A hexagon is a polygon having six straight sides and six angles. The word ‘hexagon’ came from the Greek word ‘hex’ meaning ‘six’ and ‘gonia’ meaning ‘corner, angle’.
When all the six sides and angles of a hexagon are equal, it is called a regular hexagon. Otherwise, it is an irregular hexagon. In our article, we deal with only regular hexagons to better understand the concepts regarding the shape.
Hexagon
Properties
Properties of a Hexagon
Has six sides of equal length; in ⎔ABCDEF, AB = BC = CD = DE = EF = FA
Has six interior angles, each measuring 120°; so ∠ABC =∠BCD = ∠CDE = ∠DEF = ∠EFA = ∠FAB = 120°
The sum of the interior angles is 720°; so ∠ABC +∠BCD + ∠CDE + ∠DEF + ∠EFA +∠FAB = 720°
Has six exterior angles, each measuring 60°
Has nine diagonals; shown as AC, AD, AE, BD, BE, BF, CE, CF, and CA
Formulas
Perimeter
The total distance covered around the edge of the hexagon. The formula is given below:
Perimeter (P) = 6s, here s = side
Find the perimeter of a regular hexagon whose each side measure 25 cm.
Solution:
As we know, Perimeter (P) = 6s, where s = 25 cm = 6 x 25 cm = 150 cm
Area
The total space enclosed by the hexagon. The formula is given below:
Area (A) = 3√3/2 x (s)2, here s = side
Find the area of a regular hexagon whose each side measures 9.9 cm
Solution:
As we know, Area (A) = 3√3/2 x (s)2, where s = 9.9 cm = 3√3/2 x 9.9 x 9.9 = 254.33 cm2
Problem: Finding the area of a regular hexagon when only the PERIMETER is known
Find the area of a regular hexagonal board whose perimeter is 30 cm
Solution:
Given, perimeter (P) of the hexagonal board = 30 cm As we know, Perimeter (P) = 6s So, 30 = 6s s = 30/6 cm = 5 cm As we know, Area (A) = 3√3/2 x (s)2 Hence, Area (A) of the hexagonal board = 3√3/2 x 5 x 5 = 64.87 cm2
Types
Regular Hexagon: All six sides are of equal length and all six angles are of equal measure. Each of the internal angles in a hexagon measure 120°. In a regular hexagon, the apothem is equal to the radius of the inscribed circle. Drawing diagonal lines between the nonadjacent vertices of a regular hexagon results in a perfect star shape known as hexagram. A regular hexagon has six lines of symmetry.
Irregular Hexagon: Does not have sides all of equal length and angles of equal measures
Convex Hexagon: Have all vertices pointing outwards and thus no internal angles are greater than 180°
Concave Hexagon: Have at least one vertex pointing inwards and thus have at least one internal angle greater than 180°
