Welcome! Today we'll explore what a hexagon is. A hexagon is a special type of polygon that has exactly six sides and six vertices or corners. Let's examine this shape and identify its key properties.
There are two main types of hexagons. A regular hexagon has all six sides equal in length and all six interior angles equal. An irregular hexagon has sides or angles that differ from each other. The green marks on the regular hexagon show that all sides are equal.
Regular hexagons have special properties. Each interior angle measures exactly 120 degrees, and the sum of all interior angles is 720 degrees. A regular hexagon has six lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry of order 6, meaning it looks the same when rotated by 60 degrees.
Hexagons appear frequently in nature and everyday objects. Bees create hexagonal cells in their honeycombs because this shape uses space most efficiently. Nuts and bolts often have hexagonal shapes for better grip. Snowflakes display hexagonal symmetry, and many floor tiles use hexagonal patterns for both beauty and practicality.
To summarize what we have learned: A hexagon is a polygon with exactly six sides and six vertices. Regular hexagons have equal sides and interior angles of 120 degrees each. They possess six lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry. Hexagons appear frequently in nature and are valued for their efficient use of space.