SSAT Upper Level Math : Perimeter of Polygons

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Areas And Perimeters Of Polygons

A regular hexagon has perimeter 9 meters. Give the length of one side in millimeters.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1,800\textrm{ mm }\)

\(\displaystyle 1,500 \textrm{ mm }\)

\(\displaystyle 1,200\textrm{ mm }\)

\(\displaystyle 2,400 \textrm{ mm }\)

\(\displaystyle 2,000\textrm{ mm }\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1,500 \textrm{ mm }\)

Explanation:

One meter is equal to 1,000 millimeters, so the perimeter of 9 meters can be expressed as:

9 meters = \(\displaystyle 9 \times 1,000 = 9,000\) millimeters.

Since the six sides of a regular hexagon are congruent, divide by 6:

\(\displaystyle 9,000 \div 6 = 1,500\) millimeters.

Example Question #2 : Areas And Perimeters Of Polygons

A hexagon with perimeter 60 has four congruent sides of length \(\displaystyle t+1\). Its other two sides are congruent to each other. Give the length of each of those other sides in terms of \(\displaystyle t\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 28+2t\)

\(\displaystyle 56-2t\)

\(\displaystyle 28-t\)

\(\displaystyle 56+2t\)

\(\displaystyle 28-2t\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 28-2t\)

Explanation:

The perimeter of a polygon is the sum of the lengths of its sides. Let:

\(\displaystyle x=\) Length of one of those other two sides

Now we can set up an equation and solve it for \(\displaystyle x\) in terms of \(\displaystyle t\):

\(\displaystyle 2x+4(t+1)=60\)

\(\displaystyle \Rightarrow 2x+4t+4=60\)

\(\displaystyle \Rightarrow 2x=60-4-4t\)

\(\displaystyle \Rightarrow 2x=56-4t\)

\(\displaystyle \Rightarrow x=28-2t\)

 

Example Question #3 : Areas And Perimeters Of Polygons

Two sides of a hexagon have a length of \(\displaystyle t\), two other sides have the length of \(\displaystyle t-1\), and the rest of the sides have the length of \(\displaystyle t+1\). Give the perimeter of the hexagon.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 6t\)

\(\displaystyle 6t+6\)

\(\displaystyle 8t\)

\(\displaystyle 6t-6\)

\(\displaystyle 8t+8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6t\)

Explanation:

The perimeter of a polygon is the sum of the lengths of its sides. So we can write:

\(\displaystyle Perimeter=2\left [ t+(t+1)+(t-1) \right ]=2(3t)=6t\)

Example Question #4 : Areas And Perimeters Of Polygons

A regular hexagon has perimeter 15 feet. Give the length of one side in inches.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 36\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)

\(\displaystyle 24\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 30\)

Explanation:

As the six sides of a regular hexagon are congruent, we can write:

\(\displaystyle Perimeter=6a=15\Rightarrow a=2.5\) feet; \(\displaystyle a\) is the length of each side.

One feet is equal to 12 inches, so we can write:

\(\displaystyle a=2.5\times 12=30\) inches

Example Question #5 : Areas And Perimeters Of Polygons

Each interior angle of a hexagon is 120 degrees and the perimeter of the hexagon is 120 inches. Find the length of each side of the hexagon.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10\ inches\)

\(\displaystyle 30\ inches\)

\(\displaystyle 20\ inches\)

\(\displaystyle 25\ inches\)

\(\displaystyle 60\ inches\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 20\ inches\)

Explanation:

Since each interior angle of a hexagon is 120 degrees, we have a regular hexagon with identical side lengths. And we know that the perimeter of a polygon is the sum of the lengths of its sides. So we can write:

\(\displaystyle Perimeter=6a=120\Rightarrow a=20\) inches

Example Question #6 : Areas And Perimeters Of Polygons

A hexagon with perimeter of 48 has three congruent sides of \(\displaystyle 2t+3\). Its other three sides are congruent to each other with the length of \(\displaystyle 2t-7\). Find \(\displaystyle t\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5\)

Explanation:

The perimeter of a polygon is the sum of the lengths of its sides. Since three sides are congruent with the length of \(\displaystyle 2t+3\) and the rest of the sides have the length of \(\displaystyle 2t-7\) we can write:

 

\(\displaystyle Perimeter=3(2t+3)+3(2t-7)=48\)

Now we should solve the equation for \(\displaystyle t\):

\(\displaystyle 6t+9+6t-21=48\Rightarrow 12t-12=48\Rightarrow 12t=60\Rightarrow t=5\)

Example Question #6 : Areas And Perimeters Of Polygons

A regular pentagon has sidelength one foot; a regular hexagon has sidelength ten inches. The perimeter of a regular octagon is the sum of the perimeters of the pentagon and the hexagon. What is the measure of one side of the octagon?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15 \textrm{ in }\)

\(\displaystyle 10 \textrm{ in }\)

\(\displaystyle 16 \textrm{ in }\)

\(\displaystyle 18 \textrm{ in }\)

\(\displaystyle 12 \textrm{ in }\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 15 \textrm{ in }\)

Explanation:

A regular polygon has all of its sides the same length. The pentagon has perimeter \(\displaystyle 5 \times 12 \textrm{ in } = 60 \textrm{ in }\); the hexagon has perimeter \(\displaystyle 6 \times 10 \textrm{ in } = 60 \textrm{ in }\). The sum of the perimeters is \(\displaystyle 60 \textrm{ in } + 60 \textrm{ in }= 120 \textrm{ in }\), which is the perimeter of the octagon; each side of the octagon has length \(\displaystyle 120 \textrm{ in } \div 8 = 15 \textrm{ in }\).

Example Question #1 : Areas And Perimeters Of Polygons

Find the perimeter of a hexagon with a side length of \(\displaystyle 6a+b\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 36a+6b\)

\(\displaystyle 36a+b\)

\(\displaystyle 12a+6b\)

\(\displaystyle 6a+6b\)

\(\displaystyle 36a+36b\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 36a+6b\)

Explanation:

A hexagon has six sides.  The perimeter of a hexagon is:

\(\displaystyle P=6s\)

Substitute the side length.

\(\displaystyle P=6s=6(6a+b)=36a+6b\)

Example Question #31 : Areas And Perimeters Of Polygons

A pentagon with perimeter 54 has three congruent sides of length \(\displaystyle 2t-5\); its other two sides are congruent to each other. Give the length of each of those other two sides in terms of \(\displaystyle t\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle - 6t+ 69\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{- 6t+ 59 }{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{- 6t+ 69 }{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{- 6t+ 39 }{2}\)

\(\displaystyle - 6t+ 39\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{- 6t+ 69 }{2}\)

Explanation:

The perimeter of a polygon is the sum of the lengths of its sides. If we let \(\displaystyle X\) be the length of one of those other two sides, we can set up this equation and solve for \(\displaystyle X\):

\(\displaystyle 2X + 3 (2t-5) = 54\)

\(\displaystyle 2X + 3 \cdot 2t-3 \cdot 5 = 54\)

\(\displaystyle 2X +6t-15 = 54\)

\(\displaystyle 2X +6t-15 + 15 - 6t= 54+ 15 - 6t\)

\(\displaystyle 2X =69- 6t\)

\(\displaystyle 2X \div 2 =\left ( 69- 6t \right )\div 2\)

\(\displaystyle X =\frac{- 6t+ 69 }{2}\)

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

A regular pentagon has perimeter 7 meters. Give the length of one side in millimeters.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1,500 \textrm{ mm}\)

\(\displaystyle 1,200 \textrm{ mm}\)

\(\displaystyle 2,100 \textrm{ mm}\)

\(\displaystyle 1,400 \textrm{ mm}\)

\(\displaystyle 1,800 \textrm{ mm}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1,400 \textrm{ mm}\)

Explanation:

One meter is equal to 1,000 millimeters, so the perimeter of 7 meters can be expressed as:

7 meters = \(\displaystyle 7 \times 1,000 = 7,000\) millimeters.

Since the five sides of a regular pentagon are congruent, divide by 5:

\(\displaystyle 7,000 \div 5 = 1,400\) millimeters.

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