Triangles and regular polygons: Types and properties
In a nutshell
Triangles can be classified as right-angled, equilateral, isosceles or scalene, depending on their properties. All interior angles in a triangle add up to 180°. A regular polygon is a polygon with equal sides and equal interior angles.
Types of triangles
Triangle
| properties | Diagram |
Equilateral | - Three equal sides.
- Three equal angles.
- Regular polygon.
| |
Isosceles | - Two equal sides.
- Two equal angles.
| |
Scalene | - No equal sides.
- No equal angles.
| |
Right-angled
|
- Contains a right-angle.
- Triangles can be isosceles and right-angled.
- The side opposite the right-angle is the longest side (hypotenuse).
| |
Regular polygons
A regular polygon is a polygon with equal sides and equal interior angles.
Regular polygon
| Interior angles | Number of sides | Diagram |
Equilateral triangle | 60° | | |
Square | 90° | | |
Pentagon | 108° | | |
Hexagon | 120° | | |
Heptagon | 128.6° | | |
Octagon | 135° | | |
Example 1
Can you identify the type of triangle based on its properties described below?
- One right angle.
- Two equal interior angles.
- Two equal sides.
First, it can help to sketch the triangle.
Based on these properties, the shape is a right-angled isosceles triangle.
Example 2
Is a shape with eight equal sides and eight equal interior angles a regular polygon?
Yes, as all shapes with equal sides and equal interior angles are regular polygons.
This shape is an octagon.