SAT Math : Hexagons

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Geometry

Hexagon

Archimedes High School has an unusual track in that it is shaped like a regular hexagon, as above. Each side of the hexagon measures 264 feet.

Alvin runs at a steady speed of seven miles an hour for twelve minutes, starting at point A and working his way clockwise. When he is finished, which of the following points is he closest to?

Possible Answers:

Point D 

Point E

Point B

Point C 

Point F

Correct answer:

Point E

Explanation:

Alvin runs at a rate of seven miles an hour for twelve minutes, or  hours. The distance he runs is equal to his rate multiplied by his time, so, setting in this formula:

 miles.

One mile comprises 5,280 feet, so this is equal to 

 feet

Since each side of the track measures 264 feet, this means that Alvin runs 

 sidelengths.

,

which means that Alvin runs around the track four complete times, plus four more sides of the track. Alvin stops when he is at Point E.

Example Question #2 : Hexagons

A circle with circumference  is inscribed in a regular hexagon. Give the perimeter of the hexagon.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Below is the figure referenced; note that the hexagon is divided by its diameters, and that an apothem—a perpendicular bisector from the center to one side—has been drawn.

Hexagon 3

The circle has circumference ; its radius, which coincides with the apothem of the hexagon,  is the circumference divided by :

 

The hexagon is divided into six equilateral triangles. One, , is divided by an apothem of the hexagon  - a radius of the circle - into two 30-60-90 triangles, one of which is . Since  has length 30, and it is a long leg of , then short leg  has length

 is the midpoint of , one of the six congruent sides of the hexagon, so

;

this makes the perimeter of the hexagon six times this, or 

.

Example Question #1 : Hexagons

How many diagonals are there in a regular hexagon?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A diagonal is a line segment joining two non-adjacent vertices of a polygon.  A regular hexagon has six sides and six vertices.  One vertex has three diagonals, so a hexagon would have three diagonals times six vertices, or 18 diagonals.  Divide this number by 2 to account for duplicate diagonals between two vertices. The formula for the number of vertices in a polygon is:

where .

Example Question #12 : Geometry

How many diagonals are there in a regular hexagon?

Possible Answers:

10

9

3

6

18

Correct answer:

9

Explanation:

A diagonal connects two non-consecutive vertices of a polygon.  A hexagon has six sides.  There are 3 diagonals from a single vertex, and there are 6 vertices on a hexagon, which suggests there would be 18 diagonals in a hexagon.  However, we must divide by two as half of the diagonals are common to the same vertices. Thus there are 9 unique diagonals in a hexagon. The formula for the number of diagonals of a polygon is:

where n = the number of sides in the polygon.

Thus a pentagon thas 5 diagonals.  An octagon has 20 diagonals.

Example Question #2 : Hexagons

Hexagon  is a regular hexagon with sides of length 10.  is the midpoint of . To the nearest tenth, give the length of the segment .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Below is the referenced hexagon, with some additional segments constructed.

Hexagon

Note that the segments  and  have been constructed. Along with , they form right triangle  with hypotenuse .

 is the midpoint of , so

.

 has been divided by drawing the perpendicular from  to the segment and calling the point of intersection .  is a 30-60-90 triangle with hypotenuse , short leg , and long leg , so by the 30-60-90 Triangle Theorem,

and 

For the same reason, , so

 

By the Pythagorean Theorem,

 when rounded to the nearest tenth.

Example Question #2 : Hexagons

Hexagon 2

The provided image represents a track in the shape of a regular hexagon with perimeter one fourth of a mile.

Teresa starts at Point A and runs clockwise until she gets halfway between Point E and Point F. How far does she run, in feet?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

One mile is equal to 5,280 feet; one fourth of a mile is equal to

 

Each of the six congruent sides measures one sixth of this, or 

Teresa runs clockwise from Point A to halfway between Point E and Point F, so she runs along four and one half sides, for a total of

 

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

Hexagon1

Possible Answers:

210

190

200

180

170

Correct answer:

190

Explanation:

Hexagon2Hexagon3

Example Question #1 : Hexagons

If a triangle has 180 degrees, what is the sum of the interior angles of a regular octagon?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon is given by  where  = number of sides of the polygon.  An octagon has 8 sides, so the formula becomes

Example Question #1 : Hexagons

Find the sum of all the inner angles in a hexagon.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve, simply use the formula to find the total degrees inside a polygon, where n is the number of vertices.

In this particular case, a hexagon means a shape with six sides and thus six vertices.

Thus,

Example Question #22 : Geometry

An equilateral triangle with side length  has one of its vertices at the center of a regular hexagon, and the side opposite that vertex is one of the sides of the hexagon. What is the hexagon's area?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Because it can be split into two triangles, the area of an equilateral triangle can be expressed as...

With that in mind, the equilateral triangle in question has area of .

Now consider that a regular hexagon can be split into six congruent equilateral triangles with a vertex at the center and the side opposite the center as one of the hexagon's sides (a handy way of finding a hexagon's area if you can't use the regular polygon formula requiring an apothem.) Knowing that, our answer is .

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