Question 22
How do we construct a regular pentagon (5-sided figure) and a regular hexagon (6-sided figure)? To begin with, try to construct a pentagon and hexagon with equal sidelengths.

- A regular polygon has all sides equal in length and all interior angles equal in measure.
- The sum of interior angles for any -sided polygon is given by .
- Each interior angle of a regular polygon is calculated as:
- Pentagon (): Each interior angle is . We construct it by drawing consecutive sides of equal length at an angle of using a protractor.
- Hexagon (): Each interior angle is . A regular hexagon can also be constructed using a compass, as its side length equals the radius of its circumscribing circle.
(i) Construct a regular pentagon (5-sided figure)
Step 1 · Calculate the Interior Angle
For a regular pentagon, number of sides .
Step 2 · Draw the First Side AB
Draw a line segment of chosen side length .
Step 3 · Draw the Second Side BC
Using a protractor at point , draw an angle and measure segment .
Step 4 · Draw the Third Side CD
Place the protractor at point , draw an angle , and measure segment .
Step 5 · Draw the Fourth Side DE
Place the protractor at point , draw an angle , and measure segment .
Step 6 · Complete the Pentagon
Join vertex to to form the final side .
This completes the regular pentagon with all interior angles equal to .
(i) Regular pentagon with side length and each interior angle .
(ii) Construct a regular hexagon (6-sided figure)
Step 1 · Calculate the Interior Angle
For a regular hexagon, number of sides .
In a regular hexagon, the side length is equal to the radius of its circumscribing circle.
Step 2 · Draw the First Side AB
Draw a line segment of side length .
Step 3 · Find the Center of the Hexagon
Set the compass width to .
- Place the compass at and draw an arc above .
- Place the compass at and draw an intersecting arc.
- Mark the intersection as center .

Step 4 · Draw the Circumscribing Circle
With center and radius , draw a complete circle passing through points and .
Step 5 · Mark the Remaining Vertices on the Circle
Keeping the compass open to radius :
- Place the compass at and mark point on the circle.
- From , mark point .
- From , mark point .
- From , mark point .

Step 6 · Connect the Vertices
Join the points , , , , , and in order using a straightedge.
This completes the regular hexagon .
(ii) Regular hexagon with side length and each interior angle .
- Interior vs. Exterior Angle: Forgetting that the interior angle of a pentagon is () and mistakenly measuring (which is the exterior angle).
- Compass Width Shift: In hexagon construction, changing the compass width during marking leads to unequal sides. Ensure the compass remains strictly fixed at radius .
More questions in IT
How do we find such and ?
From and , draw arcs above and below , with the same radii. The two points at which the arcs meet, above and below , give us and , respectively.
Use this to construct an eye.
In Fig. 6.1, join and with a line. Where does intersect , and what is the angle formed between them?
Will the line joining the two points at which the arcs meet, above and below , always be the perpendicular bisector of , i.e., when is of any length, and the arcs are drawn using a radius of any length?
Which two triangles should be congruent for to be the perpendicular bisector of (that is, is the midpoint of and is perpendicular to )?
How do we get these different shapes? Try!
Will and lie on the perpendicular bisector ?
Justify the following statement using the facts that we have established.
Any point that has the same distance from and lies on the perpendicular bisector of .
Given a line segment , how do we draw its perpendicular bisector using only an unmarked ruler and a compass?
Can we extend the method of constructing the perpendicular bisector to construct a angle at any point on a line? Draw a line and mark a point on it. Construct a angle at point .
Find a segment of this line for which is the midpoint.
How do we construct this figure?
What is the angle between two adjacent lines?
How do we construct a angle using only a ruler and a compass?
Construct the following figure.
Draw an angle. Create a copy of this angle using only a ruler and compass.
How do we implement this idea using a ruler and a compass?
How did they make these arches?
Construct this arch shape on a piece of paper.
Let us think about the support lines this figure will need.
For symmetry, we should have , and . How would you construct these support lines?
Use these support lines to construct an arch. If required, adjust the radii of the arcs to make the arch look more aesthetically pleasing.
How do we construct this shape?
What supporting lines will you use to draw this arch?
Remember 'Wavy Wave' from the Grade 6 Textbook?
The supporting lines are just two line segments of equal length.
If their midpoints are marked, will you be able to construct a pointed arch?
How do we construct a regular pentagon (5-sided figure) and a regular hexagon (6-sided figure)? To begin with, try to construct a pentagon and hexagon with equal sidelengths.
Can we break a regular hexagon into smaller pieces that can be constructed?
Can six congruent equilateral triangles be placed together as in Fig. 6.12? If yes, will it result in a regular hexagon?
Consider this figure. Will the angle fit into the gap? What is the gap angle ?
We have,
Use this to determine whether the angle fits the gap.
In Fig. 6.12 can you explain why , and are straight lines?
Construct a regular hexagon with a sidelength using a ruler and a compass.
Context: We can construct a regular hexagon more directly if we can construct a angle using a ruler and a compass.
Q. How do we do it?
Why is ? Is there an equilateral triangle here?
Construct a regular hexagon of sidelength .
How will you construct and angles?
Construct the following 6-pointed star. Note that it has a rotational symmetry.
Are the six triangles forming the 6 points of the star — , , , , , — equilateral? Why?
[Hint: Find the angles.]
Can a grid be tiled using multiple copies of tiles? We are allowed to rotate a tile and use it.
Can a grid be tiled using tiles?
What about a grid?
Complete the justification.
Is an grid tileable with tiles, if both and are even? If yes, come up with a general strategy to tile it.
Is an grid tileable with tiles, if one of and is even and the other is odd? If yes, come up with a general strategy to tile it.
Is an grid tileable with tiles, if both and are odd? Give reasons.
Here is a grid, with a unit square removed. Now, it has an even number of unit squares. Is it tileable with tiles?
Is the following region tileable with tiles?
Context: We are considering whether a given region can be tiled using tiles.
Q. What about this one?
Were you able to tile this? How can we be sure that this is not tileable? Can you find another unit square that, when removed from a grid, makes it non-tileable?
If the plain grid is tileable, is the black-and-white-grid tileable?
If the black-and-white grid is tileable, is the plain grid tileable?
Use this idea to find another unit square that, when removed from a grid, makes it non-tileable?