Constructions and Tilings | IT

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.

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Solution
Understand the Question
  • A regular polygon has all sides equal in length and all interior angles equal in measure.
  • The sum of interior angles for any nn-sided polygon is given by (n2)×180(n - 2) \times 180^\circ.
  • Each interior angle of a regular polygon is calculated as: Interior Angle=(n2)×180n\text{Interior Angle} = \dfrac{(n - 2) \times 180^\circ}{n}
  • Pentagon (n=5n = 5): Each interior angle is 108108^\circ. We construct it by drawing consecutive sides of equal length ss at an angle of 108108^\circ using a protractor.
  • Hexagon (n=6n = 6): Each interior angle is 120120^\circ. A regular hexagon can also be constructed using a compass, as its side length ss 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 n=5n = 5.

Sum of interior angles=(52)×180=3×180=540\begin{aligned} \text{Sum of interior angles} &= (5 - 2) \times 180^\circ \\ &= 3 \times 180^\circ \\ &= 540^\circ \end{aligned} Each interior angle=5405=108\begin{aligned} \text{Each interior angle} &= \dfrac{540^\circ}{5} \\[0.6em] &= 108^\circ \end{aligned}

Step 2 · Draw the First Side AB

Draw a line segment AB\text{AB} of chosen side length ss.Diagram 6

Step 3 · Draw the Second Side BC

Using a protractor at point BB, draw an angle ABC=108\angle \text{ABC} = 108^\circ and measure segment BC=s\text{BC} = s.Diagram 2

Step 4 · Draw the Third Side CD

Place the protractor at point CC, draw an angle BCD=108\angle \text{BCD} = 108^\circ, and measure segment CD=s\text{CD} = s.Diagram 3

Step 5 · Draw the Fourth Side DE

Place the protractor at point DD, draw an angle CDE=108\angle \text{CDE} = 108^\circ, and measure segment DE=s\text{DE} = s.Diagram 4

Step 6 · Complete the Pentagon

Join vertex EE to AA to form the final side EA=s\text{EA} = s.Diagram 5

This completes the regular pentagon ABCDE\text{ABCDE} with all interior angles equal to 108108^\circ.

Answer

(i) Regular pentagon ABCDE\text{ABCDE} with side length ss and each interior angle =108= 108^\circ.

(ii) Construct a regular hexagon (6-sided figure)

Step 1 · Calculate the Interior Angle

For a regular hexagon, number of sides n=6n = 6.

Sum of interior angles=(62)×180=4×180=720\begin{aligned} \text{Sum of interior angles} &= (6 - 2) \times 180^\circ \\ &= 4 \times 180^\circ \\ &= 720^\circ \end{aligned} Each interior angle=7206=120\begin{aligned} \text{Each interior angle} &= \dfrac{720^\circ}{6} \\[0.6em] &= 120^\circ \end{aligned}

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 AB\text{AB} of side length ss.

Step 3 · Find the Center of the Hexagon

Set the compass width to ss.

  • Place the compass at AA and draw an arc above AB\text{AB}.
  • Place the compass at BB and draw an intersecting arc.
  • Mark the intersection as center OO.Diagram 7

Step 4 · Draw the Circumscribing Circle

With center OO and radius OA=s\text{OA} = s, draw a complete circle passing through points AA and BB.Diagram 8

Step 5 · Mark the Remaining Vertices on the Circle

Keeping the compass open to radius ss:

  • Place the compass at BB and mark point CC on the circle.
  • From CC, mark point DD.
  • From DD, mark point EE.
  • From EE, mark point FF.Diagram 9

Step 6 · Connect the Vertices

Join the points AB\text{AB}, BC\text{BC}, CD\text{CD}, DE\text{DE}, EF\text{EF}, and FA\text{FA} in order using a straightedge.Diagram 10

This completes the regular hexagon ABCDEF\text{ABCDEF}.

Answer

(ii) Regular hexagon ABCDEF\text{ABCDEF} with side length ss and each interior angle =120= 120^\circ.

Common Mistakes
  • Interior vs. Exterior Angle: Forgetting that the interior angle of a pentagon is 108108^\circ (1803605180^\circ - \frac{360^\circ}{5}) and mistakenly measuring 7272^\circ (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 ss.

More questions in IT

Q1

How do we find such AA and BB?

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Use this to construct an eye.

Q2

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Q3

Will the line joining the two points at which the arcs meet, above and below XYXY, always be the perpendicular bisector of XYXY, i.e., when XYXY is of any length, and the arcs are drawn using a radius of any length?

Q4

Which two triangles should be congruent for ABAB to be the perpendicular bisector of XYXY (that is, OO is the midpoint of XYXY and ABAB is perpendicular to XYXY)?

Q5

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Q6

Will CC and DD lie on the perpendicular bisector AB\text{AB}?

Q7

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Any point that has the same distance from XX and YY lies on the perpendicular bisector of XY\text{XY}.

Q8

Given a line segment XYXY, how do we draw its perpendicular bisector using only an unmarked ruler and a compass?

Q9

Can we extend the method of constructing the perpendicular bisector to construct a 9090^\circ angle at any point on a line? Draw a line and mark a point OO on it. Construct a 9090^\circ angle at point OO.

Q10

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Q11

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Q12

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Q13

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Q14

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Q15

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Q16

How do we implement this idea using a ruler and a compass?

Q17

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Q18

Construct this arch shape on a piece of paper.

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Q19

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Q20

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Remember 'Wavy Wave' from the Grade 6 Textbook?

The supporting lines are just two line segments of equal length.

Q21

If their midpoints are marked, will you be able to construct a pointed arch?

Q22

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.

Q23

Can we break a regular hexagon into smaller pieces that can be constructed?

Q24

Can six congruent equilateral triangles be placed together as in Fig. 6.12? If yes, will it result in a regular hexagon?

Q25

Consider this figure. Will the 7070^\circ angle fit into the gap? What is the gap angle AOI\angle AOI?

We have, 40+60+50+30+40+90+gap angle=36040^\circ + 60^\circ + 50^\circ + 30^\circ + 40^\circ + 90^\circ + \text{gap angle} = 360^\circ

Use this to determine whether the 7070^\circ angle fits the gap.

Q26

In Fig. 6.12 can you explain why AODAOD, BOEBOE and COFCOF are straight lines?

Q27

Construct a regular hexagon with a sidelength 4 cm4\text{ cm} using a ruler and a compass.

Q28

Context: We can construct a regular hexagon more directly if we can construct a 120120^\circ angle using a ruler and a compass.

Q. How do we do it?

Q29

Why is CAX=60\angle \text{CAX} = 60^\circ? Is there an equilateral triangle here?

Q30

Construct a regular hexagon of sidelength 5 cm5\text{ cm}.

Q31

How will you construct 3030^\circ and 1515^\circ angles?

Q32

Construct the following 6-pointed star. Note that it has a rotational symmetry.

Q33

Are the six triangles forming the 6 points of the star — ΔAGH\Delta \text{AGH}, ΔBHI\Delta \text{BHI}, ΔCIJ\Delta \text{CIJ}, ΔDJK\Delta \text{DJK}, ΔELK\Delta \text{ELK}, ΔFLG\Delta \text{FLG} — equilateral? Why?

[Hint: Find the angles.]

Q34

Can a 4×64 \times 6 grid be tiled using multiple copies of 2×12 \times 1 tiles? We are allowed to rotate a 2×12 \times 1 tile and use it.

Q35

Can a 4×74 \times 7 grid be tiled using 2×12 \times 1 tiles?

Q36

What about a 5×75 \times 7 grid?

Complete the justification.

Q38

Is an m×nm \times n grid tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles, if both mm and nn are even? If yes, come up with a general strategy to tile it.

Q39

Is an m×nm \times n grid tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles, if one of mm and nn is even and the other is odd? If yes, come up with a general strategy to tile it.

Q40

Is an m×nm \times n grid tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles, if both mm and nn are odd? Give reasons.

Q41

Here is a 5×35 \times 3 grid, with a unit square removed. Now, it has an even number of unit squares. Is it tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles?

Q42

Is the following region tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles?

Q43

Context: We are considering whether a given region can be tiled using 2×12 \times 1 tiles.

Q. What about this one?

Q44

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 5×35 \times 3 grid, makes it non-tileable?

Q45

If the plain grid is tileable, is the black-and-white-grid tileable?

Q46

If the black-and-white grid is tileable, is the plain grid tileable?

Q47

Use this idea to find another unit square that, when removed from a 5×35 \times 3 grid, makes it non-tileable?

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