PAss Functional Skills

Angles in polygons

Angles in polygons for GCSE Physics OCR: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • GCSE
  • OCR
  • Physics
  • Spec A8
  • 8 min read
  • 7 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes
2 min read

What is angles in polygons?

Listen to this box

Transcript

A short spoken summary of angles in polygons and where it is used.

A spoken walk-through of angles in polygons before you read the notes.
Sketch the shape even when the question does not ask for one — it makes the next step obvious.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
2 rows

The angles in polygons reference table

Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing angles in polygons laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
Term
Meaning
Example
Common slip
Marks
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 1 column 4
Row 1 column 5
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 2 column 4
Row 2 column 5

Learning

3 boxes
3 steps

How to work with angles in polygons

The examiner marks the working, so a correct answer with no method still drops marks.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for angles in polygons in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
Answer: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
2 rules

Key facts: Angles in polygons

This idea appears again in the higher-mark questions, so it is worth over-learning.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing angles in polygons laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.

  • Rule 1

    How angles in polygons behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

  • Rule 2

    How angles in polygons behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left
4 steps

How to work with angles in polygons

Sketch the shape even when the question does not ask for one — it makes the next step obvious.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for angles in polygons in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
Answer: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

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Examples

2 boxes
4 marks · worked

Worked example: angles in polygons

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
2 marks · worked

Practice question 7: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

The examiner marks the working, so a correct answer with no method still drops marks.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing angles in polygons laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.

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Common questions

How many marks is angles in polygons usually worth?
Between one and four, depending on how many steps the question asks for.
Is this on the GCSE Physics OCR paper?
Yes — it sits in the Inheritance strand.