Intermediate Geometry : How to find the perimeter of a hexagon

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Intermediate Geometry

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

Find the perimeter of the regular hexagon below:

8

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 150\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 120\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 90\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 180\sqrt3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 120\sqrt3\)

Explanation:

13

When all the diagonals of the regular hexagon are drawn in, you should notice that six congruent equilateral triangles are created.

Thus, we know that the given line segment, also known as an apothem, acts as the height of an equilateral triangle. The apothem also creates two congruent \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Thus, we can use the ratio of the side lengths to find the length of the base of one of the \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Recall that the ratios of the side lengths in a \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangle are \(\displaystyle 1:\sqrt3:2\).

We can then set up the following equation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{\sqrt3}=\frac{\text{base}}{1}\)

The length of the base is then \(\displaystyle \frac{30}{\sqrt3}=10\sqrt3\).

Now, the length of this base is half the length of a side of the hexagon. Multiply the base by two to find the length of a side:

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

\(\displaystyle \text{side}=2(10\sqrt3)=20\sqrt3\)

Next, 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:

\(\displaystyle \text{Perimeter}=6(20\sqrt3)=120\sqrt3\)

Example Question #41 : Hexagons

Find the perimeter of the regular hexagon below:

9

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 14\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 8\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 10\sqrt3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 8\sqrt3\)

Explanation:

13

When all the diagonals of the regular hexagon are drawn in, you should notice that six congruent equilateral triangles are created.

Thus, we know that the given line segment, also known as an apothem, acts as the height of an equilateral triangle. The apothem also creates two congruent \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Thus, we can use the ratio of the side lengths to find the length of the base of one of the \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Recall that the ratios of the side lengths in a \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangle are \(\displaystyle 1:\sqrt3:2\).

We can then set up the following equation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{\sqrt3}=\frac{\text{base}}{1}\)

The length of the base is then \(\displaystyle \frac{2}{\sqrt3}=\frac{2\sqrt3}{3}\).

Now, the length of this base is half the length of a side of the hexagon. Multiply the base by two to find the length of a side:

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

\(\displaystyle \text{side}=2(\frac{2\sqrt3}{3})=\frac{4\sqrt3}{3}\)

Next, 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:

\(\displaystyle \text{Perimeter}=6(\frac{4\sqrt3}{3})=8\sqrt3\)

Example Question #43 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

Find the perimeter of the regular hexagon below:

10

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 109\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 108\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 100\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 116\sqrt3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 108\sqrt3\)

Explanation:

13

When all the diagonals of the regular hexagon are drawn in, you should notice that six congruent equilateral triangles are created.

Thus, we know that the given line segment, also known as an apothem, acts as the height of an equilateral triangle. The apothem also creates two congruent \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Thus, we can use the ratio of the side lengths to find the length of the base of one of the \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Recall that the ratios of the side lengths in a \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangle are \(\displaystyle 1:\sqrt3:2\).

We can then set up the following equation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{\sqrt3}=\frac{\text{base}}{1}\)

The length of the base is then \(\displaystyle \frac{27}{\sqrt3}=9\sqrt3\).

Now, the length of this base is half the length of a side of the hexagon. Multiply the base by two to find the length of a side:

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

\(\displaystyle \text{side}=2(9\sqrt3)=18\sqrt3\)

Next, 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:

\(\displaystyle \text{Perimeter}=6(18\sqrt3)=108\sqrt3\)

Example Question #44 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

Find the perimeter of the regular hexagon below:

11

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 96\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 160\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 128\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 136\sqrt3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 128\sqrt3\)

Explanation:

13

When all the diagonals of the regular hexagon are drawn in, you should notice that six congruent equilateral triangles are created.

Thus, we know that the given line segment, also known as an apothem, acts as the height of an equilateral triangle. The apothem also creates two congruent \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Thus, we can use the ratio of the side lengths to find the length of the base of one of the \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Recall that the ratios of the side lengths in a \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangle are \(\displaystyle 1:\sqrt3:2\).

We can then set up the following equation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{\sqrt3}=\frac{\text{base}}{1}\)

The length of the base is then \(\displaystyle \frac{32}{\sqrt3}=\frac{32\sqrt3}{3}\).

Now, the length of this base is half the length of a side of the hexagon. Multiply the base by two to find the length of a side:

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

\(\displaystyle \text{side}=2(\frac{32\sqrt3}{3})=\frac{64\sqrt3}{3}\)

Next, 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:

\(\displaystyle \text{Perimeter}=6(\frac{64\sqrt3}{3})=128\sqrt3\)

Example Question #45 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Hexagon

Find the perimeter of the regular hexagon below:

12

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 205\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 220\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 135\sqrt3\)

\(\displaystyle 180\sqrt3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 180\sqrt3\)

Explanation:

13

When all the diagonals of the regular hexagon are drawn in, you should notice that six congruent equilateral triangles are created.

Thus, we know that the given line segment, also known as an apothem, acts as the height of an equilateral triangle. The apothem also creates two congruent \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Thus, we can use the ratio of the side lengths to find the length of the base of one of the \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangles.

Recall that the ratios of the side lengths in a \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangle are \(\displaystyle 1:\sqrt3:2\).

We can then set up the following equation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{\sqrt3}=\frac{\text{base}}{1}\)

The length of the base is then \(\displaystyle \frac{45}{\sqrt3}=15\sqrt3\).

Now, the length of this base is half the length of a side of the hexagon. Multiply the base by two to find the length of a side:

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

\(\displaystyle \text{side}=2(15\sqrt3)=30\sqrt3\)

Next, 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:

\(\displaystyle \text{Perimeter}=6(30\sqrt3)=180\sqrt3\)

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