SEARCH HOME
Math CentralQuandaries & Queries

search

Question from Arvie, a parent:

I have seen your answer to Kay on how she can find the length for the sides of an octagon for a 4 foot window, but what is the angle that will need to be cut to get to 4 feet

Arvie,

I copied the diagram from my answer to Kay that you mentioned, and altered it slightly to include some labels.

octagon

Since this is a regular octagon the distance from A to B is the same as the distance from C to A. Thus triangle ABC is an isosceles right triangle. Thus angles ABC and BCA each have a measure of 45o.

I hope this helps,
Penny

About Math Central
 

 


Math Central is supported by the University of Regina and The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences.
Quandaries & Queries page Home page University of Regina PIMS