Intermediate Geometry : How to find the length of the side of a hexagon

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Intermediate Geometry

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Example Questions

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Example Question #11 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Hexagon

Find the length of a side of a regular hexagon that has its center at .

9

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a regular hexagon; therefore, when we draw in the diagonals, we will create  identical equilateral triangles as shown by the figure:

13

Now, the given line segment also serves as the height to the newly created equilateral triangles. This height also splits an equilateral triangle into two congruent  triangles.

Recall that  triangles have side lengths that are in the ratio of .

Substitute in the given height into the ratio in order to find the length of the base of the  triangle.

Substitute.

Solve.

The length of the side of the hexagon is twice the length of the base.

Substitute in the value of the length of the base to find the side length of the hexagon.

Solve.

Example Question #12 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Hexagon

Find the length of a side of a regular hexagon that has its center at .

10

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a regular hexagon; therefore, when we draw in the diagonals, we will create  identical equilateral triangles as shown by the figure:

13

Now, the given line segment also serves as the height to the newly created equilateral triangles. This height also splits an equilateral triangle into two congruent  triangles.

Recall that  triangles have side lengths that are in the ratio of .

Substitute in the given height into the ratio in order to find the length of the base of the  triangle.

Substitute. 

Solve.

The length of the side of the hexagon is twice the length of the base.

Substitute in the value of the length of the base to find the side length of the hexagon.

Solve.

Example Question #13 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Hexagon

Find the length of a side of a regular hexagon that has its center at .

11

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a regular hexagon; therefore, when we draw in the diagonals, we will create  identical equilateral triangles as shown by the figure:

13

Now, the given line segment also serves as the height to the newly created equilateral triangles. This height also splits an equilateral triangle into two congruent  triangles.

Recall that  triangles have side lengths that are in the ratio of .

Substitute in the given height into the ratio in order to find the length of the base of the  triangle.

Substitute.

Solve.

The length of the side of the hexagon is twice the length of the base.

Substitute in the value of the length of the base to find the side length of the hexagon.

Solve.

Example Question #14 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Hexagon

Find the length of a side of a regular hexagon that has its center at .

12

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a regular hexagon; therefore, when we draw in the diagonals, we will create  identical equilateral triangles as shown by the figure:

13

Now, the given line segment also serves as the height to the newly created equilateral triangles. This height also splits an equilateral triangle into two congruent  triangles.

Recall that  triangles have side lengths that are in the ratio of .

Substitute in the given height into the ratio in order to find the length of the base of the  triangle.

Substitute.

Solve.

The length of the side of the hexagon is twice the length of the base.

Substitute in the value of the length of the base to find the side length of the hexagon.

Solve.

Example Question #15 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Hexagon

Find the length of a side of a regular hexagon that has its center at .

2

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a regular hexagon; therefore, when we draw in the diagonals, we will create  identical equilateral triangles as shown by the figure:

13

Now, the given line segment also serves as the height to the newly created equilateral triangles. This height also splits an equilateral triangle into two congruent  triangles.

Recall that  triangles have side lengths that are in the ratio of .

Substitute in the given height into the ratio in order to find the length of the base of the  triangle.

Substitute.

Solve.

The length of the side of the hexagon is twice the length of the base.

Substitute in the value of the length of the base to find the side length of the hexagon.

Solve.

Example Question #16 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Hexagon

Find the length of a side of a regular hexagon that has its center at .

3

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a regular hexagon; therefore, when we draw in the diagonals, we will create  identical equilateral triangles as shown by the figure:

13

Now, the given line segment also serves as the height to the newly created equilateral triangles. This height also splits an equilateral triangle into two congruent  triangles.

Recall that  triangles have side lengths that are in the ratio of .

Substitute in the given height into the ratio in order to find the length of the base of the  triangle.

Substitute.

Solve.

The length of the side of the hexagon is twice the length of the base.

Substitute in the value of the length of the base to find the side length of the hexagon.

Solve.

Example Question #17 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Hexagon

Find the length of a side of a regular hexagon that has its center at .

4

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a regular hexagon; therefore, when we draw in the diagonals, we will create  identical equilateral triangles as shown by the figure:

13

Now, the given line segment also serves as the height to the newly created equilateral triangles. This height also splits an equilateral triangle into two congruent  triangles.

Recall that  triangles have side lengths that are in the ratio of .

Substitute in the given height into the ratio in order to find the length of the base of the  triangle.

Substitute.

Solve.

The length of the side of the hexagon is twice the length of the base.

Substitute in the value of the length of the base to find the side length of the hexagon.

Solve.

Example Question #18 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Hexagon

Given: Regular Hexagon  with center . Construct segments  and  to form Quadrilateral .

True or false: Quadrilateral  is a rhombus.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

Below is regular Hexagon  with center , a segment drawn from  to each vertex - that is, each of its radii drawn.

Hexagon 2

Each angle of a regular hexagon measures ; by symmetry, each radius bisects an angle of the hexagon, so 

.

Also, each central angle is one sixth of a complete circle, so  .

This makes  and  equilateral triangles. Therefore, 

and

By transitivity, 

.

Quadrilateral  has four sides of equal length and is consequently a rhombus.

Example Question #81 : Hexagons

Five sides of a hexagon are known to have length 10; the perimeter of the pentagon is 60.

True, false, or undetermined: The hexagon is regular.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Undetermined

Correct answer:

Undetermined

Explanation:

If the hexagon has perimeter 60, and five of its sides are known to have length 10, then the length of its sixth side is

.

All six  sides are of the same length, so the hexagon is equilateral. However, for the hexagon to be regular, it must hold that all six angles are of the same measure as well - that is, it must also be equiangular. However, an equilateral hexagon may or may not be equiangular, as seen by the figures below; both are equilateral hexagons, but only the left one is equiangular.

Hexagons

Therefore, the question of whether the hexagon is regular cannot be answered without further information.

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