Regular Pentagon : Definition, Formulas, and Solved Examples

A regular pentagon is a 5-sided polygon with all sides of equal length and all interior angles equal, each measuring 108 degrees. It is a symmetric and closed geometric shape often found in nature and design. The properties of a regular pentagon include equal side lengths, equal angles, and rotational symmetry of order 5, meaning it looks the same after a rotation of 72 degrees. Additionally, the diagonals of a regular pentagon intersect each other at equal angles and create smaller pentagons and triangles within. Understanding a regular pentagon involves knowing specific formulas, such as those for calculating the area and perimeter. Through solved examples, you can gain a clear understanding of the geometric characteristics of pentagons and excel in competitive exams such as JEE, NEET, SSC, CAT, MAT, and various engineering entrance tests. It also helps to reinforce learning and application in various fields such as mathematics, architecture, and art.

Definition of Regular Pentagon

A regular pentagon is a five-sided polygon where all sides are of equal length and all interior angles are equal, each measuring 108 degrees. Here are some important properties of a regular pentagon:

1. Equal Sides and Angles: All five sides are of equal length, and all five interior angles are equal, each being 108 degrees.
2. Symmetry: A regular pentagon has rotational symmetry of order 5, meaning it looks the same after a rotation of 72 degrees (360 degrees divided by 5). It also has five lines of symmetry, each passing through a vertex and the midpoint of the opposite side.
3. Diagonals: A regular pentagon has five diagonals. Each diagonal intersects at the golden ratio, approximately 1.618, dividing each other into segments that are in the golden ratio.
4. Circumcircle: A regular pentagon can be inscribed in a circle (circumcircle), with all its vertices lying on the circle.
5. Area and Perimeter: The area A of a regular pentagon with side length s can be calculated using the formula Area = ¼ √5(5+2√5)s². The perimeter P is simply 5s.

Also Read: Regular Heptagon: Definition and Formulas

Types of Pentagon

A pentagon is a five-sided polygon, and there are several types based on the lengths of their sides and the measures of their angles. Here are the main types of pentagons:

Regular Pentagon

• All sides are of equal length.
• All interior angles are equal, each measuring 108 degrees.
• It has rotational symmetry of order 5 and five lines of symmetry.

Irregular Pentagon

• Sides and angles are not necessarily equal.
• There is no specific symmetry.
• Each irregular pentagon can vary greatly in shape.

Convex Pentagon

• All interior angles are less than 180 degrees.
• The pentagon “bulges” outward, with no inward indentations.

Concave Pentagon

• At least one interior angle is greater than 180 degrees.
• The pentagon has at least one indentation, giving it a “caved-in” appearance.

Equilateral Pentagon

• All sides are of equal length.
• The angles are not necessarily equal.
• It is a special type of irregular pentagon unless it also has equal angles (then it’s regular).

Cyclic Pentagon

• All vertices lie on a single circle (circumcircle).
• Can be regular or irregular.
• The sum of the opposite angles is 180 degrees.

Simple Pentagon

• Does not intersect itself.
• All sides meet at the vertices, forming a single, unbroken shape.

Complex Pentagon

• Intersects itself, creating a star-like shape.
• Not a simple polygon.

Properties of Regular Pentagon with Formulas

A regular pentagon is a polygon with five equal sides and five equal interior angles. Here are the key properties of a regular pentagon, along with the relevant formulas:

1. Equal Sides and Angles:

• Each side has the same length, denoted by s.
• Each interior angle measures 108 degrees.

2. Symmetry:

• A regular pentagon has five lines of symmetry.
• It has rotational symmetry of order 5, meaning it looks the same after a rotation of 72 degrees.

3. Diagonals:

• A regular pentagon has five diagonals.
• The diagonals intersect each other at angles and divide each other into segments that are in the golden ratio, approximately 1.618.

4. Area:

• The area A of a regular pentagon with side length s is given by the formula:

Area = ¼ √5(5+2√5)s²

5. Perimeter:

• The perimeter P of a regular pentagon with side length s is P=5s.

6. Circumcircle:

• A regular pentagon can be inscribed in a circle (circumcircle) with a radius R. The relationship between the side length s and the circumradius R is:

s = R √5 – √5 / 2

• Alternatively, the circumradius R can be expressed as:

R = s/2 √5 + √5 / 2

7. Incircle:

• A regular pentagon can also have an incircle (a circle that touches all sides), with a radius r known as the inradius. The relationship between the side length s and the inradius r is:

a = s/2 ​cot π/5​

• Alternatively, the inradius r can be expressed as:

r = s/2 ​√5 + 2√5 / 5

Also Read: Decagon: Definition, Types and Formulas

Properties of Regular Pentagon With Solved Examples

These examples explain the essential features of regular pentagons as well as the calculations that are associated with them. By gaining an understanding of these concepts, you will be able to solve a variety of geometric issues and apply this form to real-world situations.

Example 1: Finding Perimeter and Area

Given: Side length = 6 cm, Apothem = 4 cm

Find: Perimeter and Area

Solution:

• Perimeter = 5 x side length = 5 x 6 cm = 30 cm
• Area = (1/2) x perimeter x apothem = (1/2) x 30 cm x 4 cm = 60 cm²

Example 2: Finding Side Length from Perimeter

Given: Perimeter = 50 cm

Find: Side length

Solution:

• Perimeter = 5 x side length
• 50 cm = 5 x side length
• Side length = 50 cm / 5 = 10 cm

Example 3: Finding Apothem from Area and Perimeter

Given: Area = 100 cm², Perimeter = 40 cm

Find: Apothem

Solution:

• Area = (1/2) x perimeter x apothem
• 100 cm² = (1/2) x 40 cm x apothem
• Apothem = (100 cm² x 2) / 40 cm = 5 cm

Example 4: Finding Interior and Exterior Angle

Given: Regular pentagon

Find: Measure of each interior and exterior angle

Solution:

• Measure of each interior angle = (n-2) x 180 / n = (5-2) x 180 / 5 = 108 degrees
• Measure of each exterior angle = 360 / n = 360 / 5 = 72 degrees

Example 5: Real-world Application

A traffic sign is shaped like a regular pentagon with a side length of 30 cm. What is the perimeter of the sign?

Solution:

• Perimeter = 5 x side length = 5 x 30 cm = 150 cm

FAQs

RELATED BLOGS

Vertices, Faces And Edges	Perimeter of Rectangle: Formula and Examples
Surface Area of Prism: Formula and Steps	Area of Rectangle: Formula and Example
Surface Area of a Cuboid: Definition and Derivation	Different Maths Shapes for Students and Kids

This was all about the “Regular Pentagon”. For more such informative blogs, check out our Study Material Section, or you can learn more about us by visiting our  Indian exams page.