All PSAT Math Resources
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?
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:
Cannot be determined
How do you find the area of a hexagon?
There are several ways to find the area of a hexagon.
- In a regular hexagon, split the figure into triangles.
- Find the area of one triangle.
- 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.
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:
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.
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, .
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:
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?
108
120
72
180
144
108
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
Refer to the above figure, which shows Square and regular Pentagon .
Evaluate .
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
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
I, II, and III
None of these
I and II only
II and III only
I and III only
I and III only
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
Note:
Refer to the above diagram. and which other angle form a pair of corresponding angles?
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
Refer to the above diagram. and which other angle form a pair of alternate interior angles?
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
Refer to the above diagram.
and which other angle form a pair of vertical angles?
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
Refer to the above figure.
Which of the following segments is a diagonal of Pentagon ?
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.
24
20
16
8
12
20
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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