Regular Polygon (Apothem, Across Flats/Corners, Area)
The geometry of a regular polygon polygon-miter (cut angle only) and bolt-circle (holes only) leave out.
Example
You enter
- Number of sides n 6
- Side length s 2
You get
- Across flats 3.4641
- Across corners 4
- Area 10.3923
Details, formula, and sources
The apothem, across-flats and across-corners, interior angle, and area for a hex or octagon. apothem = s/(2 tan(pi/n)), circumradius = s/(2 sin(pi/n)), area = n s^2/(4 tan(pi/n)), interior angle = (n-2)180/n. A 2 in hexagon measures 3.464 across the flats and 4.000 across the corners with a 10.39 area (interior 120 degrees); a 2 in octagon opens 135 degrees and 4.828 across the flats. The across-flats is the wrench size of a nut or the width of hex stock, the across-corners the diagonal, the apothem the inradius. For cutting hex/octagon stock, laying out a polygonal frame or tank, or checking a wrench. Irregular polygons and the miter/bolt pattern are separate. A shop and layout aid; verify critical dimensions on the work.
interior angle = (n-2)180/n; apothem = s/(2 tan(pi/n)); circumradius = s/(2 sin(pi/n)); across-flats = 2 apothem; across-corners = 2 circumradius; area = n s^2/(4 tan(pi/n)).
The regular-polygon relations (apothem, circumradius, across-flats/corners, area) - standard plane geometry as in Machinery's Handbook (Industrial Press), by name; public domain.
Pure plane geometry, public; the side count and side length are user-supplied.
Estimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
Field names used by the API: num_sides, side_length, across_flats, across_corners, area
- Apothem / circumradius a = s/(2 tan(pi/n)), R = s/(2 sin(pi/n)); across-flats = 2a, across-corners = 2Rplane geometry
- Area n s^2/(4 tan(pi/n)) = (1/2)(perimeter)(apothem)plane geometry
- Scope regular convex polygons; irregular shapes, miter, and bolt patterns are separatescope of this tile