Sides and Vertices of Shapes
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Basics on the topic Sides and Vertices of Shapes
Sides and Vertices on 2D shapes
Let’s learn all about polygon sides and vertices in this text. Most 2D shapes are shapes with sides and vertices. So what are sides and vertices? A side is a straight line that makes up a closed 2D shape.
Vertices, or a vertex when we are talking about just one, are where two sides meet to form a corner.
Sides and Vertices on Quadrilaterals
How many sides and vertices does a quadrilateral have? Squares and trapeziums are a type of quadrilateral. Quadrilaterals are a type of shape with 4 sides and 4 vertices, so when someone asks you do you know a shape with four sides and four vertices, you can tell them all quadrilaterals do! So, how many sides and vertices does a square have? A square is a quadrilateral so it is a shape or polygon with 4 sides and 4 vertices.
A trapezium is another quadrilateral with four sides and four vertices.
Sides and Vertices on Pentagons
How many sides and vertices does a pentagon have? A pentagon is a shape with 5 sides and 5 vertices, so when someone asks you for a shape that has 5 sides and 5 vertices, you can tell them pentagons do!
Sides and Vertices on Circles
How many sides and vertices does a circle have? A circle is a special case, because it has 0 sides and 0 vertices, so when someone asks you for a shape that has 0 sides and 0 vertices, you can tell them a circle!
Vertices and sides of shapes – Summary
Most shapes have vertices and sides. You can use these to help identify 2D shapes. A side is a straight line that makes up a closed 2D shape. Vertices, or a vertex, are points where two sides meet to form a corner. In this text we learned that squares and trapezoids have four sides and four vertices, whereas a pentagon has five each. How many sides and vertices does a triangle have? Triangles have three sides and three vertices, hence the name tri (=three). The table below shows an overview of shapes, their number of sides and their vertices.
| Name of the Shape | # of Sides and Vertices |
|---|---|
| triangle | 3 |
| square, rectangle, trapezoid | 4 |
| pentagon | 5 |
| hexagon | 6 |
Also on our website, you will find interactive 2D shapes, sides and vertices exercises where you can answer ‘how many sides and vertices does this shape have?’ along with learning more about shapes’ names (sides and vertices). Also have a go at our worksheets and activities all about sides and vertices of 2D shapes for further practice.
Transcript Sides and Vertices of Shapes
Nico has found an old game console in the attic.
"Ohh, what is this?"
"Hmm... I wonder...?"
It looks like a game has started on the console!
However, Nico needs to learn about sides and vertices of two
"Huh?" "I think that's enough game time for today, Nico!"
"Oh, you're right! Let's do something else now!" "You were right Nia! Playing outside is much more FUN!"
Sides and Vertices of Shapes exercise
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What are sides and vertices?
HintsThis shape has 3 sides. They are marked with light blue here.
This shape has 3 vertices. Each vertex is shown in dark blue here.
SolutionThe square has 4 sides (the straight lines that form the shape) and 4 vertices (the points where the sides meet).
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Where are the vertices?
HintsThere are seven vertices to find in total.
The vertices are the points where the straight sides meet.
There are three vertices in the triangle, and four vertices in the trapezium.
SolutionHere are the vertices that are on the shapes on Nico's game.
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Investigating 2D shapes.
HintsRemember that a circle is the only shape with zero sides and zero vertices.
Count how many sides the shape has. These are the straight lines that form the shape.
The vertices are the point where two straight sides meet.
Solution- The circle has no vertices or sides.
- The triangle has 3 sides and 3 vertices.
- The square has 4 vertices and 4 sides.
- The pentagon has 5 vertices and 5 sides.
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Quadrilaterals.
HintsRemember that all quadrilaterals have four sides and four vertices.
Only 2D shapes (flat) can be quadrilaterals.
SolutionAll the 2D shapes that have 4 sides and 4 vertices are quadrilaterals.
These are: square, rectangle, parallelogram and trapezium.
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How many sides can you see?
HintsRemember that a circle is the only 2D shape with zero sides and zero vertices.
The squares has four sides.
SolutionIn total, there are 17 sides.
- 1 circles = 0 sides
- 3 triangles = 9 sides
- 1 square = 4 sides
- 1 trapezium = 4 sides
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What shape am I?
HintsRemember that the sides are the straight lines that form the outside of a 2D shape.
Remember that vertices are where the two sides of a 2D shape meet.
This is a hexagon.
Solution1) I am a 2D shape. I am special as I am the only 2D shape with 0 vertices and 0 sides. What am I? I am a circle.
2) I am a closed 3 sided shape. I also have 3 vertices. What am I? I am a triangle.
3) I am a hexagon. I have an equal number of sides and vertices. If you add together my sides and vertices it totals 12.
4) I am a closed shape with fewer sides than a pentagon and more than 3 vertices. What am I? I am a quadrilateral.
