How to find the area of a hexagon

Help Questions

Geometry › How to find the area of a hexagon

Questions 1 - 10
1

An equilateral hexagon has sides of length 6, what is it's area?

Explanation

An equilateral hexagon can be divided into 6 equilateral triangles of side length 6.

The area of a triangle is . Since equilateral triangles have angles of 60, 60 and 60 the height is . This gives each triangle an area of for a total area of the hexagon at or .

2

Find the area of a regular hexagon with a side length of .

Explanation

Use the following formula to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, substitute in the value for the side length.

3

A circle is placed inside a regular hexagon as shown in the figure.

1

If the radius of the circle is , then find the area of the shaded region.

Explanation

13

In order to find the area of the shaded region, we must first find the areas of the hexagon and the circle.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon.

Substitute in the length of the given side to find the area of the hexagon.

Next, recall how to find the area of a circle.

Substitute in the given radius to find the area of the circle.

Now, find the area of the shaded region by subtracting the area of the circle from the area of the hexagon.

Solve and round to two decimal places.

4

A rectangle is attached to a regular hexagon as shown by the figure.

1

If the length of the diagonal of the hexagon is , find the area of the entire figure.

Explanation

13

When all of the diagonals of a regular hexagon are drawn in, you should notice that the hexagon is divided into six congruent equilateral triangles. The length of the diagonal is twice the length of a side of one of the equilateral triangles.

Thus, the diagonal of a hexagon is also twice the length of a side of the regular hexagon.

Substitute in the given diagonal to find the side length of the hexagon.

Now, recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon.

Substitute in the value of the side length to find the area of the hexagon.

Next, notice that the hexagon shares a side with the length of the rectangle.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle.

Substitute in the length and the width of the rectangle to find the area.

.

In order to find the area of the entire figure, add the areas of the hexagon and rectangle together.

Solve and round to two decimal places.

5

1

In the regular hexagon above, if the length of diagonal is , what is the area of the hexagon?

Explanation

14

When all the diagonals of a hexagon are drawn in, you should notice that the long diagonals, marked by solid lines, form congruent equilateral triangles. You should also notice that the other diagonals drawn in with dashed lines are also the heights of two of the equilateral triangles.

Start by using the diagonal to find the length of a side of the hexagon.

Cut the diagonal in half so that we are just left with the height of one equilateral triangle. Notice that the height cleaves the equilateral triangle into two congruent triangles whose sides are in the ratios of .

Set up a proportion to solve for the length of a side of the triangle.

Plug in the given diagonal to solve for the side length.

Now, recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Plug in the side length that you just found in order to find the area.

Make sure to round to places after the decimal.

6

A rectangle is attached to a regular hexagon as shown by the figure.

2

If the diagonal of the hexagon is , find the area of the entire figure.

Explanation

13

When all of the diagonals of a regular hexagon are drawn in, you should notice that the hexagon is divided into six congruent equilateral triangles. The length of the diagonal is twice the length of a side of one of the equilateral triangles.

Thus, the diagonal of a hexagon is also twice the length of a side of the regular hexagon.

Substitute in the given diagonal to find the side length of the hexagon.

Now, recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon.

Substitute in the value of the side length to find the area of the hexagon.

Next, notice that the hexagon shares a side with the length of the rectangle.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle.

Substitute in the length and the width of the rectangle to find the area.

.

In order to find the area of the entire figure, add the areas of the hexagon and rectangle together.

Solve and round to two decimal places.

7

Find the area of a regular hexagon with a side length of .

Explanation

Use the following formula to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, substitute in the value for the side length.

8

A circle is placed inside a regular hexagon as shown in the figure.

2

If the radius of the circle is , then find the area of the shaded region.

Explanation

13

In order to find the area of the shaded region, we must first find the areas of the hexagon and the circle.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon.

Substitute in the length of the given side to find the area of the hexagon.

Next, recall how to find the area of a circle.

Substitute in the given radius to find the area of the circle.

Now, find the area of the shaded region by subtracting the area of the circle from the area of the hexagon.

Solve and round to two decimal places.

9

Find the area of a regular hexagon with a side length of .

Explanation

Use the following formula to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, substitute in the value for the side length.

10

A circle is placed in a regular hexagon as shown in the figure below.

3

If the radius of the circle is , then find the area of the shaded region.

Explanation

13

In order to find the area of the shaded region, we must first find the areas of the hexagon and the circle.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon.

Substitute in the length of the given side to find the area of the hexagon.

Next, recall how to find the area of a circle.

Substitute in the given radius to find the area of the circle.

Now, find the area of the shaded region by subtracting the area of the circle from the area of the hexagon.

Solve and round to two decimal places.

Page 1 of 6
Return to subject