Quandaries
and Queries
I understand there is a simple calculation to determine the sides of an octagon when you know the distance across the parallel flats. something like .447 . can you help? Private home owner with octagon skylights see www.domehome.ca for details. thanks
Hi Royce,
I copied one of the images of your skylight from your website.
In the diagram below L is the distance between the sides and s is the length of a side.
From the diagram
L = s + 2 a
Triangle ABC is a right triangle, and hence from Pythagoras Theorem
a2 + a2 = s2
Thus
a = s /√2
Hence
L = s + 2 a = s + 2 s /√2 = s (1 + √2) = 2.4142 s
or
s = 0.4142 L
Penny
