SOLUTION: What are the angles and length of each side of a hexagon with diameter 36 inches?

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Question 17719: What are the angles and length of each side of a hexagon with diameter 36 inches?
Answer by xcentaur(357) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

   F ____E
    /\  /\
  A/__\/__\D
   \  /\  /
    \/__\/
    B    C

Length AD=36 inches
Let the point of intersection of all the lines in the centre be O


Now,AO=OD=1/2 of AD
Then AO=(1/2)36=18 inches
Similarly,AO=BO=CO=DO=EO=FO


For a polygon with 'n' sides,the exterior angle is given by the formula:
Ext=360%2Fn
For a hexagon,exterior angle=360/6=60 degrees
Therefore the interior angle is given by:
Int=180-Ext
Hence for a hexagon,interior angle is 180-60=120 degrees.


Therefore the angles for the hexagon is 120 degrees


Hence angle ABC=BCD=CDE and so on for all the angles for the hexagon.
Then angle ABO=angle OBC=half of angle ABC
So angle ABO=(1/2)120=60 degrees


Now look at triangle AOB


    O
    /\
   /  \
  A----B

Here,AO is equal to BO (proved earlier)
and angle ABO is 60 degrees.
Angle OAB is also 60 degrees (proved above)


Now the angle at the center O is 360 degrees,divided into 6 parts.
Hence each part is 60 degrees.
This means angle AOB=60 degrees


Then in triangle AOB,all three angles are 60 degrees.
It is an equilateral triangle with all equal angles,hence all its sides are also equal.
We know sides OA=OB.
Then side AB will also be equal to AO and OB
Therefore AB=18 inches.
This is the length of the side of the hexagon=18 inches


Angle=120 degrees,Side=18 inches


Hope this helps,
Prabhat