What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

In order to continue enjoying our site, we ask that you confirm your identity as a human. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

A polygon is a two-dimensional geometric figure that has a finite number of sides. The sides of a polygon are made of straight line segments connected to each other end to end. They can have any number of sides. Regular polygons have sides and angles of the same length. Many of the polygons like triangles, squares, and rectangles are used extensively for various purposes.

Answer: To find the measure of an interior angle of a regular polygon, we make use of the formula for each angle = (n - 2) × 180 / n. 

The formula calculated is only valid in cases of regular-sided polygons.

Explanation: 

We use the standard formula (n - 2) × 180 to find the sum of the interior angles of an n-sided polygon. 

To find the measure of one interior angle, we divide the result by n.

For example, let's consider a 3-sided regular polygon, that is, an equilateral triangle. We use the formula, and substitute n with 3.

We get the result to be 180. 

Now, if we divide it by n, that is, 3, we get 60, which is the measure of an interior angle of a triangle.

Note: The particular formula is true for only regular polygons, that is, where all the angles are the same, and does NOT cover other cases.

Hence, to find the measure of an interior angle of a regular polygon, we use the formula angle = (n - 2) × 180 / n. 

What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

Another example:

What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

Triangles

The Interior Angles of a Triangle add up to 180°

Let's try a triangle:

What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

90° + 60° + 30° = 180°

It works for this triangle

Now tilt a line by 10°:

What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

80° + 70° + 30° = 180°

It still works!
One angle went up by 10°,
and the other went down by 10°

Quadrilaterals (Squares, etc)

(A Quadrilateral has 4 straight sides)

Let's try a square:

What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

90° + 90° + 90° + 90° = 360°

A Square adds up to 360°

Now tilt a line by 10°:

What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

80° + 100° + 90° + 90° = 360°

It still adds up to 360°

The Interior Angles of a Quadrilateral add up to 360°

Because there are 2 triangles in a square ...

What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

The interior angles in a triangle add up to 180° ...

... and for the square they add up to 360° ...

... because the square can be made from two triangles!

What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

A pentagon has 5 sides, and can be made from three triangles, so you know what ...

... its interior angles add up to 3 × 180° = 540°

And when it is regular (all angles the same), then each angle is 540° / 5 = 108°

(Exercise: make sure each triangle here adds up to 180°, and check that the pentagon's interior angles add up to 540°)

The Interior Angles of a Pentagon add up to 540°

The General Rule

Each time we add a side (triangle to quadrilateral, quadrilateral to pentagon, etc), we add another 180° to the total:

      If it is a Regular Polygon (all sides are equal, all angles are equal)
Shape Sides Sum of
Interior Angles
Shape Each Angle
Triangle 3 180°
What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?
60°
Quadrilateral 4 360°
What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?
90°
Pentagon 5 540°
What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?
108°
Hexagon 6 720°
What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?
120°
Heptagon (or Septagon) 7 900°
What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?
128.57...°
Octagon 8 1080°
What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?
135°
Nonagon 9 1260°
What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?
140°
... ... .. ... ...
Any Polygon n (n−2) × 180°
What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?
(n−2) × 180° / n

So the general rule is:

Sum of Interior Angles = (n−2) × 180°

Each Angle (of a Regular Polygon) = (n−2) × 180° / n

Perhaps an example will help:

What is the measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon?

Sum of Interior Angles = (n−2) × 180°

 = (10−2) × 180°

 = 8 × 180°

 = 1440°

And for a Regular Decagon:

Each interior angle = 1440°/10 = 144°

Note: Interior Angles are sometimes called "Internal Angles"

Copyright © 2020 MathsIsFun.com