These Hexagon Facts Will Help You Prepare For Your Geometry Test

Gincy Alphonse
Apr 13, 2023 By Gincy Alphonse
Originally Published on Mar 15, 2022
Edited by Pete Anderson
Fact-checked by Niyati Parab
wooden hexagon tangram puzzle against textured handmade bark paper

Hexagons are six-sided polygons and can be found in many places in nature.

A hexagon has six sides and angles. Hexagons are one of the most important shapes when it comes to geometry, so make sure that you know everything there is to know about them!

The hexagon is one of those forms that may be found all across nature. A hexagon is a two-dimensional geometric figure with six sides. They're famously found in Ireland's Giant's Causeway, which is made up of interconnecting columns of volcanic rock.

While these are the most famous examples, hexagons can also be seen in many other places in nature, including crystal structures, the bond shapes of specific molecules, turtle shell patterns, and more. In addition, the shape must be closed, and all of the lines must connect.

Hexagon shape has straight sides. It isn't a hexagon if it has a curve shape. It isn't a hexagon if it is open and not closed.

Characteristics Of Hexagon

A hexagon is a two-dimensional closed-form made up of straight lines. It has six sides, vertices, and edges in two dimensions. Hex, which means six, and gonia, which means corners, make up the name. You'll be dealing with regular hexagons a lot in geometry.

It's critical to understand their three key characteristics: A regular hexagon has the same size on all sides. A regular hexagon has interior angles that are all 120 degrees. Additionally, the hexagon has internal angles that add up to 720 degrees.

There are a total of nine diagonals that can be drawn (a line segment connecting two non-adjacent vertices of a polygon). Because all of its internal angles are smaller than 180 degrees, a regular hexagon is also a convex hexagon. Six equilateral triangles can be formed from it.

Each of its side lengths is equal, making it symmetrical. Regular hexagons' opposite sides are always parallel to one other. The perimeter of the hexagon can be calculated by summing the lengths of all six sides.

Different Types Of Hexagon

There are different types of hexagons, including regular hexagons, irregular hexagons, and concave or convex hexagons. Regular hexagons have six sides and interior angles of 60, 90, and 120 degrees.

Irregular hexagons do not follow these rules, and triangle-shaped hexagons only have three sets of edges instead of five like regular ones do. Each type has unique properties that make them a special shape!

Regular hexagons are closed two-dimensional shapes with six equal sides and six equal angles. All the sides and angles of a regular hexagon are equal. In a regular hexagon, each angle is 120 degrees.

As a result, there is no right angle in a regular hexagon. An irregular hexagon has sides and angles of varying lengths. Internal angles are not all equal to 120 degrees.

However, the sum of all interior angles equals 720 degrees. A concave or convex hexagon has an inward-facing angle. These interior angles will be more than 180 degrees when measured as a whole.

Famous Hexagonal Buildings

The hexagon is a simple yet striking shape that may be found in a variety of media, including art, architecture, and nature.

The largest masonry hexagon-shaped structure in the Americas is Fort Jefferson in Florida.

Berlin-Tegel Airport is the major airport of Germany's capital city and the country's fourth busiest airport. It's the main terminal, is a hexagonal shape in design, and has gates that wrap around the perimeter of the hexagonal structure.

The Canberra Civic Centre in Australia is a complex of buildings that includes a park, mall, Legislative Body, and Supreme Court, all of which are connected by a hexagonal circuit.

Greensville Correctional Center in Virginia is a striking hexagons' structure that first opened as a prison in 1990. Its hexagonal walls hold the state's death row convicts, while the structures inside are arranged in a triangle pattern.

Reading, England's The Hexagon Theatre, which opened in 1977, was created by the same architects and builders as the Royal Festival Hall. The Hexagon Theatre was built for acoustics and to address the problem of limited view for some seats.

FAQs

What is special about a hexagon?

Hexagons are six-sided polygons. Hexagon shapes can be found everywhere, from the cells that make up honeycomb to snowflakes and even flowers!

Why is the hexagon the strongest shape?

The hexagon is the strongest shape because it has six sides, which makes it more difficult to break than other shapes with fewer sides

Why is it called a hexagon?

Hexagon comes from the Greek word hexágōnon, where hex means six, and gonia means corners. This denotes the fact that a hexagon has six sides and six angles.

What is a hexagon?

A hexagon has six angles and is a six-sided polygon that is made up of six equilateral triangles.

What do hexagons look like?

Hexagons are six-sided polygons that can be arranged in any way.

Does a hexagon have equal sides?

Yes, a hexagon has equal sides.

How many sides and angles does a hexagon have?

Hexagon has six sides and angles.

What things are shaped like a hexagon?

You can find this polygon shape on your pencils, honey combs, the buttons of a shirt, and many other places too.

What angle is a hexagon degree?

The sum of the internal angles is 720 degrees, and each interior angles are 120 degrees.

How to find the area of a hexagon?

Area = (3√3 s2)/ 2 is the formula for calculating the area of a hexagon.

How many lines of symmetry does a hexagon have?

Hexagon has six lines of symmetry

How many triangles are in a hexagon?

By adding a central point, a regular hexagon can be divided into six equilateral triangles.

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Sources

https://www.cuemath.com/geometry/hexagon/

https://www.mashupmath.com/blog/hexagons-explained-hexagons-in-real-life?format=amp

https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/hexagon.html

https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-hexagon-definition-area-angles.html

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Written by Gincy Alphonse

Bachelor of Computer Application

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Gincy AlphonseBachelor of Computer Application

As a skilled visual storyteller, Gincy's passion lies in bringing ideas to life through creative design. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Application from New Horizon College and has perfected her expertise with a PG Diploma in Graphic Design from Arena Animation. Gincy's talent shines in the realm of branding design, digital imaging, layout design, and print and digital content writing. She believes that content creation and clear communication are art forms in themselves, and is constantly striving to refine her craft.

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Fact-checked by Niyati Parab

Bachelor of Commerce

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Niyati ParabBachelor of Commerce

With a background in digital marketing, Niyati brings her expertise to ensure accuracy and authenticity in every piece of content. She has previously written articles for MuseumFacts, a history web magazine, while also handling its digital marketing. In addition to her marketing skills, Niyati is fluent in six languages and has a Commerce degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University. She has also been recognized for her public speaking abilities, holding the position of Vice President of Education at the Toastmasters Club of Pune, where she won several awards and represented the club in writing and speech contests at the area level.

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