The sum of the interior angles of any triangle equals 180^\circ.

As it turns out, there is a general rule for the sum of the interior angles that applies to all polygons:

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon with n sides equals 180^\circ \cdot (n-2).

For example, every triangle has {\color{blue}3} sides. Let's substitute n={\color{blue}3} into the formula to check that it works:

\begin{align} 180^\circ \cdot (n-2) &= 180^\circ \cdot ({\color{blue}3}-2) \\[5pt] &= 180^\circ \cdot 1 \\[5pt] &= 180^\circ\quad{\color{green}{\checkmark}} \end{align}

So, the formula tells us that the sum of the interior angles of a triangle equals 180^\circ, which we know is correct.

Let's see some more examples.

FLAG

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon with n sides equals

180^\circ \cdot (n-2).

Every quadrilateral has n={\color{blue}4} sides. Applying the formula, we get \begin{align} 180^\circ \cdot (n-2) &= 180^\circ \cdot ({\color{blue}4}-2) \\[3pt] &= 180^\circ \cdot 2 \\[3pt] &= 360^\circ. \end{align}

So, the formula tells us that the sum of the interior angles of a quadrilateral equals 360^\circ.

FLAG

Which of the following could be the interior angles of a quadrilateral?

  1. 40^{\circ} , 50^{\circ} , 100^{\circ} , 170^{\circ}
  2. 20^{\circ} , 50^{\circ} , 150^{\circ} , 140^{\circ}
  3. 30^{\circ} , 35^{\circ} , 140^{\circ} , 175^{\circ}
EXPLANATION

A quadrilateral has n=4 sides. Therefore, the sum of the interior angles of a quadrilateral must be \begin{align*} 180^\circ\cdot(n-2) &=180^\circ \cdot (4-2) \\[3pt] &= 180^\circ \cdot 2 \\[3pt] &= 360^{\circ}. \end{align*}

Let's check this for the above three options:

\begin{align} 40^{\circ} + 50^{\circ} + 100^{\circ} + 170^{\circ} = 360^{\circ}\quad \color{green}\checkmark\\ & \\ 20^{\circ} + 50^{\circ} + 150^{\circ} + 140^{\circ} = 360^{\circ}\quad \color{green}\checkmark\\ & \\ 30^{\circ} + 35^{\circ} + 140^{\circ} + 175^{\circ} = 380^{\circ}\quad \color{red}\mathsf{X} \end{align}

Therefore, only options I and II could be the angles of a quadrilateral.

FLAG

Which of the following could be the interior angles of a quadrilateral?

  1. $64^{\circ}$, $73^{\circ}$, $98^{\circ}$, $124^{\circ}$
  2. $73^{\circ}$, $112^{\circ}$, $93^{\circ}$, $82^{\circ}$
  3. $80^{\circ}$, $140^{\circ}$, $49^{\circ}$, $84^{\circ}$
a
II only
b
I and II only
c
II and III only
d
I and III only
e
I only

Which of the following could be the interior angles of a quadrilateral?

  1. $85^{\circ}$, $115^{\circ}$, $79^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$
  2. $59^{\circ}$, $161^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $40^{\circ}$
  3. $80^{\circ}$, $141^{\circ}$, $39^{\circ}$, $100^{\circ}$
a
III only
b
II only
c
I and III only
d
II and III only
e
I only

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon with n sides equals

180^\circ \cdot (n-2).

Every pentagon has n={\color{blue}5} sides. Applying the formula, we get \begin{align} 180^\circ \cdot (n-2) &= 180^\circ \cdot ({\color{blue}5}-2) \\[5pt] &= 180^\circ \cdot 3 \\[5pt] &= 540^\circ. \end{align}

So, the formula tells us that the sum of the interior angles of a pentagon equals 540^\circ.

We can use the same formula to deduce the sum of the interior angles of hexagons, heptagons, octagons, and so forth.

FLAG

Given the pentagon ABCDE shown below, find the value of x.

EXPLANATION

A pentagon has n=5 sides. Therefore, the sum of the interior angles of a pentagon must be \begin{align*} 180^\circ\cdot(n-2) &=180^\circ \cdot (5-2) \\[5pt] &= 180^\circ \cdot 3 \\[5pt] &= 540^{\circ}. \end{align*}

Adding up the internal angles and solving for x, we get \begin{align*} m\angle A + m\angle B + m\angle C + m\angle D + m\angle E &= 540^\circ\\[5pt] 120^\circ+110^\circ + 2x + 90^\circ + x+40^\circ &= 540^\circ\\[5pt] 2x+x+40^\circ+120^\circ+110^\circ+90^\circ &= 540^\circ \\[5pt] 3x+360^\circ &= 540^\circ \\[5pt] 3x &= 180^\circ \\[5pt] x &= 60^\circ\,. \end{align*}

FLAG

Find $m\angle C$ In the quadrilateral $ABCD$ above.

a
$95^\circ$
b
$125^\circ$
c
$110^\circ$
d
$105^\circ$
e
$115^\circ$

In the quadrilateral $ABCD$ above, determine the measure of $\angle C.$

a
$63^\circ$
b
$34^\circ$
c
$75^\circ$
d
$68^\circ$
e
$81^\circ$

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon is 720^\circ. How many sides does it have?

EXPLANATION

Remember that the sum of the interior angles of a polygon with n sides is 180^\circ \cdot (n-2).

To find the number of sides in our polygon, we start by setting up the following equation:

180^\circ \cdot (n-2) = 720^\circ

Now, we solve for n, as follows:

\begin{align*} 180^\circ \cdot (n-2) &= 720^\circ \\[5pt] n-2 &= \dfrac{720^\circ}{180^\circ} \\[5pt] n-2 &= 4 \\[5pt] n &= 6 \end{align*}

Therefore, the polygon has n=6 sides (it is a hexagon).

FLAG

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon is $900^\circ.$ How many sides does it have?

a
$9$
b
$8$
c
$5$
d
$7$
e
$6$

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon is $4140^\circ.$ How many sides does it have?

a
$15$
b
$27$
c
$18$
d
$20$
e
$25$

We've made use of the following theorem throughout this lesson.

The sum of the interior angles of a polygon with n sides equals 180^\circ \cdot (n-2).

This formula works because any n -sided polygon can be split into n-2 triangles using diagonals that meet at one fixed vertex of the polygon.

Let's illustrate this for a few different polygons.

Quadrilateral

Number of vertices: 4

Number of triangles: 4 - 2 = {\color{blue}{2}}

Sum of interior angles: 180^\circ \cdot {\color{blue}{2}} = 360^\circ

Pentagon

Number of vertices: 5

Number of triangles: 5 - 2 = {\color{blue}{3}}

Sum of interior angles: 180^\circ \cdot {\color{blue}{3}} = 540^\circ

Hexagon

Number of vertices: 6

Number of triangles: 6 - 2 = {\color{blue}{4}}

Sum of interior angles: 180^\circ \cdot {\color{blue}{4}} = 720^\circ

The sum of the interior angles of each polygon is the same as the sum of the interior angles of the corresponding triangles.

Each triangle has interior angles that sum to 180^\circ, and any n -sided polygon can be split into n-2 triangles in the manner shown above. Therefore, the sum of the interior angles in an n -sided polygon is

\begin{align*} 180^\circ \cdot (n-2). \end{align*}

FLAG
Flag Content
Did you notice an error, or do you simply believe that something could be improved? Please explain below.
SUBMIT
CANCEL