Regular polygons and circles

There are 118 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Regular polygons and circles
Shedding Some Light
problem

Shedding some light

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Make an estimate of how many light fittings you can see. Was your estimate a good one? How can you decide?
Spirostars
problem

Spirostars

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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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?
Contact Circles
problem

Contact circles

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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These four touching circles have another circle hiding amongst them...
Retracircles
problem

Retracircles

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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Four circles all touch each other and a circumscribing circle. Find the ratios of the radii and prove that joining 3 centres gives a 3-4-5 triangle.
The medieval octagon
problem

The medieval octagon

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Medieval stonemasons used a method to construct octagons using ruler and compasses... Is the octagon regular? Proof please.
Nonagon Angle
problem

Nonagon angle

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Weekly Problem 53 - 2012
ABCDEFGHI is a regular nine-sided polygon (called a 'nonagon' or 'enneagon'). What is the size of the angle FAE ?
Like a Circle in a Spiral
problem

Like a circle in a spiral

Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
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A cheap and simple toy with lots of mathematics. Can you interpret the images that are produced? Can you predict the pattern that will be produced using different wheels?
Escriptions
problem

Escriptions

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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For any right-angled triangle find the radii of the three escribed circles touching the sides of the triangle externally.
F'arc'tion
problem

F'arc'tion

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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At the corner of the cube circular arcs are drawn and the area enclosed shaded. What fraction of the surface area of the cube is shaded? Try working out the answer without recourse to pencil and paper.