What is a hexagon?
A hexagon is a flat shape with six straight sides and six corners.
The answer
A regular hexagon has 6 sides, 6 vertices, 3 pairs of parallel sides and 6 lines of symmetry. The angles inside a hexagon add up to 720°.
Hexagon diagram and properties
| Property | Regular |
|---|---|
| Sides | 6 |
| Vertices (corners) | 6 |
| Angles add up to | 720° |
| Each angle | 120° |
| Right angles | 0 |
| Pairs of parallel sidesIrregular hexagons may have fewer. | 3 |
| Lines of symmetryAn irregular hexagon may have fewer. | 6 |
Key facts about the hexagon
- The angles inside any hexagon add up to 720°.
- In a regular hexagon every angle is 120°.
- A regular hexagon splits into 6 equilateral triangles that meet in the middle.
- Regular hexagons fit together with no gaps, which is why bees use them.
Where you see it
Honeycomb cells, the head of a bolt or nut, and the tiles on many bathroom floors are hexagons.
The common mistake
Counting sides by eye and losing track. Put a finger on one corner and count each side once as you go round, or mark the first side with a dot.
An 11+ style question
Lines from the centre of a regular hexagon to each corner make 6 identical triangles. What kind of triangle are they?
Answer: Equilateral triangles
- The 6 angles at the centre make a full turn, so each one is 360 ÷ 6 = 60°.
- Each triangle has two sides that go from the centre to a corner, and these are equal, so the other two angles are equal: (180 − 60) ÷ 2 = 60°.
- All three angles are 60°, so every triangle is equilateral.
Related shapes and skills
More shapes
Questions parents ask
How many sides and vertices does a hexagon have?
A hexagon has 6 straight sides and 6 vertices (corners). Its angles add up to 720°.
How many lines of symmetry does a hexagon have?
A regular hexagon has 6 lines of symmetry. An irregular hexagon may have fewer.
Why do bees make hexagons?
Regular hexagons fit together with no gaps, like squares and equilateral triangles do, but they hold the most honey for the wax used to build the walls.
Shape questions are quick marks in the 11+
Angles, symmetry, nets and 3D shapes come up in 11+ maths and non-verbal reasoning. The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.