Regular Polygon Calculator (Area, Perimeter, Apothem, Angles)
Solve for all geometric properties of any regular polygon. Input the **Number of Sides ($n$)** and **one** known dimension (Side Length $s$, Apothem $a$, or Radius $R$).
Input (Minimum $n$ and one dimension)
Key Results
Perimeter ($P$)
Apothem ($a$)
Radius ($R$)
Area ($A$)
Angle Measures (Degrees)
Internal Angle ($\theta_i$)
Central Angle ($\theta_c$)
Exterior Angle ($\theta_e$)
Angle Sums (Total)
Sum of Internal Angles
Sum of Exterior Angles
Step-by-Step Solution
The Fundamental Triangle and Trigonometry
The key to solving any regular N-gon is to divide it into $n$ congruent **isosceles triangles**. Each triangle is formed by two radii ($R$) and one side ($s$). Bisecting this triangle creates a **right triangle**, known as the fundamental triangle, with the following properties:
- **Leg 1:** Apothem ($a$).
- **Leg 2:** Half of the side length ($s/2$).
- **Hypotenuse:** Radius ($R$).
- **Angle at Center:** Half of the central angle ($\frac{180^\circ}{n}$).
Using this right triangle and the tangent function, we establish the core relationship:
Key Formulas for a Regular Polygon
Once one property (like the apothem) is known, all other properties can be calculated.
| Property | Formula |
|---|---|
| Perimeter ($P$) | $P = n \cdot s$ |
| Area ($A$) | $$A = \frac{1}{2} a P \quad \text{or} \quad A = \frac{1}{4} n s^2 \cot\left(\frac{180^\circ}{n}\right)$$ |
| Internal Angle ($\theta_i$) | $$\theta_i = \frac{(n-2) \times 180^\circ}{n}$$ |
| Central Angle ($\theta_c$) | $$\theta_c = \frac{360^\circ}{n}$$ |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What defines a regular polygon?
What is the formula for the sum of the interior angles?
What is the difference between Apothem and Radius?
What is the formula for the area using only the side length ($s$)?
Formula (LaTeX) + variables + units
','
\tan\left(\frac{180^\circ}{n}\right) = \frac{\text{Opposite}}{\text{Adjacent}} = \frac{s/2}{a}
A = \frac{1}{2} a P \quad \text{or} \quad A = \frac{1}{4} n s^2 \cot\left(\frac{180^\circ}{n}\right)
\theta_i = \frac{(n-2) \times 180^\circ}{n}
\theta_c = \frac{360^\circ}{n}
A = \frac{1}{2} a P
$\tan\left(\frac{180^\circ}{n}\right) = \frac{\text{Opposite}}{\text{Adjacent}} = \frac{s/2}{a}$
- No variables provided in audit spec.
- NIST — Weights and measures — nist.gov · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures - FTC — Consumer advice — consumer.ftc.gov · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://consumer.ftc.gov/
Last code update: 2026-01-19
- Initial audit spec draft generated from HTML extraction (review required).
- Verify formulas match the calculator engine and convert any text-only formulas to LaTeX.
- Confirm sources are authoritative and relevant to the calculator methodology.