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Regular heptagon
Regular heptagon
A regular heptagon
Edges and vertices 7
Schläfli symbol {7}
Coxeter–Dynkin diagram CDW ringCDW 7CDW dot
Symmetry group Dihedral (D7)
Area
(with = edge length)
Internal angle
(degrees)
128.5714286°

In geometry, a heptagon is a polygon with seven sides and seven angles. In a regular heptagon, in which all sides and all angles are equal, the sides meet at an angle of radians, 128.5714286 degrees. Its Schläfli symbol is {7}. The area of a regular heptagon of side length is given by

The heptagon is also sometimes referred to as the septagon, using "sept-" (an elision of septua-, a Latin-derived numerical prefix, rather than hepta-, a Greek-derived numerical prefix). The OED lists "septagon" as meaning "heptagonal".

Construction[]

A regular heptagon is not constructible with compass and straightedge but is constructible with a marked ruler and compass. This type of construction is called a Neusis construction. It is also constructible with compass, straightedge and angle trisector. The impossibility of straightedge and compass construction follows from the observation that is a zero of the irreducible cubic

Consequently this polynomial is the minimal polynomial of , whereas the degree of the minimal polynomial for a constructible number must be a power of 2.


Neusis-heptagon

A Neusis construction of the interior angle in a regular heptagon.

Approximation[]

7-gone approx

Heptagon approximation

A decent approximation for practical use with an accuracy of 0.2% is shown in the drawing. Let A lie on the circumference of the circumcircle. Draw arc BOC. Then gives an approximation for the edge of the heptagon.

Heptagrams[]

Two kinds of heptagrams can be constructed from regular heptagons, labeled by Schläfli symbols {7/2}, and {7/3}, with the divisor being the interval of connection.

Heptagrams
Blue, {7/2} and green {7/3} heptagrams inside a red heptagon.

Uses[]

The United Kingdom currently (2008) has two heptagonal coins, the 50p and 20p pieces, and the Barbados Dollar is also heptagonal. The 20 eurocent coin has cavities placed similarly. Strictly, the shape of the coins is a curvilinear heptagon to make them curves of constant width: the sides are curved outwards so that the coin will roll smoothly in vending machines. The Brazilian 25 cents coin has a heptagon inscribed in the coin's disk.

Graphs[]

The K7 complete graph is often drawn as a regular heptagon with all 21 edges connected. This graph also represents an orthographic projection of the 7 vertices and 21 edges of the 6-simplex. The 21 and 35 vertices of the rectified and birectified 6-simplex also orthogonally project into regular heptagons.


6-simplex t0
6-simplex (6D)
6-simplex t1
Rectified 6-simplex (6D)
6-simplex t2
Birectified 6-simplex (6D)


See also[]

Template:Wiktionarypar

External links[]

ar:سباعي (مضلع) ast:Heptágonu az:Düzgün yeddibucaqlı ca:Heptàgon cs:Sedmiúhelník gl:Heptágono it:Ettagono ka:ჰეპტაგონი hu:Hétszög nl:Zevenhoek no:Heptagon nn:Heptagon pl:Siedmiokąt foremny pt:Heptágono sl:Sedemkotnik sr:Седмоугао sv:Heptagon th:รูปเจ็ดเหลี่ยม

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