Intermediate Geometry : Hexagons

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Intermediate Geometry

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

A regular hexagon has a radius of \displaystyle 2\:cm. Find the perimeter.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 7.0\:cm

\displaystyle 12\:cm

\displaystyle 6.9\:cm

\displaystyle 12.2\:cm

\displaystyle 12.1\:cm

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 12\:cm

Explanation:

Perimeter_of_a_hexagon

The only information given in the problem is the radius. From the radius, we are expected to solve for the perimeter. But in order to do so, we have to go through a few small steps. The initial goal is to solve for the length of one of the sides. Once one of the sides has been found, the perimeter can be solved for by multiplying the side length by the number of sides (\displaystyle 6). 

In order to solve for the side (or as some call it, the base side), we can use right triangles. 

Perimeter_of_a_hexgon_resolution

The first step is to solve for the internal angles of the hexagon. This can be solved through \displaystyle \frac{180(n-2)}{n}, where \displaystyle n is the number of sides. 

\displaystyle \frac{180(6-2)}{6}

\displaystyle \frac{180(4)}{6} 

\displaystyle 120^{\circ} = internal angle measurement 

This angle gets bisected in the right triangle we can draw using the radius. This means that the bottom right corner of the figure is \displaystyle 60^{\circ}. Now that we have one side and one angle measure, we can solve for the base of the triangle in one of two ways. 
1. Using trigonometric functions (SOH CAH TOA)
2. Remembering the rules of a 30/60/90 triangle

Using the rules of the 30/60/90 triangle, where the hypotenuse equals the \displaystyle h value and the side opposite of \displaystyle 30^{\circ} (in this case, our base) is \displaystyle \frac{h}{2}. Because \displaystyle h=2, this means that our base is \displaystyle 1; however, because the base of the triangle only makes up half of the length of a side, this means that the side length is actually \displaystyle 2\:cm

Now that we have the value of the side length, we can solve for the perimeter using the formula mentioned previously:

\displaystyle P=2\cdot6=12

\displaystyle P=12\:cm

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

If the side of a hexagon has a length of \displaystyle 6ab, what is the perimeter of the hexagon?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle a^2b^2

\displaystyle 36a^2b^2

\displaystyle 36ab

\displaystyle 36ab^2

\displaystyle ab

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 36ab

Explanation:

The perimeter of a hexagon is:

\displaystyle P=6s

Substitute the side length and solve for the perimeter.

\displaystyle P=6(6ab)=36ab

Example Question #1 : Hexagons

If the side length of a hexagon is \displaystyle \sqrt6, what is the perimeter?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 6+\sqrt6

\displaystyle 6\sqrt6

\displaystyle 2\sqrt3

\displaystyle 12

\displaystyle 6

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 6\sqrt6

Explanation:

Write the perimeter formula for a hexagon.  Substitute the side length and solve.

\displaystyle P=6s=6(\sqrt6)=6\sqrt6

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

What is the perimeter of a hexagon if a side length is \displaystyle 100?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 10

\displaystyle 900

\displaystyle 300

\displaystyle 60

\displaystyle 600

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 600

Explanation:

A hexagon has 6 sides.  

Given the length of the side is 100, the perimeter is:

\displaystyle P=6s = 6\cdot100 =600

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

If the lengh of a side of a hexagon is \displaystyle \frac{a}{2}, what is the perimeter?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 6a

\displaystyle 3a

\displaystyle \frac{a}{12}

\displaystyle 2a

\displaystyle \frac{a}{6}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 3a

Explanation:

Write the formula for the perimeter of a hexagon.

\displaystyle P=6s

Substitute the side and simplify.

\displaystyle P=6\left(\frac{a}{2}\right)=3a

Example Question #2 : Hexagons

If the side of a hexagon is \displaystyle a+2b, what is the perimeter of the hexagon?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \frac{1}{6}a+2b

\displaystyle 72ab

\displaystyle 6a^2+12b^2

\displaystyle 6a+6b

\displaystyle 6a+12b

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 6a+12b

Explanation:

Write the perimeter formula for a hexagon, substitute the side length, and simplify.

Remember to distribute the 6 through to all parts within the parentheses.

\displaystyle P=6s=6(a+2b) = 6a+12b

Example Question #1 : Hexagons

If the side length of hexagon is \displaystyle \frac{2}{3}abc, what is the perimeter of the hexagon?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 4abc

\displaystyle \frac{abc}{18}

\displaystyle \frac{abc}{36}

\displaystyle \frac{abc}{9}

\displaystyle 12abc

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 4abc

Explanation:

Write the formula for the perimeter of a hexagon, substitute the length of the side, and simplify.

\displaystyle P=6s=6\left(\frac{2}{3}abc\right)=4abc

 

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

Suppose the two side lengths of a hexagon added to \displaystyle 3a.  What is the overall perimeter of the hexagon?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 27a

\displaystyle 6a

\displaystyle 18a

\displaystyle 9a

\displaystyle 4a

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 9a

Explanation:

Write the formula for the perimeter of a hexagon.

\displaystyle P=6s

Since \displaystyle 3a equals two sides of a hexagon, one side will have a length of \displaystyle \frac{3a}{2}=1.5a.

Substitute this length into the perimeter formula and evaluate.

\displaystyle P=6s=6(1.5a)=9a

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

If the side of a hexagon is \displaystyle \frac{a}{6}+\frac{b}{24}, what is the perimeter?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 6a+4b

\displaystyle a+\frac{b}{4}

\displaystyle \frac{a}{4}+2b

\displaystyle 6a+\frac{b}{4}

\displaystyle a^2+\frac{b^2}{4}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle a+\frac{b}{4}

Explanation:

Substitute the length \displaystyle \frac{a}{6}+\frac{b}{24} into the hexagon perimeter formula and simplify.

Remember to distribute the 6 to all parts within the parentheses.

\displaystyle P=6s = 6\left(\frac{a}{6}+\frac{b}{24}\right) = a+\frac{b}{4}

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

Find the perimeter of the regular hexagon.

1

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 84

\displaystyle 28

\displaystyle 56

\displaystyle 42

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 42

Explanation:

When all the opposite sides of a regular hexagon are connected, you should notice that six congruent equilateral triangles are created:

13

Thus, the diagonal of the hexagon is twice the length of a side.

\displaystyle \text{Diagonal}=2(\text{side})

\displaystyle \text{Side}=\frac{\text{Diagonal}}{2}

Plug in the given diagonal to find the length of a side.

\displaystyle \text{Side}=\frac{14}{2}=7

Now, recall how to find the perimeter of a regular hexagon:

\displaystyle \text{Perimeter}=6(\text{side})

Plug in the side length to find the perimeter.

\displaystyle \text{Perimeter}=6(7)=42

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors