An irregular polygon has sides and internal angles that are not equal.
In order to understand the meaning of the term irregular polygon , it is necessary that, first of all, we proceed to determine the etymological origin of the two words that give it shape:
– Polygon derives from Greek and is the result of the sum of two components in that language: poly , which can be translated as “many,” and gono , which is synonymous with “angle.”
– Irregular , for its part, emanates from Latin. In its case, it is a derivation of irregularis , which is obtained from the union of the negation prefix in , the noun regula ("straight bar to measure") and the suffix -alis , which is used to indicate "quality."
What is an irregular polygon
A polygon is a geometric figure , of a flat type, that is developed by joining a certain number of segments called sides.
Polygons can be classified in different ways according to their characteristics. When its sides and internal angles are not equal (that is, they do not have congruence with each other), we can speak of irregular polygons . On the other hand, if the interior angles and sides of the polygon are equal, the figure will be classified as a regular polygon .
A simpler way to understand what irregular polygons are is to think that this classification covers all those polygons that do not have equal sides and angles, regardless of the number they have. All polygons that do not satisfy this property will therefore enter the group of regular polygons.
The perimeter of an irregular polygon is calculated by adding the lengths of the sides.
Its elements
In addition to the above, it is important to highlight that every irregular polygon is made up of the following elements:
-Interior angles.
– Interior point, which is the one that is within the perimeter of the polygon.
– Vertices, which are the points where the sides meet.
– Sides, which are the segments that delimit the perimeter of the aforementioned polygon.
Due to their characteristics, it can be stated that the vertices of irregular polygons cannot be included in the same circle . Like any other polygon, they can be named differently according to the number of sides : irregular pentagon (if it has five sides), irregular quadrilateral (four sides), irregular triangle (three sides), etc.
Perimeter and area of an irregular polygon
To calculate the perimeter of an irregular polygon, it is necessary to add the lengths of all its sides. Let's see, for example, the case of an irregular three-sided polygon. This irregular triangle can have a first side measuring 10 centimeters, a second side measuring 16 centimeters, and a third side measuring 12 centimeters. Its perimeter, therefore, will be 38 centimeters .
In the same way, we must not overlook the fact that to know the area of an irregular polygon there is another method that responds to the name of triangulation. What does it consist of? Basically, dividing it into triangles and calculating their areas to, finally, add all of them.
And all this without forgetting that there is also the Gaussian determinant method, which is used to calculate the area from a Cartesian plane.