PSAT Math : Plane Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Hexagon

What is the measurement of one of the interior angles of a regular hexagon?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the sum of the interior angles of any regular polygon, use the formula , where  represents the number of sides of the regular polygon.

The sum of the interior angles of a regular hexagon is 720 degrees. To find the measurement of one angle, divide by the number of interior angles (or sides):

The measurement of one angle in a regular hexagon is 120 degrees.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Area Of A Hexagon

Calculate the approximate area a regular hexagon with the following side length:

Possible Answers:

Cannot be determined 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

How do you find the area of a hexagon?

There are several ways to find the area of a hexagon.

  1. In a regular hexagon, split the figure into triangles.
  2. Find the area of one triangle.
  3. Multiply this value by six.

Alternatively, the area can be found by calculating one-half of the side length times the apothem.

 

Regular hexagons:

Regular hexagons are interesting polygons. Hexagons are six sided figures and possess the following shape:

In a regular hexagon, all sides equal the same length and all interior angles have the same measure; therefore, we can write the following expression.

 

One of the easiest methods that can be used to find the area of a polygon is to split the figure into triangles. Let's start by splitting the hexagon into six triangles. 

Screen shot 2016 07 06 at 2.09.44 pm

In this figure, the center point, , is equidistant from all of the vertices. As a result, the six dotted lines within the hexagon are the same length. Likewise, all of the triangles within the hexagon are congruent by the side-side-side rule: each of the triangle's share two sides inside the hexagon as well as a base side that makes up the perimeter of the hexagon. In a similar fashion, each of the triangles have the same angles. There are  in a circle and the hexagon in our image has separated it into six equal parts; therefore, we can write the following:

Screen shot 2016 07 06 at 2.27.41 pm

We also know the following:

Now, let's look at each of the triangles in the hexagon. We know that each triangle has two two sides that are equal; therefore, each of the base angles of each triangle must be the same. We know that a triangle has  and we can solve for the two base angles of each triangle using this information.

Each angle in the triangle equals . We now know that all the triangles are congruent and equilateral: each triangle has three equal side lengths and three equal angles. Now, we can use this vital information to solve for the hexagon's area. If we find the area of one of the triangles, then we can multiply it by six in order to calculate the area of the entire figure. Let's start by analyzing . If we draw, an altitude through the triangle, then we find that we create two  triangles. 

Screen shot 2016 07 06 at 2.27.10 pm

Let's solve for the length of this triangle. Remember that in  triangles, triangles possess side lengths in the following ratio:

Now, we can analyze  using the a substitute variable for side length, .

Screen shot 2016 07 06 at 3.01.03 pm

We know the measure of both the base and height of  and we can solve for its area.

Now, we need to multiply this by six in order to find the area of the entire hexagon.

We have solved for the area of a regular hexagon with side length, . If we know the side length of a regular hexagon, then we can solve for the area.

If we are not given a regular hexagon, then we an solve for the area of the hexagon by using the side length(i.e. ) and apothem (i.e. ), which is the length of a line drawn from the center of the polygon to the right angle of any side. This is denoted by the variable  in the following figure:

Screen shot 2016 07 06 at 3.17.05 pm

 

Alternative method:

If we are given the variables  and , then we can solve for the area of the hexagon through the following formula:

In this equation,  is the area,  is the perimeter, and  is the apothem. We must calculate the perimeter using the side length and the equation , where  is the side length.

 

Solution:

In the given problem we know that the side length of a regular hexagon is the following:

Let's substitute this value into the area formula for a regular hexagon and solve.

Simplify.

Round the answer to the nearest whole number.

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Pentagon

What is the measure, in degrees, of one interior angle of a regular pentagon?

Possible Answers:

108

120

72

180

144

Correct answer:

108

Explanation:

The formula for the sum of the interior angles of any regular polygon is as follows:

where  is equal to the number of sides of the regular polygon.

Therefore, the sum of the interior angles for a regular pentagon is:

To find the measure of one interior angle of a regular pentagon, simply divide by the number of sides (or number of interior angles):

The measure of one interior angle of a regular pentagon is 108 degrees.

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Pentagon

Pentagon_1

 

Refer to the above figure, which shows Square   and regular Pentagon .

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By angle addition,

 

 is one of two acute angles of isosceles right triangle , so .

 

To find  we examine .

 is an angle of a regular pentagon and has measure .

Also, since, in , sides , by the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, 

Since the angles of a triangle must total  in measure, 

 

Example Question #591 : Geometry

Pythagoras

Refer to the above figure. You are given that  and . Which of the following statements would be sufficient to prove that  is a right angle, given what is already known?

I) 

II)  and  are both acute

III)  is a right angle

Possible Answers:

I, II, and III

None of these

I and II only

II and III only

I and III only

Correct answer:

I and III only

Explanation:

If , then  has short sides  and long side . Since

,

then, by the converse of the Pythagorean Theorem,  is a right triangle with right angle . Statement I is sufficient.

 

If  and  are both acute,we know nothing about ; every triangle has at least two acute angles regardless of type. Statement II tells us nothing.

 

 and  form a linear pair and are therefore supplementary. If one is a right angle, so is the other. Therefore, if   is a right angle, so is . Statement III is sufficient.

 

The correct response is Statement I and III only.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Angle Of Two Lines

Thingy_5

Note: 

Refer to the above diagram.  and which other angle form a pair of corresponding angles?

Possible Answers:

 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Two angles formed by a transversal line crossing two other lines are corresponding angles if, relative to the points of intersection, they are in the same position.  is formed by the intersection of transversal  and ; the angle in the same relative position where  intersects  is .

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Angle Of Two Lines

Thingy_5

Refer to the above diagram.  and which other angle form a pair of alternate interior angles?

Possible Answers:

 

Correct answer:

 

Explanation:

Two angles formed by a transversal line crossing two other lines are alternate interior angles if:

I) Both angles have their interiors between the lines crossed

II) The angles have their interiors on the opposite sides of the transversal.

Of the given choices, only  fits the description; the interior of each is between  and , and the interiors are on the opposite sides of .

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Angle Of Two Lines

Thingy_5

Refer to the above diagram. 

 and which other angle form a pair of vertical angles?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Two angles are vertical angles if they share a vertex, anf if their union is a pair of intersecting lines. Of the five choices, only  fits both descriptions with .

Example Question #591 : Psat Mathematics

Thingy

Refer to the above figure.

Which of the following segments is a diagonal of Pentagon  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A diagonal of a polygon is a segment whose endpoints are nonconsecutive vertices of the polygon. Of the five choices, only  fits this description.

Example Question #1 : Rhombuses

If the area of a rhombus is 24 and one diagonal length is 6, find the perimeter of the rhombus.

Possible Answers:

24

20

16

8

12

Correct answer:

20

Explanation:

The area of a rhombus is found by

A = 1/2(d1)(d2)

where d1 and d2 are the lengths of the diagonals.  Substituting for the given values yields

24 = 1/2(d1)(6)

24 = 3(d1)

8 = d1

Now, use the facts that diagonals are perpendicular in a rhombus, diagonals bisect each other in a rhombus, and the Pythagorean Theorem to determine that the two diagonals form 4 right triangles with leg lengths of 3 and 4.  Since 32 + 42 = 52, each side length is 5, so the perimeter is 5(4) = 20.

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