A polygon in mathematics is a two-dimensional geometric figure that is made up of line segments (not curves) in a plane. It is a closed figure with straight sides and a finite number of sides. The sides of a polygon are called edges, and the points where two sides meet are called vertices or corners, forming angles at these points. Here are some key points about polygons:
- A polygon must have a minimum of three line segments to form a closed figure.
- If all the sides and interior angles of the polygon are equal, it is known as a regular polygon. Examples of regular polygons include the square and equilateral triangle.
- If all the sides and the interior angles of the polygon are of different measures, it is known as an irregular polygon.
- Polygons are named based on the number of sides they have, denoted by "n-gon" where n represents the number of sides. For example, a five-sided polygon is named as 5-gon, and a ten-sided polygon is named as 10-gon.
- A circle is not considered a polygon because it is a curved shape and does not have straight sides or angles.
Polygons are commonly taught in primary school, and some of the polygons taught include the triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, and decagon. Regular polygons, such as the square, have special names due to their specific properties.
