Concept of the Area of a Polygon
Big Idea: The area of a polygon is the measure of the two-dimensional space enclosed within its boundary, expressed in square units. Every polygon's area can be calculated by decomposing it into simpler shapes like triangles and rectangles.
1. What is a Polygon?
A polygon is a closed, flat (2D) figure made up of straight line segments called sides. Polygons are named by their number of sides:
| Sides | Name | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Triangle | Roof truss |
| 4 | Quadrilateral | Window pane |
| 5 | Pentagon | Pentagon building |
| 6 | Hexagon | Honeycomb cell |
| $n$ | $n$-gon | General polygon |