A polygon of six sides is called _ a. triangle b. quadrilateral c. pentagon d. hexagon
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: d. hexagon
A polygon with six sides is called a hexagon. The name comes from the Greek words “hex”, meaning six, and “gonia”, meaning angle. Therefore, a hexagon is a six-angled and six-sided figure. Each vertex of a hexagon connects two of its sides, and the shape can be either regular or irregular.
In a regular hexagon, all six sides are equal in length, and all six interior angles are equal, each measuring 120 degrees. The total interior angle sum of a polygon can be calculated using the formula:
(n – 2) × 180 degrees, where n is the number of sides.
For a hexagon, this becomes:
(6 – 2) × 180 = 4 × 180 = 720 degrees
This means that the sum of all interior angles of any hexagon is always 720 degrees, regardless of whether it is regular or irregular. In a regular hexagon, since all six angles are equal, each one measures 120 degrees (720 ÷ 6).
Hexagons appear frequently in nature and design due to their efficiency in space usage. For example, honeycombs made by bees are composed of regular hexagons because this shape allows the most compact and efficient storage of honey using the least amount of wax.
Comparing to the other options:
- A triangle has 3 sides.
- A quadrilateral has 4 sides.
- A pentagon has 5 sides.
Only a hexagon correctly refers to a six-sided polygon. Understanding the names of polygons based on the number of sides helps in both geometric reasoning and real-world applications in architecture, art, and natural sciences.