The Lesson

The interior angles of a polygon are the angles between two sides, inside the shape.

interior angles of a polygon

The Sum of the Interior Angles of a Polygon

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon is given by the formula:polygons_sum_of_interior_anglesIn this formula, n is the number of sides of the polygon. The formula tells you what the interior angles of a polygon add up to.

Example

Imagine you wanted to find the sum of the interior angles of a triangle. interior_angles_of_a_triangle_example A triangle has 3 sides, so n = 3. Using the formula:

Sum of interior angles = (n − 2) × 180°

Sum of interior angles = (3 − 2) × 180°

Sum of interior angles = 1 × 180°

Sum of interior angles = 180°

The interior angles of a triangle add up to 180°. how to find the sum of the interior angles of a polygon

The Interior Angles of a Regular Polygon

Regular polygons have equal interior angles. There are as many interior angles as there are sides. To find each interior angle in a regular polygon, divide the sum of the interior angles by the number of sides. The formula for each of the interior angles of a regular polygon is:regular_polygons_interior_angles

Example

Imagine you wanted to find an interior angle of a regular quadrilateral.

regular polygons interior angles example A square is a regular quadrilateral. It has 4 sides, so n = 4. Using the formula:

Interior angle = (n − 2) × 180° ÷ n

Interior angle = (4 − 2) × 180° ÷ 4

Interior angle = 2 × 180° ÷ 4

Interior angle = 360° ÷ 4

Interior angle = 90°

Each angle in a square is 90°. how to find the interior angle of a regular polygon

The Interior Angles of Different Polygons

Shape Sum of Interior Angles Interior Angle of Regular Polygon
triangle Triangle 180° 60°
square Quadrilateral 360° 90°
regular pentagon Pentagon 540° 108°
regular hexagon Hexagon 720° 120°
regular heptagon Heptagon 900° 128.57°
regular octagon Octagon 1080° 135°
regular nonagon Nonagon 1260° 140°
regular decagon Decagon 1440° 144°
regular dodecagon Dodecagon 1800° 150°

What Is a Polygon?

A polygon is a 2-dimensional shape with straight sides.

Why Does the Formula Work?

  • The interior angles of a three-sided shape (a triangle) add up to 180°.

    sum interior angles triangle
  • To make a four-sided shape (a quadrilateral), replace a side of the triangle with two sides. This shape is made up two triangles, and so the sum of the interior angles is 2 × 180° = 360°.

    sum interior angles two triangles
  • A five-sided shape (a pentagon) can be made by adding a third triangle, adding another 180° to the sum of the interior angles, so the sum of the interior angles is 3 × 180° = 540°.

    sum interior angles three triangles
Every time another side is added to a shape, another triangle is added, and another 180° is added to the sum of the interior angles. Note that the number of triangles is always 2 less than the number of sides. That is, there are n − 2 triangles for every n triangles. Since there are 180° for every triangle, the sum of the interior angles is (n − 2) × 180° for every n sides.

Exterior Angles

Polygons have exterior angles as well as interior angles.

polygons exterior angle mini The sum of the exterior angles of a polygon is 360°. the exterior angles of a polygon

An Interior and Exterior Angle in a Polygon Add Up to 180°

An interior and exterior angle in a polygon add up to 180°.

how the interior and exterior angle of a polygon add up to 180°