The number of diagonals of any (convex) polygon is, where "n" is the number of sides (vertices). So, they ask you to find "n" from the equation = 44. Simplify and solve for "n" : n*(n-3) = 44*2 = 88 n^2 - 3n - 88 = 0 (n-11)*(n+8) = 0 Of the two roots, n= 11 and n= -8, only positive root n= 11 is meaningful solution to the problem. ANSWER. n = 11. The number of sides and vertices is 11.