# Math Help - sum of interior angles of a 7-point star.

1. ## sum of interior angles of a 7-point star.

Dear sir ,
I would appreciate if anyone can show me the solution to the below question.
thanks
Kingman
What is the value of the angles A+B+C+D+E+F+G in the beolw figure ?

2. Hello, kingman!

I have a very primitive solution.

$\text{What is the sum of the angles }A\!+\!B\!+\!C\!+\!D\!+\!E\!+\!F\!+\!G\text{ in the figure?}$

Place a pencil on $\,AC$, the eraser at $\,A$, the point at $\,C.$

Rotate the pencil about $\,C$ so that the eraser is at $\,E$.
Rotate the pencil about $\,E$ so that the point is at $\,G.$
Rotate the pencil about $\,G$ so that the eraser is at $\,B.$
Rotate the pencil about $\,B$ so that the point is at $\,D.$
Rotate the pencil about $\,D$ so that the eraser is at $\,F.$
Rotate the pencil about $\,F$ so that the point is at $\,A.$
Rotate the pencil about $\,A$ so that the eraser is at $\,C.$

We find that the pencil has undergone $1\tfrac{1}{2}$ rotations.

Therefore: . $A\!+\!B\!+\!C\!+\!D\!+\!E\!+\!F\!+\!G \:=\:540^o$

3. Originally Posted by kingman
Dear sir ,
I would appreciate if anyone can show me the solution to the below question.
thanks
Kingman
What is the value of the angles A+B+C+D+E+F+G in the beolw figure ?
Assuming that the star is uniform, you can try this method.

Lets begin with the triangle with angle A as one of its angle, label the two remaining angles with 1 and 2 (your preference). Then, label the opposite angles in the neighbouring triangle as well. Introduce some new angles, and repeat the process until you have all the angles in the 7 exterior triangles labelled. Now, label the heptagon inside, ie 180 - 1, 180 -2 ....

A + 1 + 2 = 180
B + 2 + 3 = 180
Do for all the rest and get 7 equations and sum them all up:
A+...+G + 2 (1 + 2 + ... + 7) =1260

Then set up another equation by summing up all the angles in the inner heptagon.
Yeah, just follow these boring steps if it comes out in a test, else go for Soroban's more interesting way of solving.

4. Thanks very much Soroban for the graphical approach to the question but I wonder whether it can done in the similar fashion iwhen solving the above problem if we take a 5 -point star instead and taking advantage of fact that the exterior angle of a triangle equals to sum of the interior opposite angles.
Thanks
kingman

5. another method
mark intersection of GE and DF, H.StraigtenAGEF to form a rectangle.Let AGD be equilateral and GHD isosceles 30-30-120. Revised figure contains 4 90's and 3 60's= 540

6. thanks very much for the solution but would appreciate very much if you can draw out how the final figure looks like and how a rectangle can be formed by straigtening AGEF .Finally can you explain how AGD becomes equilateral and GHD becomes isosceles .
thanks

7. ## sum of interior angles

Hi kingman,
if you look at your diagram with my added pointH you can see that BGHD is shaped like akite and ACEF can be straitened to a rectanglewhich I will call akite with tails at F and E.THe rearrangement does not change the sum of the interior angles but makes it easy to find the sum.Draw the kite as previously described. Extend GH and DH .Draw AC parallel to GD.Drop perpendiculars from A and C meeting DH extended at Fand GH extended at E. Count the angles AC must be equal to FE

bjh

8. Thanks very much for the response and would appreciate if you can use Paintbrush and make a sketch
of the diagram you have just described. Really expeiencing difficulty in visually something without a diagram.
thanks