Inspired by Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Geometry Level 3

Find the value of A + B + C + D + E + F + G A+B+C+D+E+F+G in degrees.


The answer is 540.

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4 solutions

Eli Ross Staff
Nov 11, 2015

Using Vertical Angles and Triangles - Exterior Angles , we can see:

Using Regular Polygons - Angle Sum , the internal heptagon (outlined in blue) has a sum of angles equal to 5 180 5\cdot 180 degrees. However, each of its angles is in the form 180 a , 180-a, for a total sum of 180 7 ( a + b + c + d + e + f + g ) , 180\cdot 7 - (a+b+c+d+e+f+g), so a + b + c + d + e + f + g = 2 180. a+b+c+d+e+f+g = 2\cdot 180.

Each of the angles we want to add up is in the form 180 a b , 180-a-b, and each variable is included in two triangles. Thus, the entire sum is 180 7 2 ( a + b + c + d + e + f + g ) = 180 7 2 2 180 = 3 180 = 540 . 180\cdot 7 - 2(a+b+c+d+e+f+g) = 180 \cdot 7 - 2\cdot 2 \cdot 180= 3 \cdot 180 = \boxed{540}.

Remark: There are many clever ways to approach this problem (e.g., the "pencil rolling" approach), and the result can be generalized. How did you solve it? Post your solution!

Generalisation: Given an n-pointed star, the sum of the angles at the points is 180*(n-4)

Mark Mottian - 5 years, 7 months ago

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Shame on me, I have kind of invented a complex formula : 180 - 2(180 - (180 -360 : n n )) * n n where n n is the amount of angles of the polygon. I should have simplified it...

Fedor Panafidin - 5 years, 6 months ago

I used the same method.

Priyanshu Tirkey - 5 years, 7 months ago
Iskandar Mazzawi
Nov 12, 2015

better quality image: here

Chan Lye Lee
Nov 14, 2015

Here is my approach:

It is easy to show that the sum of angles in '5-star' is 180 degrees, then the other two triangles has angle sum 180 degrees each. Hence the answer.

Arjen Vreugdenhil
Nov 13, 2015

Travel through the diagram from A back to A. It is clear that you make two complete loops around the center, so that you turned 2 36 0 2\cdot 360^\circ .

The marked angle at each turn is 18 0 180^\circ -\ the angle over which you turn when traveling around.

Therefore, 2 36 0 = 7 X = A , , G ( 18 0 X ) = 7 18 0 ( A + + G ) . 2\cdot 360^\circ = 7\cdot \sum_{X = A,\dots,G} (180^\circ - \angle X) = 7\cdot 180^\circ - (A + \dots + G). Solve this to find A + + G = 7 180 2 360 = 54 0 A + \dots + G = 7\cdot 180 - 2\cdot 360 = 540^\circ .

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