Polygons - GMAT Quantitative
Card 1 of 360
What is the measure of one exterior angle of a regular twenty-four sided polygon?
What is the measure of one exterior angle of a regular twenty-four sided polygon?
Tap to reveal answer
The sum of the measures of the exterior angles of any polygon, one at each vertex, is
. Since a regular polygon with twenty-four sides has twenty-four congruent angles, and therefore, congruent exterior angles, just divide:

The sum of the measures of the exterior angles of any polygon, one at each vertex, is . Since a regular polygon with twenty-four sides has twenty-four congruent angles, and therefore, congruent exterior angles, just divide:
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Which of the following figures would have exterior angles none of whose degree measures is an integer?
Which of the following figures would have exterior angles none of whose degree measures is an integer?
Tap to reveal answer
The sum of the degree measures of any polygon is
. A regular polygon with
sides has exterior angles of degree measure
. For this to be an integer, 360 must be divisible by
.
We can test each of our choices to see which one fails this test.





Only the eighty-sided regular polygon fails this test, making this the correct choice.
The sum of the degree measures of any polygon is . A regular polygon with
sides has exterior angles of degree measure
. For this to be an integer, 360 must be divisible by
.
We can test each of our choices to see which one fails this test.
Only the eighty-sided regular polygon fails this test, making this the correct choice.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given Pentagon
such that:

and

Calculate 
You are given Pentagon such that:
and
Calculate
Tap to reveal answer
Let
be the common measure of
,
,
, and 
Then

The sum of the measures of the angles of a pentagon is
degrees; this translates to the equation

or




Let be the common measure of
,
,
, and
Then
The sum of the measures of the angles of a pentagon is degrees; this translates to the equation
or
← Didn't Know|Knew It →

The above diagram shows a regular pentagon and a regular hexagon sharing a side. What is the measure of
?

The above diagram shows a regular pentagon and a regular hexagon sharing a side. What is the measure of ?
Tap to reveal answer
The measure of each interior angle of a regular pentagon is

The measure of each interior angle of a regular hexagon is

The measure of
is the difference of the two, or
.
The measure of each interior angle of a regular pentagon is
The measure of each interior angle of a regular hexagon is
The measure of is the difference of the two, or
.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →

The above diagram shows a regular pentagon and a regular hexagon sharing a side. Give
.

The above diagram shows a regular pentagon and a regular hexagon sharing a side. Give .
Tap to reveal answer
This can more easily be explained if the shared side is extended in one direction, and the new angles labeled.

and
are exterior angles of the regular polygons. Also, the measures of the exterior angles of any polygon, one at each vertex, total
. Therefore,


Add the measures of the angles to get
:

This can more easily be explained if the shared side is extended in one direction, and the new angles labeled.

and
are exterior angles of the regular polygons. Also, the measures of the exterior angles of any polygon, one at each vertex, total
. Therefore,
Add the measures of the angles to get :
← Didn't Know|Knew It →

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale
The figure above shows a square inside a regular pentagon. Give
.

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale
The figure above shows a square inside a regular pentagon. Give .
Tap to reveal answer
Each angle of a square measures
; each angle of a regular pentagon measures
. To get
, subtract:
.
Each angle of a square measures ; each angle of a regular pentagon measures
. To get
, subtract:
.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Which of the following cannot be the measure of an exterior angle of a regular polygon?
Which of the following cannot be the measure of an exterior angle of a regular polygon?
Tap to reveal answer
The sum of the measures of the exterior angles of any polygon, one per vertex, is
. In a regular polygon of
sides , then all
of these exterior angles are congruent, each measuring
.
If
is the measure of one of these angles, then
, or, equivalently,
. Therefore, for
to be a possible measure of an exterior angle, it must divide evenly into 360. We divide each in turn:




Since 16 is the only one of the choices that does not divide evenly into 360, it cannot be the measure of an exterior angle of a regular polygon.
The sum of the measures of the exterior angles of any polygon, one per vertex, is . In a regular polygon of
sides , then all
of these exterior angles are congruent, each measuring
.
If is the measure of one of these angles, then
, or, equivalently,
. Therefore, for
to be a possible measure of an exterior angle, it must divide evenly into 360. We divide each in turn:
Since 16 is the only one of the choices that does not divide evenly into 360, it cannot be the measure of an exterior angle of a regular polygon.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Given:



Evaluate
.

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Given:
Evaluate .
Tap to reveal answer
Call
the measure of 

, and 
so

The sum of the measures of the angles of a hexagon is
, so




, which is the measure of
.
Call the measure of
, and
so
The sum of the measures of the angles of a hexagon is , so
, which is the measure of
.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What is the arithmetic mean of the measures of the angles of a nonagon (a nine-sided polygon)?
What is the arithmetic mean of the measures of the angles of a nonagon (a nine-sided polygon)?
Tap to reveal answer
The sum of the measures of the nine angles of any nonagon is calculated as follows:

Divide this number by nine to get the arithmetic mean of the measures:

The sum of the measures of the nine angles of any nonagon is calculated as follows:
Divide this number by nine to get the arithmetic mean of the measures:
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given a quadrilateral and a pentagon. What is the mean of the measures of the interior angles of the two polygons?
You are given a quadrilateral and a pentagon. What is the mean of the measures of the interior angles of the two polygons?
Tap to reveal answer
The mean of the measures of the four angles of the quadrilateral and the five angles of of the pentagon is their sum divided by 9.
The sum of the measures of the interior angles of any quadrilateral is
. The sum of the measures of the interior angles of any pentagon is
.
The sum of the measures of the interior angles of both polygons is therefore
. Divide by 9:

The mean of the measures of the four angles of the quadrilateral and the five angles of of the pentagon is their sum divided by 9.
The sum of the measures of the interior angles of any quadrilateral is . The sum of the measures of the interior angles of any pentagon is
.
The sum of the measures of the interior angles of both polygons is therefore . Divide by 9:
← Didn't Know|Knew It →

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Given Regular Pentagon
. What is
?

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Given Regular Pentagon . What is
?
Tap to reveal answer
Quadrilateral
is a trapezoid, so
.
, so



Quadrilateral is a trapezoid, so
.
, so
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
The angles of a pentagon measure
.
Evaluate
.
The angles of a pentagon measure .
Evaluate .
Tap to reveal answer
The sum of the degree measures of the angles of a (five-sided) pentagon is
, so we can set up and solve the equation:






The sum of the degree measures of the angles of a (five-sided) pentagon is , so we can set up and solve the equation:
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
The measures of the angles of a pentagon are: 
What is
equal to?
The measures of the angles of a pentagon are:
What is equal to?
Tap to reveal answer
The degree measures of the interior angles of a pentagon total
, so






The degree measures of the interior angles of a pentagon total , so
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What is the measure of an angle in a regular octagon?
What is the measure of an angle in a regular octagon?
Tap to reveal answer
On octagon has
sides. The word regular means that all of the angles are equal. Therefore, we can use the general equation for finding the angle measurement of a regular polygon:
, where
is the number of sides of the polygon.
.
On octagon has sides. The word regular means that all of the angles are equal. Therefore, we can use the general equation for finding the angle measurement of a regular polygon:
, where
is the number of sides of the polygon.
.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What is the maximum possible area of a quadrilateral with a perimeter of 48?
What is the maximum possible area of a quadrilateral with a perimeter of 48?
Tap to reveal answer
A quadrilateral with the maximum area, given a specific perimeter, is a square. Since
and a square has four equal sides, the max area is

A quadrilateral with the maximum area, given a specific perimeter, is a square. Since and a square has four equal sides, the max area is
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
is a pentagon with two sets of congruent sides and one side that is longer than all the others.
The smallest pair of congruent sides are 5 inches long each.
The other two congruent sides are 1.5 times bigger than the smallest sides.
The last side is twice the length of the smallest sides.
What is the perimeter of
?
is a pentagon with two sets of congruent sides and one side that is longer than all the others.
The smallest pair of congruent sides are 5 inches long each.
The other two congruent sides are 1.5 times bigger than the smallest sides.
The last side is twice the length of the smallest sides.
What is the perimeter of ?
Tap to reveal answer
A pentagon is a 5 sided shape. We are given that two sides are 5 inches each.
Side 1 = 5inches
Side 2 = 5 inches
The next two sides are each 1.5 times bigger than the smallest two sides.

Side 3 =Side 4= 7.5 inches
The last side is twice the size of the smallest side,
Side 5 =10 inches
Add them all up for our perimeter:
5+5+7.5+7.5+10=35 inches long
A pentagon is a 5 sided shape. We are given that two sides are 5 inches each.
Side 1 = 5inches
Side 2 = 5 inches
The next two sides are each 1.5 times bigger than the smallest two sides.
Side 3 =Side 4= 7.5 inches
The last side is twice the size of the smallest side,
Side 5 =10 inches
Add them all up for our perimeter:
5+5+7.5+7.5+10=35 inches long
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
The perimeter of a regular hexagon is 72 centimeters. To the nearest square centimeter, what is its area?
The perimeter of a regular hexagon is 72 centimeters. To the nearest square centimeter, what is its area?
Tap to reveal answer
This regular hexagon can be seen as being made up of six equilateral triangles, each formed by a side and two radii; each has sidelength
centimeters. The area of one triangle is

There are six such triangles, so multiply this by 6:

This regular hexagon can be seen as being made up of six equilateral triangles, each formed by a side and two radii; each has sidelength centimeters. The area of one triangle is
There are six such triangles, so multiply this by 6:
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
A man wants to design a room such that, looking from above, it appears as a trapezoid with a square attached (shown below). The area of the entire room is to be 100 square meters. The red line shown bisects the dotted line and has a length of 15. How many of the following answers are possible values for the length of one side of the square?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8
Figure is not to scale, but the trapezoidal figure will be similar in dimensions to the one shown.
A man wants to design a room such that, looking from above, it appears as a trapezoid with a square attached (shown below). The area of the entire room is to be 100 square meters. The red line shown bisects the dotted line and has a length of 15. How many of the following answers are possible values for the length of one side of the square?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8
Figure is not to scale, but the trapezoidal figure will be similar in dimensions to the one shown.
Tap to reveal answer
Let
denote the length of one side of a square. This is also the top of the trapezoid. Let
denote the bottom of the trapezoid. Finally, let
be the height of the trapezoid. The area of the trapezoid is then
while the area of the square is
.
We then have the total area as 100, so: 
Now we know that the red line has length 15.
is the region of this line that is in the trapezoid. What we notice, however, is that the remainder is precisely the length of one side of a square. So
or 
Rewriting the previous equation: 
This is now an equation of 2 variables and we can easily cross out answers by plugging in possible
values. What we find is that for
,
respectively. For
we get
, which is too small (
must be greater than
). For
we get
.
Let denote the length of one side of a square. This is also the top of the trapezoid. Let
denote the bottom of the trapezoid. Finally, let
be the height of the trapezoid. The area of the trapezoid is then
while the area of the square is
.
We then have the total area as 100, so:
Now we know that the red line has length 15. is the region of this line that is in the trapezoid. What we notice, however, is that the remainder is precisely the length of one side of a square. So
or
Rewriting the previous equation:
This is now an equation of 2 variables and we can easily cross out answers by plugging in possible values. What we find is that for
,
respectively. For
we get
, which is too small (
must be greater than
). For
we get
.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What is the area of a regular hexagon with sidelength 10?
What is the area of a regular hexagon with sidelength 10?
Tap to reveal answer
A regular hexagon can be seen as a composite of six equilateral triangles, each of whose sidelength is the sidelength of the hexagon:

Each of the triangles has area

Substitute
to get 
Multiply this by 6:
, the area of the hexagon.
A regular hexagon can be seen as a composite of six equilateral triangles, each of whose sidelength is the sidelength of the hexagon:

Each of the triangles has area
Substitute to get
Multiply this by 6: , the area of the hexagon.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What is the area of a regular octagon with sidelength 10?
What is the area of a regular octagon with sidelength 10?
Tap to reveal answer
The area of a regular polygon is equal to one-half the product of its apothem - the perpendicular distance from the center to a side - and its perimeter.
The perimeter of the octagon is 
From the diagram below, the apothem of the octagon is
.

is one half of the sidelength, or 5.
can be seen to be the length of a leg of a
triangle with hypotenuse 10, or

This makes the apothem
.
The area is therefore 
The area of a regular polygon is equal to one-half the product of its apothem - the perpendicular distance from the center to a side - and its perimeter.
The perimeter of the octagon is
From the diagram below, the apothem of the octagon is .

is one half of the sidelength, or 5.
can be seen to be the length of a leg of a
triangle with hypotenuse 10, or
This makes the apothem .
The area is therefore
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
