What is the area of this hexagon?

1 Answer
Jan 9, 2016

Most likely, this question is about a regular hexagon with a given size #a# of a side.

The answer is:
#S = (3sqrt(3))/2a^2#

Explanation:

If we connect a center of a regular hexagon with all #6# vertices, we will get #6# equilateral triangles with each side equal to #a#.

The proof is trivial. Since this hexagon is regular, the distances from its center to all vertices are equal to each other. Hence, all these triangles are isosceles with a top being in the center of a hexagon.
In addition, an angle at the top of each triangle is #1/6# of #360^o#, that is #60^o#.
Two other angles of each triangle, therefore, are also equal to #60^o#.
That makes each isosceles triangle an equilateral one.

An equilateral triangle with a side #a# has an altitude equal to
#sqrt(a^2-(a/2)^2) = a sqrt(3)/2#

Therefore, its area is
#S_(Delta) = 1/2 a^2 sqrt(3)/2 = sqrt(3)/4a^2#

The area of a hexagon in #6# times greater, that is
#S_(hexagon) = (6sqrt(3))/4a^2 = (3sqrt(3))/2a^2#