Attributes of a hexagon

A hexagon is a polygon with six sides and six vertices. A regular hexagon has six equal sides and six equal interior angles, but a hexagon does not have to be regular.

Meaning and context

The sum of its interior angles is (6 − 2) × 180° = 720°. For a regular hexagon, dividing that total by six gives 120° at each interior angle. An irregular hexagon can have unequal angles while retaining the same total.

Examples and usage

A six-sided outline with different side lengths is still a hexagon if it is a simple polygon with six straight sides. A regular hexagon can be divided from its center into six equilateral triangles, which helps with several area calculations.

What to check

Do not count a curved edge as one of a polygon’s straight sides. Also distinguish a two-dimensional hexagon from a hexagonal prism, which is a three-dimensional solid. The properties being requested depend on which figure the problem names.

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