PSAT Math : Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : How To Find An Angle In A Polygon

Octagon

In the figure above, polygon ABDFHGEC is a regular octagon. What is the measure, in degrees, of angle FHI?

Possible Answers:

45

50

30

60

40

Correct answer:

45

Explanation:

Angle FHI is the supplement of angle FHG, which is an interior angle in the octagon. When two angles are supplementary, their sum is equal to 180 degrees. If we can find the measure of each interior angle in the octagon, then we can find the supplement of angle FHG, which will give us the measure of angle FHI.

The sum of the interior angles in a regular polygon is given by the formula 180(n – 2), where n is the number of sides in the polygon. An octagon has eight sides, so the sum of the angles of the octagon is 180(8 – 2) = 180(6) = 1080 degrees. Because the octagon is regular, all of its sides and angles are congruent. Thus, the measure of each angle is equal to the sum of its angles divided by 8. Therefore, each angle in the polygon has a measure of 1080/8 = 135 degrees. This means that angle FHG has a measure of 135 degrees.

Now that we know the measure of angle FHG, we can find the measure of FHI. The sum of the measures of FHG and FHI must be 180 degrees, because the two angles form a line and are supplementary. We can write the following equation:

Measure of FHG + measure of FHI = 180

135 + measure of FHI = 180

Subtract 135 from both sides.

Measure of FHI = 45 degrees.

The answer is 45. 

Example Question #2 : Other Polygons

What is the measure of each angle in a regular octagon?

Possible Answers:

75

180

90

150

135

Correct answer:

135

Explanation:

An octagon contains six triangles, or 1080 degrees. This means with 8 angles, each angle is 135 degrees.

Example Question #3 : How To Find An Angle In A Polygon

What is the measure of each central angle of an octagon?

Possible Answers:

35

120

45

60

90

Correct answer:

45

Explanation:

There are 360 degrees and 8 angles, so dividing leaves 45 degrees per angle.

Example Question #421 : Geometry

Pentagon

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above figure.   is equilateral and Pentagon  is regular.

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By angle addition, 

 

 is an angle of a reguar pentagon, so its measure is .

 

To find , first we find .

By angle addition, 

 is an angle of a regular pentagon and has measure .

, as an angle of an equilateral triangle, has measure 

 is equilateral, so ; Pentagon  is regular, so . Therefore, , and by the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, .

The degree measures of three angles of a triangle total , so:

 

 

Since

we have 

Example Question #421 : Geometry

Pentagon  is regular. If diagonal  is drawn, which of the following describes Quadrilateral ?

Possible Answers:

Quadrilateral  is a trapezoid.

Quadrilateral  is a rectangle but not a rhombus.

Quadrilateral  is a parallelogram but neither a rectangle nor a rhombus.

Quadrilateral  is a rhombus but not a rectangle.

None of the other responses is correct.

Correct answer:

Quadrilateral  is a trapezoid.

Explanation:

The figure described is below.

Pentagon

Each of the angles of the pentagon has measure 

 is an isosceles triangle, and , so 

and

Since

,

and by the parallel postulate,

Quadrilateral  has exactly one pair of parallel sides, so it is a trapezoid. 

Example Question #1 : Other Polygons

If the following shape was going to be drawn in a circle, what is the minimum radius of the circle?

Possible Answers:

10

8

11

7

9

Sat_math_picture3


Correct answer:

7

Explanation:

IF you draw the longest diagonal across the shape, the length of it is 13.4. This means the radius must be at least 6.7. The answer is 7.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Side Of A Polygon

Heptagon

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

The above polygon has perimeter 190. Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To get the expression equivalent to the perimeter, add the lengths of the sides:

Since the perimeter is 190, we can simplify this to

and solve as follows:

Example Question #21 : Other Polygons

Heptagon

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

The perimeter of the above polygon is 225. Also, .

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information exists to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To get the expression equivalent to the perimeter, add the lengths of the sides:

Since the perimeter is 225, we can simplify this to

and, furthermore, since ,

Example Question #421 : Geometry

Regular Octagon  has sidelength 1.

Give the length of diagonal  .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The trick is to construct segments perpendicular to  from  and , calling the points of intersection  and  respectively.

Octagon_1

Each interior angle of a regular octagon measures

,

and by symmetry,  ,

so .

This makes  and   triangles.

Since their hypotenuses are sides of the octagon with length 1, then their legs - in particular,  and  - have length 

Also, since a rectangle was formed when the perpendiculars were drawn, .

The length of diagonal  is

.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Diagonal Of A Polygon

Regular Polygon  (a twelve-sided polygon, or dodecagon) has sidelength 1.

Give the length of diagonal  to the nearest tenth. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The trick is to construct segments perpendicular to  from  and , calling the points of intersection  and  respectively.

Dodecagon

Each interior angle of a regular dodecagon measures

.

Since  and  are perpendicular to , it can be shown via symmetry that they are also perpendicular to . Therefore, 

 and  both measure  

and  and  are  triangles with long legs  and . Since their hypotenuses are sides of the dodecagon and therefore have length 1, 

.

Also, since Quadrilateral  is a rectangle, .

The length of diagonal  is.

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