Sum of the Exterior Angles of a Polygon

We will learn how to find the sum of the exterior angles of a polygon having n sides.

We know that, exterior angle + interior adjacent angle = 180°

So, if the polygon has n sides, then

Sum of all exterior angles + Sum of all interior angles = n × 180°

So, sum of all exterior angles = n × 180° - Sum of all interior angles

Sum of all exterior angles = n × 180° - (n -2) × 180°

                                      = n × 180° - n × 180° + 2 × 180°

                                      = 180°n - 180°n + 360°

                                      = 360°

Therefore, we conclude that sum of all exterior angles of the polygon having n sides = 360°

Therefore, measure of each exterior angle of the regular polygon = 360°/n

Also, number of sides of the polygon = 360°/each exterior angle


Solved examples on sum of the exterior angles of a polygon:

1. Find the number of sides in a regular polygon when the measure of each exterior angle is 45°.

Solution:

If the polygon has n sides,

Then, we know that; n = 360°/measure of each exterior angle

                                = 360/45

                                = 8

Therefore, the regular polygon has 8 sides.


2. The exteriors angles of a pentagon are (m + 5)°, (2m + 3)°, (3m + 2)°, (4m + 1)° and (5m + 4)° respectively. Find the measure of each angle.

Hints: The sum of all exterior angles of a polygon is 360°.

Solution:

We know, the sum of all exterior angles of a pentagon is 360°

Therefore, (m + 5)° + (2m + 3)° + (3m + 2)° + (4m + 1)° + (5m + 4)° = 360°

⇒ m + 5 + 2m + 3 + 3m + 2 + 4m + 1 + 5m + 4 = 360°

⇒ 15m + 15 = 360°

⇒ 15m = 360° - 15°                          

⇒ 15m = 345°    

⇒ m = 345°/15°

⇒ m = 23°

Therefore, the first angle = m + 5°           

                                   = 23° + 5°

                                   = 28°

Second angle = 2m + 3°

                   = 2° × 23° + 3°

                   = 46° + 3°

                    = 49°

Third angle = 3m + 2

                = 3° × 23° + 2°

                = 69° + 2°

                 = 71°

Fourth angle = 4m + 1

                  = 4° × 23° + 1°

                  = 92° +1°

                  = 93°

Fifth angle = 5m + 4°

                = 5° × 23° + 4°

                = 115° + 4°

                = 119°

Polygons

Polygon and its Classification

Terms Related to Polygons

Interior and Exterior of the Polygon

Convex and Concave Polygons

Regular and Irregular Polygon

Number of Triangles Contained in a Polygon

Angle Sum Property of a Polygon

Problems on Angle Sum Property of a Polygon

Sum of the Interior Angles of a Polygon

Sum of the Exterior Angles of a Polygon






7th Grade Math Problems 

8th Grade Math Practice 

From Sum of the Exterior Angles of a Polygon to HOME PAGE




Didn't find what you were looking for? Or want to know more information about Math Only Math. Use this Google Search to find what you need.



New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Ask a Question or Answer a Question.

Share this page: What’s this?

Recent Articles

  1. Word Problems on Area and Perimeter | Free Worksheet with Answers

    Jul 26, 24 04:58 PM

    word problems on area and perimeter

    Read More

  2. Worksheet on Perimeter | Perimeter of Squares and Rectangle | Answers

    Jul 26, 24 04:37 PM

    Most and Least Perimeter
    Practice the questions given in the worksheet on perimeter. The questions are based on finding the perimeter of the triangle, perimeter of the square, perimeter of rectangle and word problems. I. Find…

    Read More

  3. Perimeter and Area of Irregular Figures | Solved Example Problems

    Jul 26, 24 02:20 PM

    Perimeter of Irregular Figures
    Here we will get the ideas how to solve the problems on finding the perimeter and area of irregular figures. The figure PQRSTU is a hexagon. PS is a diagonal and QY, RO, TX and UZ are the respective d…

    Read More

  4. Perimeter and Area of Plane Figures | Definition of Perimeter and Area

    Jul 26, 24 11:50 AM

    Perimeter of a Triangle
    A plane figure is made of line segments or arcs of curves in a plane. It is a closed figure if the figure begins and ends at the same point. We are familiar with plane figures like squares, rectangles…

    Read More

  5. 5th Grade Math Problems | Table of Contents | Worksheets |Free Answers

    Jul 26, 24 01:35 AM

    In 5th grade math problems you will get all types of examples on different topics along with the solutions. Keeping in mind the mental level of child in Grade 5, every efforts has been made to introdu…

    Read More

Polygons - Worksheets

Worksheet on Polygon and its Classification

Worksheet on Interior Angles of a Polygon

Worksheet on Exterior Angles of a Polygon