|
Each corner of a polygon, where two sides meet, is called a vertex. The plural of vertex is vertices. Labeling vertices with capital letters makes it easy to refer to a polygon by name. For example, this figure contains two triangles and one quadrilateral:
To name one of the polygons in the figure, list its vertices in order as you move around it in either direction. One name for the shaded triangle is Triangle ABC. Other names are possible, including BCA and ACB. One name for the white triangle is Triangle ADC.
The quadrilateral in the figure could be named Quadrilateral ABCD, BCDA, DCBA, or DABC. All of these names list the vertices in order as you move around the quadrilateral. The name ACBD is not correct.
In the following activities, you will search for polygons in several figures. You'll calculate a score for each figure by adding the following:
a. | 3 points for each triangle |
b. | 4 points for each quadrilateral |
c. | 5 points for each pentagon |
d. | 6 points for each hexagon |
As you work, try to discover a systematic way to find and list all the polygons in a figure.
Be careful to give only one name for each polygon. You may want to record your work for each problem in a table like this one, which shows the result for this figure.
|
