Regular polygons and circles

  • Holly
    problem

    Holly

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    The ten arcs forming the edges of the "holly leaf" are all arcs of circles of radius 1 cm. Find the length of the perimeter of the holly leaf and the area of its surface.
  • The medieval octagon
    problem

    The Medieval Octagon

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Medieval stonemasons used a method to construct octagons using ruler and compasses... Is the octagon regular? Proof please.
  • Tricircle
    problem

    Tricircle

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    The centre of the larger circle is at the midpoint of one side of an equilateral triangle and the circle touches the other two sides of the triangle. A smaller circle touches the larger circle and two sides of the triangle. If the small circle has radius 1 unit find the radius of the larger circle.
  • Pent
    problem

    Pent

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    The diagram shows a regular pentagon with sides of unit length. Find all the angles in the diagram. Prove that the quadrilateral shown in red is a rhombus.
  • Squaring the circle
    problem

    Squaring the Circle

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Bluey-green, white and transparent squares with a few odd bits of shapes around the perimeter. But, how many squares are there of each type in the complete circle? Study the picture and make an estimate.
  • Lunar Angles
    problem

    Lunar Angles

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    What is the sum of the angles of a triangle whose sides are circular arcs on a flat surface? What if the triangle is on the surface of a sphere?
  • Nonagon Angle
    problem

    Nonagon Angle

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Weekly Problem 53 - 2012
    ABCDEFGHI is a regular nine-sided polygon (called a 'nonagon' or 'enneagon'). What is the size of the angle FAE ?
  • Dodecagon Angles
    problem

    Dodecagon Angles

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Weekly Problem 50 - 2012
    The diagram shows a regular dodecagon. What is the size of the marked angle?
  • Spirostars
    problem

    Spirostars

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    A spiropath is a sequence of connected line segments end to end taking different directions. The same spiropath is iterated. When does it cycle and when does it go on indefinitely?
  • Two Regular Polygons
    problem

    Two Regular Polygons

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Two polygons fit together so that the exterior angle at each end of their shared side is 81 degrees. If both shapes now have to be regular could the angle still be 81 degrees?