Sum of the Interior Angles of an n-sided Polygon

Here we will discuss the theorem of sum of the interior angles of an n-sided polygon and some related example problems.

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon of n sides is equal to (2n - 4) right angles.

Given: Let PQRS .... Z be a polygon of n sides.

To prove: ∠P + ∠Q + ∠R + ∠S + ..... + ∠Z = (2n – 4) 90°.

Construction: Take any point O inside the polygon. Join OP, OQ, OR, OS, ....., OZ.

$Sum of the Interior Angles of a Polygon$

Proof:

Statement	Reason
1. As the polygon has n sides, n triangles are formed, namely, ∆OPQ, ∆QR, ...., ∆OZP.	1. On each side of the polygon one triangle has been drawn.
2. The sum of all the angles of the n triangles is 2n right angles.	2. The sum of the angles of each triangle is 2 right angles.
3. ∠P + ∠Q + ∠R + ..... + ∠Z + (sum of all angles formed at O) = 2n right angles.	3. From statement 2.
4. ∠P + ∠Q + ∠R + ..... + ∠Z + 4 right angles = 2n right angles.	4. Sum of angles around the point O is 4 right angles.
5. ∠P + ∠Q + ∠R + ..... + ∠Z = 2n right angles - 4 right angles = (2n – 4) right angles = (2n – 4) 90°. (Proved)	5. From statement 4.

Note:

1. In a regular polygon of n sides, all angles are equal.

Therefore, each interior angle = $\frac{(2n - 4) × 90°}{n}$.

2. A quadrilateral is a polygon for which n = 4.

Therefore, the sum of interior angles of a quadrilateral = (2 × 4 – 4) × 90° = 360°

Solved examples on finding the sum of the interior angles of an n-sided polygon:

1. Find the sum of the interior angles of a polygon of seven sides.

Solution:

Here, n = 7.

Sum of the interior angles = (2n – 4) × 90°

= (2 × 7 - 4) × 90°

= 900°

Therefore, the sum of the interior angles of a polygon is 900°.

2. Sum of the interior angles of a polygon is 540°. Find the number of sides of the polygon.

Solution:

Let the number of sides = n.

Therefore, (2n – 4) × 90° = 540°

⟹ 2n - 4 = $\frac{540°}{90°}$

⟹ 2n - 4 = 6

⟹ 2n = 6 + 4

⟹ 2n = 10

⟹ n = $\frac{10}{2}$

⟹ n = 5

Therefore, the number of sides of the polygon is 5.

3. Find the measure of each interior angle of a regular octagon.

Solution:

Here, n = 8.

The measure of each interior angle = $\frac{(2n – 4) × 90°}{n}$

= $\frac{(2 × 8 – 4) × 90°}{8}$

= $\frac{(16 – 4) × 90°}{8}$

= $\frac{12 × 90°}{8}$

= 135°

Therefore, the measure of each interior angle of a regular octagon is 135°.

4. The ratio of the number of sides of two regular polygons is 3:4, and the ratio of the sum of their interior angles is 2:3. Find the number of sides of each polygon.

Solution:

Let the number of sides of the two regular polygons be n$_{1}$ and n$_{2}$.

According to the problem,

$\frac{n_{1}}{n_{2}}$ = $\frac{3}{4}$

⟹ n$_{1}$ = $\frac{3n_{2}}{4}$ ........... (i)

Again, $\frac{2(n_{1} – 2) × 90°}{2(n_{2} – 2) × 90°}$ = $\frac{2}{3}$

⟹ 3(n$_{1}$ – 2) = 2(n$_{2}$ – 2)

⟹ 3n$_{1}$ = 2n$_{2}$ + 2

⟹ 3 × $\frac{3n_{2}}{4}$ = 2n$_{2}$ + 2

⟹ 9n$_{2}$ = 8n$_{2}$ + 8

Therefore, n$_{2}$ = 8.

Substituting the value of n$_{2}$ = 8 in (i) we get,

n$_{1}$ = $\frac{3}{4}$ × 8

⟹ n$_{1}$ = 6.

Therefore, the number of sides of the two regular polygons be 6 and 8.

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