How points around a polygon are labelled

Hi,

Coming from the UK, I have seen a lot of variation of the definitions that I am used to. One that I am yet to get my head around is how the points are labelled in a polygon. For example, in a square, I would label, starting from the top left and going clockwise. However, reading further on in the problem, it turns out that I should've started in the top left and then the top right, bottom left and bottom right. Is there a universal point labelling method on brilliant or does it vary by problem?

#Support #HelpMe! #Math #Opinions

Easy Math Editor

This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.

When posting on Brilliant:

Use the emojis to react to an explanation, whether you're congratulating a job well done , or just really confused .
Ask specific questions about the challenge or the steps in somebody's explanation. Well-posed questions can add a lot to the discussion, but posting "I don't understand!" doesn't help anyone.
Try to contribute something new to the discussion, whether it is an extension, generalization or other idea related to the challenge.
Stay on topic — we're all here to learn more about math and science, not to hear about your favorite get-rich-quick scheme or current world events.

Markdown	Appears as
`italics` or `_italics_`	italics
`bold` or `__bold__`	bold
- bulleted - list	bulleted list
1. numbered 2. list	numbered list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1 paragraph 2	paragraph 1 paragraph 2
`[example link](https://brilliant.org)`	example link
`> This is a quote`	This is a quote
# I indented these lines # 4 spaces, and now they show # up as a code block. print "hello world"	# I indented these lines # 4 spaces, and now they show # up as a code block. print "hello world"

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `$` ... `$` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$

Comments

This is what's told me on high school to be universal: start in the bottom left and go anti-clockwise. In some polygons, it is not obvious what the bottom left is (e.g. a regular hexagon), so I just pick one. I have never seen some polygon being labeled like you described (zigzagging), all labelings that I've seen go around the polygon only.

Tim Vermeulen - 7 years, 10 months ago

Oh okay, I've usually labelled from the top left and clockwise, I'll give your method a try, thanks!

Lewis Tough - 7 years, 10 months ago

Points are labelled in order. It doesn't matter whether you use clockwise or anti clockwise (unless otherwise stated). It doesn't matter where you chose to start. Your answer should stay the same, even if your friend is looking at your diagram from across the table, or if you are looking at it's reflection in a mirror.

For example, if you are told that $ABCD$ is a square, then as long as $A$ and $C$ are opposite, and $B$ and $D$ are opposite, that's fine. It doesn't matter if $A$ is in the bottom left, or if $A$ is in the top left. $B$ has to be next to it, and the rest of the vertices should follow in order.

Could you state / link the problem which you are referring to? I'd check the writeup and see if the vertices were wrongly labelled.

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years, 9 months ago

It was one from last week I think, I'll try and find it.

Lewis Tough - 7 years, 9 months ago

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `\(` ... `\)` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$