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Identify hexagons

A hexagon is a two-dimensional, closed polygon with exactly six straight sides and six vertices. Identifying hexagons requires attending to these defining properties rather than a shape’s size, orientation, color, or whether its sides are equal or arranged regularly; shapes with curved boundaries or a different number of sides are not hexagons. This classification supports later work with polygons, attributes, measurement, and composing or decomposing shapes.

Detailed Explanation: Identify hexagons

Start by checking three things:

  1. The shape is closed—there are no openings.
  2. All its sides are straight.
  3. It has exactly six sides and six corners (vertices).

A shape with these properties is a hexagon. Its sides do not have to be the same length, and it can be tilted or stretched.

Example: Is this shape a hexagon?

Suppose a closed shape has corners labeled AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, and FF.

  1. Start at corner AA.
  2. Trace each straight side:
    ABAB, BCBC, CDCD, DEDE, EFEF, and FAFA.
  3. Count the sides: there are 66.
  4. Count the corners: there are also 66.
  5. The sides are straight, and the shape closes back at AA.

Therefore, the shape is a hexagon.

Learn by doing: Identify hexagons

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    Identify Shapes 2D - Count Hexagons

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