon
(b)
hexagon
(c)
circle
(d)
heptagon
___10. Area of regular hexagon circumscribed about a circle of radius
2 cm is
(a)
Q.1
(6)

(1)
b

24
3
c

(b)

(2)
(7) c

20
3

(c)

36
3

Answers
a
(3)
a
(8)
c
(9)

(d)

2
3

(4) c (5)
c
(10)

c
a

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