In geometry, an interior angle (or internal angle) is an angle formed by two sides of a polygon that share an endpoint. For a simple, convex or concave of the polygon, this angle will be an angle on the 'inner side' of the polygon. A polygon has exactly one internal angle per vertex.
If every internal angle of a simple, closed polygon is less than 180°, the polygon is called convex.
In contrast, an exterior angle (or external angle) is an angle formed by one side of a simple, closed polygon and a line extended from an adjacent side.
The sum of the internal angle and the external angle on the same vertex is 180°.
The sum of all the internal angles of a simple, closed polygon is 180(n-2)° where n is the number of sides. The formula can by proved using mathematical induction and starting with a triangle for which the angle sum is 180°, and then adding a vertex and two sides, etc.
The sum of the external angles of any simple closed (convex or concave) polygon is 360°.
The concept of 'interior angle' can be extended in a consistent way to crossed polygons such as star polygons by using the concept of 'directed angles'. In general, the interior angle sum in degrees of any closed polygon, including crossed (self-intersecting) ones, is then given by 180(n-2k)° where n is the number of vertices and k = 0, 1, 2, 3 ... represents the number of total revolutions of 360° one undergoes walking around the perimeter of the polygon. In other words, 360k° represents the sum of all the exterior angles. For example, for ordinary convex and concave polygons k = 1, since the exterior angle sum = 360° and one undergoes only one full revolution walking around the perimeter.
Famous quotes containing the words internal, external and/or angle:
“Well designed, fully functional infant. Provides someone to live for as well as another mouth to feed. Produces cooing, gurgling and other adorable sounds. May cause similar behavior in nearby adults. Cries when hungry, sleepy or just because. Hand Wash with warm water and mild soap, then pat dry with soft cloth and talc. Internal mechanisms are self-cleaning... Two Genders: Male. Female. Five Colors: White. Black. Yellow. Red. Camouflage.”
—Alfred Gingold, U.S. humorist. Items From Our Catalogue, Baby, Avon Books (1982)
“It can be fairly argued that the highest priority for mankind is to save itself from extinction. However, it can also be argued that a society that neglects its children and robs them of their human potential can extinguish itself without an external enemy.”
—Selma Fraiberg (20th century)
“It is a mistake, to think the same thing affects both sight and touch. If the same angle or square, which is the object of touch, be also the object of vision, what should hinder the blind man, at first sight, from knowing it?”
—George Berkeley (16851753)