INVESTIGATION

Task:
How many sets of 3 (all different) polygons can be found such that the three polygons fit exactly
together at a point?

Procedure:
Polygon is a two-dimensional with straight sides.
The formula for calculating the interior angle of a regular polygon is:

((s-2)x180)/s
s - number of sides

Sum of the interior angles of the 3 polygons is + + = 360

No polygon has an interior angle of value 180, because

((s-2)x180)/s = 180
((180s - 360))/s = 180
(180s - 360) = 180s
0s = 360
- This equation has no solution

Hence the sum of two angles ( + ) > 180

The solution can be found by substituting different polygons into the equation:

((a-2)x180)/a + ((b-2)x180)/b + ((c-2)x180)/c = 360

a - number of sides of polygon a
b - number of sides of polygon b
c - number of sides of polygon c

The smallest number of sides a polygon can have is 3 - triangle

Interior angle of a triangle is 60
+ + = 360
= 60
60+ > 180
> 120

The first polygon with interior angle > 120 is heptagon (127,57)
60+ 127,57 = 187,57
360 - 187,57 = 171,43
The result is a value of the interior angle of the remaining polygon.

((s-2)x180)/s = 171,43
((180s - 360))/s = 171,43
(180s - 360) = 171,43s
8,57s = 360
s = 42

The remaining polygon has 42 sides. The first combination of polygons is: triangle, heptagon, 42
sided polygon. If the result of the equation above werent a natural number, (e.g. 42,7631) the
combination of polygons would not satisfy the conditions as polygons have to have whole number of
sides.
The other polygon with angle > 120 is octagon (135)
((s-2)x180)/s = 360 - (60 + 135)
((180s - 360))/s = 165
(180s - 360) = 165s
15s = 360
s = 24
- natural number, remaining polygon has 24 sides.

Continuing with next polygon with interior angle > 120, nonagon (140)
((s-2)x180)/s = 360 - (60 + 140)
((180s - 360))/s = 160
(180s - 360) = 160s
20s = 360
s = 18

Continuing with next polygon with interior angle > 120, decagon (144)
((s-2)x180)/s = 360 - (60 + 144)
((180s - 360))/s = 156
(180s - 360) = 156s
24s = 360
s = 15

The results of calculations with the next polygons (11 to 14 sided) have not yielded natural-
numbered results. Since the 15 sided polygon has already been used in the calculation above, no
calculations with more sided polygons (>15 is needed). Those are all the combinations with triangle
as the first polygon.

The next regular polygon after triangle is square - 4 sides

Interior angle of a square is 90
+ + = 360
= 90
90+ > 180
> 90

The first polygon with interior angle > 90 is pentagon (108)

((s-2)x180)/s = 360 - (90 + 108)
((180s - 360))/s = 162
(180s - 360) = 162s
18s = 360
s = 20

Continuing with next polygon with interior angle > 90, hexagon (120)
((s-2)x180)/s = 360 - (90 + 120)
((180s - 360))/s = 150
(180s - 360) = 150s
30s = 360
s = 12

The results of calculations with the next polygons (7 to 11 sided) have not yielded natural-
numbered results. Since the 12 sided polygon has already been used in the calculation above, no
calculations with more sided polygons (>12 is needed). Those are all the combinations with square
as the first polygon.
Conclusion:
Using the method of trial and error, I have come to the conclusion that there are 6 possible
combinations of polygons that satisfy the conditions. Combinations with >4 sided polygons have
either yielded non natural- numbered results or consisted of more than one same sided polygon.
These are the possible combinations:

1.
Polygon 1: Triangle, = 60
Polygon 2: Heptagon, = 127,57
Polygon 3: 42 sided, = 171,43

2.
Polygon 1: Triangle, = 60
Polygon 2: Octagon, = 135
Polygon 3: 24 sided, = 165

3.
Polygon 1: Triangle, = 60
Polygon 2: Nonagon, = 140
Polygon 3: 18 sided, = 160

4.
Polygon 1: Triangle, = 60
Polygon 2: Decagon, = 144
Polygon 3: 15 sided, = 156

5.
Polygon 1: Square, = 90
Polygon 2: Pentagon, = 108
Polygon 3: 20 sided, = 162

6.
Polygon 1: Square, = 90
Polygon 2: Hexagon, = 120
Polygon 3: 12 sided, = 150