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Polygons and

polyhedra

11
Val and Peter want to
replace their front gate with
another of the same design.
What shapes are formed by
the metal bars of the gate?
To have this gate made,
they need to supply a
diagram of it with all
measurements and angles
shown. In this chapter, you
will look at different shapes
and their properties,
including angles.

422

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

Introduction
The world around you is filled with many different shapes and objects. The roof of this
house in Falls Creek is shaped as a triangle when viewed from the front. This lets the
winter snow slide off the roof.

Dice are shaped as cubes so that each


of the 6 numbers are equally likely to
appear on the uppermost face.

This soccer ball is made up of five-sided and


six-sided shapes that almost form a sphere
which can be rolled and kicked along the
ground.
As you learn about the properties of
shapes and objects you will understand
how and why they are used in the world
around you.
In this chapter you will learn the
names and properties of many common
2-dimensional shapes, called polygons, and
3-dimensional objects, called polyhedra. You
will also learn to construct 3-dimensional
objects and draw them on a page.

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

423

Types of triangles
The word triangle means 3 angles. Every triangle has 3 angles and 3 sides.
Capital letters of the English alphabet at the
vertices of triangles can be used to identify
B
triangles. When identifying triangles, the vertices
are listed in either a clockwise or anticlockwise
direction, beginning with any vertex. Instead of
the word triangle the symbol L is used.
For example, the triangle shown at right can be
A
C
referred to as LABC. However, it would be
equally appropriate to name it LBCA, LCAB,
LACB, LBAC or LCBA.
Triangles can be classified according to the length of their sides or the size of their
angles.

Classifying triangles according to the length of their


sides
An equilateral triangle has all sides equal in length.
Note that identical marks on the sides of a triangle are used
to indicate that the sides have the same length. The angles of
an equilateral triangle are equal in size. This is shown by
placing identical curves on each angle.

An isosceles triangle has 2 sides of equal length.


The side of the isosceles triangle that has a different length,
is often called the base of the triangle. The angles adjacent to
the base of the isosceles triangle are equal in size. On the
diagram at right, the side markings show the 2 sides that are
equal and the angle markings show the 2 angles that are equal.

A scalene triangle has no equal sides.


The different side markings on the diagram show that
the 3 sides have different lengths. A scalene triangle has
all 3 angles of different size. This is shown by different
angle markings.

424

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

WORKED Example 1
Classify each of these triangles according to the lengths of their sides.
a
b
c
N
R
B

S
A

THINK

WRITE

a Sides AB and AC have identical


markings on them, which indicates that
they are of equal length. So LABC has
2 equal sides. Classify it accordingly.

a LABC is an isosceles triangle.

b The 3 sides of LMNP have identical


markings on them, which means that all
3 sides are equal in length. Classify this
triangle.

b LMNP is an equilateral triangle.

c All 3 sides of LPRS are marked


differently. Therefore, no sides in this
triangle are equal in length. Use this
information to classify the triangle.

c LPRS is a scalene triangle.

Classifying triangles according to the size of their angles


A right-angled triangle has one of its angles equal to 90
(that is, one of its angles is a right angle).
On the diagram, putting a small square in the corner marks the right
angle.
An acute-angled triangle has all angles smaller than 90
(that is, all 3 angles are acute).

An obtuse-angled triangle has 1 angle greater than 90


(that is, one angle is obtuse).

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

425

WORKED Example 2
Classify each of the triangles in worked example 1 according to the size of their angles.
THINK

WRITE

a In LABC, CAB is marked as the right


angle, so classify it accordingly.

a LABC is a right-angled triangle.

b In LMNP all angles are less than 90,


so classify this triangle.

b LMNP is an acute-angled triangle.

c In LPRS, PRS is greater than 90;


that is, it is obtuse. Use this information
to classify the triangle.

c LPRS is an obtuse-angled triangle.

remember
remember
1. According to the lengths of the sides, a triangle can be classified as being:
(a) equilateral (3 equal sides)
(b) isosceles (2 equal sides)
(c) scalene (no equal sides).
2. A triangle can be classified according to the angle size, as being:
(a) acute-angled (all 3 angles are acute)
(b) right-angled (1 angle is a right angle)
(c) obtuse-angled (1 angle is obtuse).

11A
WORKED

Example

Types of triangles

1 Classify each of these triangles according to the lengths of their sides.


a
b
c

11.1

Classifying
triangles
(sides)

426
WORKED

Example

Classifying
triangles
(angles)

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

2 Classify each of the triangles in question 1 according to the size of their angles.

3 Add side and angle markings to these diagrams to show that:


V
a
b
S

U
R

LRST is an equilateral triangle


c

LUVW is an isosceles triangle


d

LPQR is a scalene triangle


e

LMNP is a right-angled triangle


f

O
A

LABC is a right-angled and


isosceles triangle

LMNO is a right-angled and


scalene triangle.

4 multiple choice
a Which of these triangles is an equilateral triangle?
A
B

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

b Which of these triangles is not a scalene triangle?


A

5 multiple choice
a Which of these triangles is both right-angled and scalene?
A

b Which of these triangles is both acute-angled and isosceles?


A

427

428

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

6 What types of triangles can you see


in this picture?
7 Write down 3 acute triangles you can
see around you.
8 Find one example in your classroom
or home of each of the 6 types of
triangles described in this chapter.
Describe clearly where the triangle
occurs, draw the triangle and classify
it according to both side and angle
types.
9 In the picture at right:
a how many equilateral triangles can you find?
b how many right-angled triangles can you find?
c how many isosceles triangles can you find?

QUEST

GE

EN

MAT H

10 Use your ruler, pencil and protractor to accurately draw:


a an equilateral triangle with side lengths 6 cm and all angles 60
b an isosceles triangle with two sides which are 6 cm each with a 40 angle between
them
c a right-angled triangle whose two short sides are 6 cm and 8 cm.
How long is the longer side?
d a scalene triangle with two of the sides measuring 4 cm and 5 cm and an angle of
70 between the two sides.

CH

AL

1 How many triangles can you find in these shapes?


a
b

2 How many triangles can you find in these shapes?


a
b

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

429

Angles in a triangle
Sum of angles in a triangle
You will need: a ruler and a protractor.
1. Draw an acute-angled triangle in your workbook.
2. Use a protractor to measure each of the 3 angles.
3. Find the sum of the 3 angles.
4. Draw up a table like the one shown below and write in your results.

Triangle

First angle

Second
angle

Third angle

Sum of
angles

1. Acute-angled
2. Obtuse-angled
3. Right-angled
4. Isosceles
5. Scalene

5. Repeat steps 13 for the 4 other triangles in the table.


Angle sum
of a
triangle

6. Write down any patterns that you have observed in relation to the sum of the
angles in a triangle.

As a result of this investigation you should have discovered the rule that is stated below.
It can be shown that the sum of the 3 angles in any
triangle is equal to 180.

In the triangle at right, a + b + c = 180 where the


3 angles of the triangle are a, b and c

This rule can be used to find missing angles in triangles, as shown in the following
examples.

430

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

WORKED Example 3
Find the value of the pronumeral in this triangle.
35

THINK
1

2
3

The sum of the 3 angles (b, 35 and


58) must be 180. Write this as an
equation.
Simplify by adding 35 and 58
together.
Use inspection or backtracking to solve
for b.

58

WRITE

b + 35 + 58 = 180
b + 93 = 180
b = 180 93
b = 87

+ 93

b + 93

87

180
93

In the previous section it was discussed that the angles at the base of an
isosceles triangle are equal in size. Worked examples 4 and 5 illustrate the use of
this property.

WORKED Example 4
Find the value of the pronumeral in the following triangle.

B
h
A

74

THINK
1

2
3
4

The markings on the diagram indicate


that LABC is isosceles with AB = BC.
Therefore, the angles at the base are
equal in size; that is, BCA = BAC =
74.
All 3 angles in a triangle must add up to
180.
Simplify.
Solve for h.

WRITE

BAC = 74

ABC + BAC + BCA = 180


h + 74 + 74 = 180
h + 148 = 180
h = 180 148
h = 32

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

431

WORKED Example 5
Find the value of the pronumeral in the following triangle.

N
40

a
M

THINK

WRITE

From the diagram we can see that


LMNP is isosceles with MN = NP.
Hence, NPM = NMP = a.

NPM = a

Form an equation by putting the sum of


the angles on one side and 180 on the
other side of the equals sign.

NMP + NPM + MNP = 180


a + a + 40 = 180

Simplify by collecting like terms.

Use inspection or backtracking to solve


for a.
2

+ 40

2a

2a + 40

70

140

180

2a + 40 = 180
2a = 180 40
2a = 140
140
a = ----------2
a = 70

40

Interior and exterior angles of a triangle


The angles inside a triangle are called interior angles. If any side of a triangle is
extended outwards, the angle formed is called an exterior angle. The exterior angle and
the interior angle adjacent to it are supplementary and therefore add up to 180.
interior
angles

B
exterior
angles

Interior angle
Exterior angle

C
HACB + HBCD = 180

MQ Vic 7 fig 11-55

432

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

WORKED Example 6

Find the value of the pronumerals in the diagram at right.

THINK
1

WRITE

BAC (angle p) together with its


adjacent exterior angle (DAB) add up
to 180. Furthermore, DAB = 125.
So form an equation and solve for p.

The interior angles of LABC add up to


180. Identify the values of the angles
and form an equation.

Simplify by adding 83 and 55 and


then solve for n.

125 p
A

83
C

BAC = p; DAB = 125;


BAC + DAB = 180
So p + 125 = 180.
p = 180 125
p = 55
BCA + BAC + ABC = 180
BCA = 83 BAC = p = 55
ABC = n
So 83 + 55 + n = 180.
n + 138 = 180
n = 180 138
n = 42

remember
remember
1. The sum of the interior angles in any triangle is equal to 180.
2. The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal in size.
3. An exterior angle of a triangle, and an interior angle adjacent to it, are
supplementary (that is, add up to 180).

11B
11.2

WORKED

Example

Angles in a triangle

1 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following triangles.


a
b
c
96
g

Angle sum
of a triangle

30

55

25

40

68

e
60

f
33

30
54

Triangles
k

60

60

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

433

2 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following right-angled triangles.
a
b
c
45

40

25
d

b
WORKED

Example

3 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following triangles.


a
b
c
64
c

52

55

WORKED

Example

4 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following triangles.


a
b
c
u
k

28

48

f
57

32

70

5 Find the missing angle in each of the following diagrams.


a

b
70

60
p

434

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

d
p

62
50

100

6 a
b
c
d
WORKED

Example

62

An isosceles triangle has 2 angles of 55 each. Find the size of the third angle.
An isosceles triangle has 2 angles of 12 each. Find the size of the third angle.
Two angles of a triangle are 55 and 75 respectively. Find the third angle.
Two angles of a triangle are 48 and 68 respectively. Find the third angle.

7 Find the value of the pronumerals in each of the following diagrams.


a
b
n

b
158

130 p

130

60

125

50

s
y

130

f
b
26

55
34

72

120

56

8 a Use a ruler and a protractor to construct each of the following triangles.


i An isosceles triangle with a base of 4 cm and equal angles of 50 each.
ii An isosceles triangle with two sides which are 5 cm each and two equal angles
which are 45 each.
b On your diagrams label the size of each angle. Classify the triangles according to
the size of their angles.

11.1

9 Below are sets of 3 angles. For each set state whether or not it is possible to construct
a triangle with these angles. Give a reason for your answer.
a 40, 40, 100
b 45, 60, 70
c 45, 55, 85
d 111, 34.5, 34.5
10 Explain in your own words why it is impossible to construct a triangle with 2 obtuse angles.

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

435

1
1 Name the triangle shown at right based on
the length of the sides.
2 Name the triangle in question 1 based on the size of its angles.
3 A triangle has angles of 35 and 76. Find the third angle.
4 One angle of a right-angled triangle is 37. Find the third angle.
In questions 5 to 9, find the missing angle in each triangle.
5

6
72

38

48
a

57
j

64
y
22
118

10 Find the missing angle shown in the photograph.

41

436

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

Types of quadrilaterals
Any 2-dimensional closed shape with 4 straight sides is called a quadrilateral. Quadmeans four, as in quadruplets (four babies), or quadriplegic (paralysed in all four
limbs). Lateral means sides, as in lateral movement (sideways movement) or lateral
thinking (thinking sideways, or around, a problem).
All quadrilaterals can be divided into 2 major groups: parallelograms and other
quadrilaterals.

Parallelograms are quadrilaterals with both pairs of opposite sides being parallel
to each other. Parallelograms include rectangles, squares and rhombuses
(diamonds).

The table below shows different parallelograms and their properties. Note that
parallel sides are marked with identical arrows.

Parallelogram

Shape

Properties

Parallelogram

Opposite sides are equal in


length.
Opposite angles are equal in size.

Rectangle

Opposite sides are equal in


length.
All angles are the same and
equal to 90.

Rhombus

All sides are equal in length.


Opposite angles are equal in size.

Square

All sides are equal in length.


All angles are the same and
equal to 90.

Quadrilaterals

Rectangles

Rhombuses

Squares

Other quadrilaterals include trapeziums, kites and irregular quadrilaterals. The


following table shows properties of these shapes.

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

Other
quadrilaterals

Shape

437

Properties

Trapezium

One pair of opposite sides is parallel.

Kite

Two pairs of adjacent (next to each other)


sides are equal in length.
One pair of opposite angles (the ones that
are between the sides of unequal
length) are equal.

Irregular
quadrilateral

This shape does not have any special


properties.

WORKED Example 7
Name the following quadrilaterals, giving reasons for your answers.
a
b

THINK

WRITE

a The markings on this quadrilateral


indicate that all sides are equal in length
and all angles equal 90. Classify the
quadrilateral by finding the matching
description in the table.

a The given quadrilateral is a square, since all


sides are equal and all angles are 90.

b The arrows on the sides of this


quadrilateral indicate that there are 2
pairs of parallel sides. Find the matching
description in the table and hence name
the quadrilateral.

b The given quadrilateral is a parallelogram,


since it has 2 pairs of parallel sides.

remember
remember
1. A quadrilateral is a 2-dimensional closed shape with 4 straight sides.
2. All quadrilaterals can be divided into 2 major groups: parallelograms and other
quadrilaterals.
3. Parallelograms have 2 pairs of parallel sides and include rectangles, squares
and rhombuses.
4. Other quadrilaterals include trapeziums, kites and irregular quadrilaterals.

438

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

11C

Types of quadrilaterals

1 Name the following quadrilaterals, giving reasons for your answers.


a
b
c
7

WORKED

Example

Quadrilaterals

Rectangles

Rhombuses

Squares

2 multiple choice
a

This quadrilateral is a:
A square
B rectangle
D rhombus
E parallelogram

This quadrilateral is a:
A trapezium B parallelogram
D irregular quadrilateral

This quadrilateral is a:
A trapezium B square
C irregular quadrilateral
E parallelogram

3 State whether each of the following statements is true or false.


a All squares are rectangles.
b All squares are rhombuses.
c All rectangles are squares.
d Any rhombus with at least one right angle is a square.
e A rectangle is a parallelogram with at least one angle equal to 90.
f A trapezium with 2 adjacent right angles is a rectangle.
g All rhombuses are kites.
h A kite could be a parallelogram.

C kite

C rhombus
E kite

D kite

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

439

4 multiple choice
A rectangle is a quadrilateral because:
A it has 4 right angles
B it has 2 pairs of parallel sides
C its opposite sides are equal in length
D it has 4 straight sides
E it has 2 pairs of parallel sides and 4 right angles.
5 Draw 4 equilateral triangles with side lengths 4 cm and cut them out.
a Use 2 of these triangles to make a rhombus. Draw your solution.
b Use 3 of these triangles to make a trapezium. Draw your solution.
c Use all 4 triangles to make a parallelogram. Draw your solution.
6 Copy and cut out the following set of shapes.
Arrange the shapes to form a square.
Draw your solution.

7 State the types of quadrilaterals that can be seen in each of the following pictures.
a

8 In your house, find an example of each type of quadrilateral discussed in this section.
Write down the type of quadrilateral and where you found it.
9 The picture at right is made up of equilateral triangles.
How many rhombuses can you find in the picture?
(One rhombus that is made up of 2 triangles is shown.)

440

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

Angles in a quadrilateral
Sum of angles in a quadrilateral
You will need a ruler and a protractor.
1. Draw an irregular quadrilateral in your workbook.
2. Measure each of the 4 angles using a protractor.
3. Find the sum of the 4 angles.
4. Record your results for the irregular quadrilateral into the table below.

Quadrilateral

First
angle

Second
angle

Third
angle

Fourth
angle

Sum of
angles

Irregular
quadrilateral
Trapeziums

Parallelogram
Trapezium
Kite

Parallelograms

Kites

Square

5. Repeat steps 14 for each of the other quadrilaterals in the table.


6. Study your results and write any patterns that you have noticed, regarding the
sum of angles in a quadrilateral.
As a result of your investigation you should have discovered the rule that is stated
below.
c

Angle sum in a
quadrilateral

The sum of the angles in any quadrilateral is 360.


In the quadrilateral at right
a + b + c + d = 360

This can be easily demonstrated.


C
B
x
y
In quadrilateral ABCD shown above,
t
the diagonal BD has been drawn. This
diagonal divides the quadrilateral into 2 triangles:
triangle ABD and triangle BCD.
z
s
u
In triangle ABD: s + t + u = 180.
A
D
In triangle BCD: z + x + y = 180.
So in both triangles together s + t + u + z + x + y = 180 + 180
or
s + t + u + x + y + z = 360.
[1]
On the other hand, in the quadrilateral ABCD: DAB = s; ABC = t + x;
BCD = y and CDA = u + z.

441

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

And so DAB + ABC + BCD + CDA = s + t + x + y + u + z.


That is, s + t + u + x + y + z = sum of angles in the quadrilateral.

[2]

Placing the two results next to each other, we have:


s + t + u + x + y + z = 360
s + t + u + x + y + z = sum of angles in the quadrilateral.

[1]
[2]

Comparing [1] and [2] we observe that the left-hand sides of both equations are the
same. Therefore, the right-hand sides of the equations must also be equal and so the
sum of angles in a quadrilateral = 360.
We can use this rule to find missing angles in quadrilaterals, as shown in the
examples that follow.

WORKED Example 8
Find the value of the pronumeral in the diagram at right.

120
80
75

THINK
1
2
3

The sum of the angles in a quadrilateral


is 360. So express this as an equation.
Simplify by adding 120, 80 and 75.
Solve to find the value of b.

WRITE
b + 80 + 75 + 120 = 360
b + 275 = 360
b = 360 275
b = 85

WORKED Example 9
Find the value of the pronumeral in the following
diagram, giving a reason for your answer.

72

THINK

WRITE

According to the markings, the opposite


sides of the given quadrilateral are parallel
and equal in length. Therefore, this
quadrilateral is a parallelogram. In a
parallelogram opposite angles are equal. So
state the value of the pronumeral.

Opposite angles in a parallelogram are equal in


size. Therefore, x = 72.

442

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

WORKED Example 10
Find the value of the pronumerals in the following diagram.
THINK
1

3
4
5

50

WRITE

136

k + t + 50 + 136 = 360

Form an equation by writing the sum of


the angles on one side and 360 on the
other side of an equals sign.
The quadrilateral shown in the diagram
is a kite. Angle t and angle 136 are the
angles between unequal sides and
therefore must be equal in size.
Replace t in the equation with 136.
Simplify.
Solve to find the value of k.

t = 136

k + 136 + 50 + 136 = 360


k + 322 = 360
k = 360 322
k = 38

remember
remember
The sum of angles in any quadrilateral is equal to 360.

11D
WORKED

Example

8
Angle sum in a
quadrilateral

Angles in a quadrilateral

1 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following


diagrams.
a
b
c
t
42
115
110

42

138
b

18

Angles in a
quadrilateral

50

f
54

120
107

107

t
m

20
p

127

250

32
c

k
110

12
93

443

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

WORKED

Example

2 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following diagrams, giving reasons for
your answers.
a
b
m

75

78
u

d
132

108

t
f

f
63

73

z
p

WORKED

Example

10

3 Find the value of the pronumerals in each of the following diagrams.


a
b
c
c
d
98

m
c

82
64

36

106
p

96

91

115

75

m
t

4 multiple choice
The value of t in the following diagram is:
A 360
B 112
C 222
D 138
E 180

t
42

444

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

5 multiple choice

117

The value of r in the following diagram is:


A 117
B 63
C 234
D 126
E 57
r

This photograph shows the roof of a fast food restaurant.


Calculate the value of p.
119
p

7 Find the size of the obtuse angle in the kite shown at


right.
8 Two angles in a parallelogram are 45 and 135.
Find the other 2 angles.
65

9 Tom measures 2 angles of a kite at 60 and 110,


but forgets which angle is which. Draw 3 different
kites that Tom may have measured, showing the size of all angles in each diagram.
10 Below are sets of 4 angles. For each of the sets decide whether it is possible to construct a quadrilateral. Explain your answer.
a 25, 95, 140, 100
b 40, 80, 99, 51
GAM

me
E ti

Polygons and
polyhedra 01

11 Three angles of a quadrilateral are 60, 70 and 100.


a What is the size of the fourth angle of this quadrilateral?
b How many quadrilaterals with this set of angles are possible?
c Construct one quadrilateral with the given angle sizes in your book. (The choice of
the length of the sides is yours.)

Constructing quadrilaterals
1. (a) Is it possible to construct a quadrilateral with:
(i) 2 obtuse angles?
(ii) 3 obtuse angles?
(iii) 4 obtuse angles?
(b) Explain your answer in each case. If possible, construct one quadrilateral
of each type in your book.
(c) Based on your answers to part (a), complete the following sentence: The
maximum possible number of obtuse angles in a quadrilateral is . . .
2. Is it possible to construct a quadrilateral with 4 acute angles? If this is possible,
construct one such quadrilateral in your book. If this is not possible, explain
why it is so.
3. Construct quadrilaterals with exactly 2 right angles so that these right angles are:
(a) adjacent (that is, next to each other)
(b) opposite to each other.
Name the shapes that you have constructed.
4. Is it possible to construct a quadrilateral with:
(a) exactly 1 right angle?
(b) exactly 3 right angles?
Give reasons for your answers.

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

445

What did Doroth


Dorothyys 3 friends in
the Wizar
Wizard
d of Oz want from
from
the wizar
wizard?
d?
The size of the
55

angles represented by letters in


each of the triangles gives the
puzzle answer code.

131

64

75

E
A
100

77

40
B

81
125

87

87

36
D

A
48

42

64

15
C

103

96

59
71

U
61

42

37

72

39

123

28

86

96

43

94

56

R
78

40

58
86

41

55

27

38

84

68

82

150

80
145

78

20

66 105 43 47 18 75 40 121 162 86 90 144 97


22

35

199

15

91

130

65

60

206

MQ 7 Chapter 11 Page 446 Thursday, September 13, 2001 3:45 PM

446

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

Design for a front gate


Val and Peter want to replace their front gate with another of the same design.
To have this gate made, they need to supply a diagram of it with all measurements
and angles shown.

8 cm

27

18 cm

60 cm

1m

1. There are 4 different shapes formed by the metal bars of the gate. How many
different types of triangles are there? Can you name them?
2. How many types of quadrilaterals are there? Name them.
3. Draw a diagram of the gate showing the length measurements and the one angle
that is given.
4. Use this angle to calculate all the remaining angles in the diagram.
5. Explain how you were able to achieve this.

Your turn!
Using a ruler and protractor, design a fence that is to be constructed using metal
bars. Include different triangles and quadrilaterals to make your design as
interesting as possible. Write a short report describing the shapes you have used
and important angles which need to be marked on your design to assist in the
construction of the fence.

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

447

Polygons
A polygon is any closed shape with 3 or more sides, each of which is a straight line.

WORKED Example 11
Which of the following shapes are polygons?
a
b

THINK

WRITE

a The shown shape is closed and all of its


sides are straight lines. So by definition
this shape is a polygon.

a The shape is a polygon.

b Although all sides of this shape are


straight lines, it is not closed and hence
is not a polygon.

b The shape is not a polygon.

c The shape is closed, but one of the sides


is not straight. Therefore this shape is
not a polygon.

c The shape is not a polygon.

Naming polygons
Polygons are named according to the number of sides or angles in the shape. (Note that
the number of sides in any polygon is equal to the number of angles in the polygon.)
The table below gives the names of the most common polygons.
Number of sides

Name

Number of sides

Name

triangle

nonagon

quadrilateral

10

decagon

pentagon

11

undecagon

hexagon

12

dodecagon

heptagon

20

icosagon

octagon

448

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

Can you see why this famous building in the USA is called the Pentagon?

WORKED Example 12
Name the following polygons.
a
b

THINK

WRITE

a Number of sides = 5

1
2

Count the number of sides in the


polygon.
Match the number of sides with the
corresponding name in the table.

The polygon is a pentagon.

b Repeat steps 1 and 2 as in part a.

b Number of sides = 10
The polygon is a decagon.

c Repeat steps 1 and 2 as in part a.

c Number of sides = 8
The polygon is an octagon.

remember
remember
1. A polygon is a closed shape with straight sides.
2. Polygons are named according to the number of sides or angles in the shape.

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

11E
WORKED

Example

11

449

Polygons

1 Which of the following shapes are polygons?


a

Polygons

Regular
polygons

WORKED

Example

12

2 Name the following polygons.


a

3 Draw 2 different examples of each of the following polygons.


a hexagon

b quadrilateral

nonagon

d pentagon

e octagon

triangle

450

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

4 Count the number of sides on a 50 cent piece and


name its shape.
5 multiple choice
What shape is each of the following?
a

A quadrilateral
C octagon
E heptagon

b A horizontal cross-section of a pencil


A quadrilateral
B hexagon
D pentagon
E circle

B hexagon
D pentagon

C octagon

6 These patterns are made up of different polygons. Can you name them all?

11.2
7 Name one place where you can find these polygons in your home or school.
a a triangle
b a quadrilateral
c a hexagon
d an octagon

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

451

Constructing polygons
Trace this shape, cut it out and cut along the dotted lines
to make 3 pieces. Rearrange the pieces to make the
following polygons. (Draw the solutions in your workbook).
(a) triangle
(b) square
(c) rectangle
(d) trapezium
(e) pentagon
(f) parallelogram

2
1 Name the quadrilateral shown, giving a reason for
your answer.

For questions 2 to 5, find the missing angle in each of the quadrilaterals.


2

94

117

61

71
109

77

65
w

39

6 A quadrilateral has 3 angles measuring 56, 102 and 79. Find the size of the fourth
angle.
7 A rhombus has two angles each of size 78. Find the size of each of the other two
angles.
8 Name the polygon at right.
9 Draw two different examples of an octagon.
10 What name is given to a polygon with 11 sides?

452

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

A. van Leeuwenhoek
Leeuwenhoek of Holland was
the first person to do this in 16
1676.
7 TRAPEZIUM

Match up the letter in each polygon


with the number beside the correct name
for the shape to find the answer code.

8 EQUILATERAL
TRIANGLE

1 PARALLELOGRAM

9 OBTUSE-ANGLED,
SCALENE TRIANGLE

2 RIGHT-ANGLED,
SCALENE TRIANGLE

10 RHOMBUS

3 ACUTE-ANGLED,
ISOSCELES TRIANGLE

11 REGULAR PENTAGON

4 SQUARE

12 OBTUSE-ANGLED,
ISOSCELES TRIANGLE

5 REGULAR HEXAGON

13 RECTANGLE

6 ACUTE-ANGLED,
SCALENE TRIANGLE

14 RIGHT-ANGLED,
ISOSCELES TRIANGLE

U
N
C
G
H

P
T

S
I
1
13

11

M
5
10

7
4

8 6
5

9 10 11 12 11
2

11

4
14

8
6

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

453

Constructing polygons
In the preceding exercises there were some questions involving construction of triangles and quadrilaterals. In this section we will discuss further ways of constructing
polygons using a ruler, compass and protractor.
A polygon with all sides equal in length and all angles equal in size is called a
regular polygon.
A regular polygon can be constructed in a circle as shown in the following worked
example.

WORKED Example 13
Construct a regular nonagon in a circle of radius 5 cm.
THINK
1

2
3

WRITE/DRAW

A nonagon has 9 vertices, so we need


to mark 9 points on the circumference.
Furthermore, since the nonagon is
regular, the vertices must be equidistant
from each other (that is, evenly spaced
along the circumference). There are
360 in a circle, so divide 360 by 9, to
find the distance between each point on
the circumference.
Draw a circle of radius 5 cm.
Use a protractor to mark off 9 points on
the circle at 40 intervals. (These points
are to become the vertices of the
nonagon.)

Number of sides = 9, so there are


360 9 = 40 between each point.

90
40

Join the points with straight lines to


construct a nonagon.

remember
remember
1. A regular polygon has all sides of equal length and all angles of equal size.
2. To construct a regular polygon in a circle, first divide 360 by the number of
sides. This gives you the angle between the vertices. Then mark off the points
on the circumference of the circle and join them together with straight lines.

454

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

11F
11.3

WORKED

Example

Constructing polygons

1 Construct a square in a circle of radius 5 cm.

13

2 Construct a regular pentagon in a circle of radius 5 cm.


3 Construct a regular hexagon in a circle of radius 5 cm.
4 Construct a regular octagon in a circle of radius 5 cm.
Internal
angle of a
polygon

5 a Follow the instructions below to produce this design.


i Draw a square of side 10 cm.
ii Find the midpoint (middle) of each side.
iii Join the midpoints to form a new square.
iv Repeat steps ii and iii for your new square.
b Repeat steps ii and iii to produce smaller and smaller
squares. How many smaller squares can you make?
c Colour in your final design.
6 Draw your solutions for each part of this question in your book.
First draw a square with sides of length 5 cm.
a With 1 straight line divide the square into:
i 2 equal rectangles
ii 2 equal right-angled triangles
iii 2 equal trapeziums.
b With 2 straight lines divide the square into:
i 4 equal triangles
ii 4 equal squares
iii 3 equal rectangles
iv 4 equal irregular quadrilaterals.
c With 3 straight lines divide the square into:
i 4 equal rectangles
ii 6 equal rectangles.
7 Copy the following shape and cut it out. Cut out along the
dotted lines and rearrange the pieces to form a square.
(Draw the solution in your workbook.)
8 multiple choice

GAM

me
E ti

Polygons and
polyhedra 02

Which of the following is a regular quadrilateral?


A A rectangle
B A parallelogram
D A square
E All of the above

C A rhombus

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

455

Plans and views


An object can be viewed from different angles. Architects and draftspersons often draw
plans of building sites and various objects when viewed from the front, the side or the
top.
The front view, or front elevation, is what you see if you are standing directly in front
of an object.
The side view, or side elevation, is what you see if you are standing directly to one
side of the object. You can draw the left view or the right view of an object.
The top view, or birds eye view, is what you see if you are hovering directly over the
top of the object looking down on it.

WORKED Example 14
The following object is made from 4 cubes.
Draw plans of it showing:
a the front view
b the right view
c the top view.

THINK

DRAW

a Make this shape using cubes. Place the


shape at a considerable distance and
look at it from the front (this way you
can see only the front face of each cube).
Draw what you see. (Or simply imagine
looking at the shape from the front and
draw what you see.)

b Look at your model from the right, or


imagine that you can see only the right
face of each cube and draw what you
see.

c Look at your model from the top, or


imagine that you can see only the top
face of each cube. Draw what you see.

Front

Front view

Right view

Top view

Front

456

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

WORKED Example 15
Draw:
i the front view
ii the right view
iii the top view of this solid.

THINK
1
2

DRAW

Find an object of similar shape, or


visualise the object in your head.
Whether viewed from the front, or from
the right of the object, the cylindrical
shaft will appear as a long thin
rectangle. The circular discs will also
be seen as a pair of identical rectangles.
So the front view and the right view are
the same.
When the object is viewed from above,
all we can see is the flat surface of the
top disc; that is, a large and a small
circle with the same centre. (Note that
such circles are called concentric.)

Front view

Right view

Top view

WORKED Example 16
The front, right and top views of a solid are shown.
Use cubes to construct the solid.

Front
Front
view

THINK
1
2

CONSTRUCT

Use cubes to construct the solid.


Check carefully that your solid matches
each of the 3 views you are given.
Make adjustments if necessary.

Front

Right
view

Top
view

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

457

remember
remember
1. The front view, or front elevation, is what you see if you are standing directly in
front of an object.
2. The side view, or side elevation, is what you see if you are standing directly to
one side of the object. You can draw the left view or the right view of an object.
3. The top view, or birds eye view, is what you see if you are hovering directly
over the top of the object looking down on it.

11G

Plans and views

1 The following objects are made from cubes. For every object draw the plans, showing
the front view, the right view and the top view. (You may wish to use a set of cubes or
14
building blocks to help you.)
a
b
c

WORKED

Example

Front

Front
Front

Front

Front

Front

Front
Front

458

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

Front
Front

WORKED

Example

15

2 Draw the front, right and top views of each solid shown.
a

3 The front, right and top views of a solid are shown. In each case, use cubes to construct
the solid.
16
a
b

WORKED

Example

Front view

Front view

Right view

Right view

Top view

Top view

Front

Front

d
Front view

Front view

Right view

Right view

Top view

Top view

Front

Front

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

459

4 multiple choice
The front, right and top views of a solid are shown. Which of the given drawings could
represent the solid?

Front view

Right view

Top view

Front

Front

Front

Front

Front

Front

5 a What shape is the top view of a telephone pole?


b What shape is the top view of the
Melbourne Cricket Ground?
c What shape is the side view of a bucket?
d What shape is the top view of a car?
6 a Draw the side view of a pool table.
b Draw the front view of your house
(seen from the street).
c Draw the side view of a kettle.
d Draw the top view of your television set.
7 A shape is made using only 4 cubes.
Its front view, right view and top
view are shown.
Front view

Right view

Top view

Front

a Is it possible to construct this solid?


b Describe or draw what this solid would look like.

460

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

Polyhedra, nets and Eulers rule


A polyhedron is a 3-dimensional shape in which each flat surface is a polygon.

This photograph of an ancient Egyptian pyramid is an example of a polyhedron, since


each of its 5 flat surfaces is a polygon.
The flat surfaces which make a polyhedron are
called faces.
The lines where 2 faces of a polyhedron meet are
called edges.
The points where 3 or more edges of a polyhedron
meet are called vertices.

Edge

Vertex

Face

WORKED Example 17
For the polyhedron shown, write down:
a the number of faces and the shape of each face
b the number of edges
c the number of vertices.
THINK

WRITE

a The base of the polyhedron shown is a


square and the other 4 faces are
triangles.

a Number of faces = 5
Shape of the faces: 1 square and 4 triangles

b Four edges are formed where each of the


triangles meets the square base. Another
4 edges are formed where the triangular
faces meet each other.

b Number of edges = 8

c There are 4 vertices on the square base


and 1 at the top.

c Number of vertices = 5

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

461

Naming polyhedra
The table below gives the names of some common polyhedra that you might often see.
The names are often associated with the number of faces of the polyhedron.

Polyhedron

Number of
faces

Name

tetrahedron, or triangular-based
pyramid

square-based pyramid

cube

octahedron

12

dodecahedron

20

icosahedron

462

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

Poly

Technology and polyhedra


A demonstration version of the program Poly is available on the Maths Quest 7
CD-ROM. This program allows you to visualise polyhedra and their nets.
When you first open Poly, follow these steps to select the most appropriate options:
Go to View then select Available modes. Tick the following options:
Option 2:

3-dimensional shaded polyhedra

Option 4:

3-dimensional edges (wireframe)

Option 5:

3-dimensional vertices

Option 6:

2-dimensional net

Poly can be used to assist you in counting the number of faces, edges and vertices as
well as view the shape of each face.
For the polyhedron in worked example 17, follow these steps:
1. Select Johnson Solids and Square Pyramid (J1)
2. Press the icon

(3-dimensional shaded polyhedra) and rotate the object to

count the number of faces and to see the shape of each face. (You can rotate the solid
by placing your mouse arrow over the solid then clicking and holding down the
mouse while moving the arrow.)

3. Press the icon

(wireframe). Rotate until all edges are clearly seen and can be

counted.
4. Press the icon

(3-dimensional vertices). Rotate until all vertices are clearly

seen and can be counted.


Use Poly to obtain different views of the polyhedra shown in the table by rotating
each solid using option

(3-dimensional shaded polyhedra).

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

463

Nets of polyhedra
A 2-dimensional plan that can be folded to construct a 3-dimensional polyhedron
is called a net of that polyhedron.

This is a net of a square-based pyramid:


Square-based pyramid
if you fold up the triangles and stick them together,
the square-based pyramid shown at right will be formed.

(2-dimensional

net). You can also see how the solid unfolds into a net and then folds back into a polyhedron by moving the button forward and backwards along the horizontal slot when
using option

Poly

Use Poly to see the nets of different solids by selecting option

(3-dimensional shaded polyhedra).

remember
remember
A polyhedron is a 3-dimensional shape in which every flat surface is a polygon.
The flat surfaces that form a polyhedron are called faces.
The lines where 2 faces of the polyhedron meet are called edges.
The points where 3 or more edges of the polyhedron meet are called vertices.
The net is a 2-dimensional plan, which can be folded to form a 3-dimensional
object.

11H
WORKED

Example

Polyhedra, nets and Eulers


rule

You may wish to use the program Poly to assist you in completing this exercise.
1 i
ii
iii

17

For each polyhedron shown, write down:


a the number of faces and the shape of each face
b the number of edges
c the number of vertices.

Poly

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

464

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

2 Name each of the polyhedra in question 1.


3 Copy this net of a tetrahedron. Tabs have been included
to assist in the construction.
Cut out the net and fold it to construct the tetrahedron.
Look at the tetrahedron and write down:
a the number of faces
b the number of vertices
c the number of edges.
4 This is the net of a parallelepiped.
Each of its faces is a parallelogram.
Copy the net, cut it out and
fold it to construct the
parallelepiped. Look at the
parallelepiped and write down:
a the number of faces
b the number of vertices
c the number of edges.

5 This is the net of a truncated


tetrahedron. It is a tetrahedron
with its corners cut off.
Copy the net, cut it out and
fold it to construct the
truncated tetrahedron. Look
at the truncated tetrahedron
and write down:
a the number of faces
b the number of vertices
c the number of edges.
6 Copy this net of an icosahedron.

Cut out the net and fold it to construct the icosahedron. Look at the icosahedron and
write down:
a the number of faces
b the number of vertices
c the number of edges.

MQ 7 Chapter 11 Page 465 Wednesday, June 18, 2003 4:21 PM

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

465

7 a Copy this table into your workbook. Use the answers to questions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 (or
the program Poly) to complete the table.

Question
number

Name of polyhedron

1i

cube

1 ii

octahedron

1 iii

dodecahedron

tetrahedron

parallelepiped

truncated tetrahedron

icosahedron

Number
of faces
(F)

Number
of vertices
(V)

Number
of edges
(E)

F+VE

b State the pattern that you have found.


c

The pattern that you have discovered is known as Eulers rule. (Euler is pronounced Oiler.) Copy the rule into your workbook for future reference.

Eulers rule for polyhedra can be stated as:


for any polyhedron, F + V E = 2,
where F is the number of faces, V is the number of vertices and E is the number
of edges of the polyhedron.

In other words, the number of faces plus the number of vertices minus the number of
edges equals 2.

8 Use Eulers rule, established in the previous question, to check whether it is possible
for a polyhedron to have:
a 6 faces, 8 vertices and 10 edges
b 9 faces, 12 vertices and 19 edges.
9 Use Eulers rule to answer each of the following questions.
a A polyhedron has 10 faces and 16 vertices. How many edges does it have?
b A polyhedron has 12 faces and 18 vertices. How many edges does it have?
c

A polyhedron has 10 edges and 6 vertices. How many faces does it have?

d A polyhedron has 8 faces and 12 vertices. How many edges does it have?

Using
Eulers
rule

466

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

10 a Use straws and plasticine (or any other suitable material) to construct these polyhedra:
i a square-based pyramid
ii a nonahedron

11.3

QUEST

GE

EN

MAT H

b For each model count the number of faces, edges and vertices and hence verify
Eulers rule.

CH

AL

1 How many rectangles can you find in this shape?

L
2 Show how to cut this rectangle into 2 pieces that fit together to form a
square?

Poly

Making models of polyhedra


Use the program Poly to find the nets of 3 polyhedra. There are some suggestions
below. Print out each net and trace onto coloured paper or card. (You may like to
enlarge your net by using a photocopier first.) Cut and fold to form each of these
polyhedra. Have fun!
Hebesphenomegacorona (J89) (in Johnson Solids)
Decagonal deltohedron (in Dipyramids and Deltohedrons)
Hexakis octahedron (in Catalan Solids)
Square anti-prism (in Prisms and Anti-prisms)
Great rhombicosidodecahedron (in Archimedean Solids)

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

467

summary
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

Copy the sentences below. Fill in the gaps by choosing the correct word or
expression from the word list that follows.
An obtuse-angled triangle has one angle
90.
An
triangle has two sides equal in length and two angles
equal in size.
An equilateral triangle has all sides
in length and all angles
equal in size.
An
triangle has all angles less than 90.
A
triangle has no equal sides or angles.
A right-angled triangle has one angle equal to 90 (that is, a
angle).
A kite has two pairs of
sides, equal in length. The angles
between
sides of a kite are equal in size.
A
has two pairs of opposite sides equal in length and four 90 angles.
A square has four
and four 90 angles.
A
has one pair of parallel sides.
A rhombus has four equal sides. Opposite angles of a rhombus are
.
A parallelogram has two pairs of
sides. Opposite sides of a
parallelogram are equal in length and
angles are equal in size.
A polygon is any
2-dimensional shape with
edges.
A
polygon has all sides equal in length and all angles equal in size.
A polyhedron is a
object. Each face of a polyhedron is a
.
The sum of the angles in any triangle is equal to
degrees.
An
angle of a triangle and an interior angle adjacent to it are
.
The sum of the angles in any quadrilateral is equal to
degrees.
A plan which can be cut out and folded to make a
is called
a
of that shape.
The birds eye view of an object is its
view.
The
view is drawn when standing directly in front of an object.
The
is the left, or the right view of an object.
Eulers rule for a polyhedron states that the number of
plus the
number of
minus the number of
equals 2.

WORD
faces
adjacent
polygon
closed
net
supplementary
acute-angled
rectangle

LIST
right
opposite
vertices
polyhedron
greater than
180
straight
top

edges
side elevation
unequal
equal sides
equal in size
equal
360
3-dimensional

front
regular
exterior
isosceles
scalene
parallel
trapezium

468

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

CHAPTER
review
11A

1 Name the following triangles according to the length of their sides.


a
b
c

11A

2 Name the following triangles according to the size of their angles.


a
b
c

11B

3 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following.


a
b
t

62
40
b

48

65

11B

4 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following.


a
b
m

65

52
n

62

11B

5 The Indian teepee shown has an angle of 46 at its peak. What angle
does the wall make with the floor?
46

Chapter 11 Polygons and polyhedra

6 Name the following quadrilaterals, giving reasons for your answers.


a
b
c

85

120
x

11C

7 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following.


a
b
110

11D

c
36
240

105
80

469

42

8 Find the value of the pronumeral in each of the following.


a
b
g
g

11D

110

k
w

68

9 A circus trapeze attached to a rope is shown.


Find the size of angle t.

65

65
t

11 Draw two different examples of a hexagon.

11D

10 Name the following polygons.


a

126

74

11E

11E

470

Maths Quest 7 for Victoria

11F

12 Draw a circle of radius 5 cm. Mark points on its circumference every 120. Join the dots
together to construct a triangle.

11F

13 Draw a circle of radius 5 cm.


a To construct a hexagon you need to mark 6 points on the circles circumference.
Calculate the number of degrees between each point.
b Mark off 6 points on the circle and construct a hexagon.

11G

14 Draw the front, side and top views of each of these solids.
a
b

Front
Front

11G

15 The front, side and top view of a solid are shown. Construct this solid, using blocks.
a
b
Front view

Front view

Right view
Right view
Top view

Front

Top view

Front

11H

16 For each polyhedron shown write down:


i the number of faces
ii the number of vertices
iii the number of edges.
a
b

17 a A polyhedron has 10 faces and 8 vertices. How many edges does it have?
b A polyhedron has 6 faces and 12 edges. How many vertices does it have?
c Is it possible to have a polyhedron with 10 faces, 6 edges and 4 vertices? Give reasons
test
for your answer.
yourself

CHAPTER

11H

11

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