NCERT Solutions Ganita Prakash Chapter 6 Regular polygons · Split and rejoin — In-text Questions

Book page 136 Updated on2026-09-05

Q1.
Find various objects from your surroundings that have regular shapes and find their perimeters. Also, generalise your understanding for the perimeter of other regular polygons.
Answer

Regular shapes are all around us. Measure one side with a scale, then multiply.

ObjectRegular shapeOne side (typical)Perimeter
Carrom boardSquare74 cm4 × 74 = 296 cm
₹1 coin faceCircle-like (not a polygon)measure with a thread
Bathroom floor tileSquare30 cm4 × 30 = 120 cm
Stop-sign boardRegular octagon25 cm8 × 25 = 200 cm
Honeycomb cellRegular hexagon6 mm6 × 6 = 36 mm
Set-square (60°)add the three sides

The generalisation:

Perimeter of a regular polygon = n × s
where n = number of sides and s = length of one side

Check it against the formulas you already know: n = 3 gives 3 × s (equilateral triangle), n = 4 gives 4 × s (square), n = 6 gives 6 × s (regular hexagon). ✔

Q2.
Split and rejoin: A rectangular paper chit of dimension 6 cm × 4 cm is cut as shown into two equal pieces. These two pieces are joined in different ways. For example, the arrangement a. has a perimeter of 28 cm. Find out the length of the boundary (i.e., the perimeter) of each of the other arrangements below.
Answer

The 6 cm × 4 cm chit is cut into two equal pieces, each 6 cm × 2 cm. Every arrangement uses both pieces, so only the length of the joined edge changes.

Perimeter of one piece = 2 × (6 + 2) = 16 cm
Two separate pieces = 2 × 16 = 32 cm
When they are joined along a common edge of length L, that edge is hidden twice:
Perimeter = 32 − 2 × L
b.28 cmc.28 cmd.26 cmnew22 cm
Arrangements b, c and d of the two 6 cm × 2 cm pieces, and (last) an arrangement whose perimeter is 22 cm.
ArrangementShape formedLength of the joined edgePerimeter
a. (given)12 cm × 2 cm rectangle2 cm32 − 4 = 28 cm
b.L-shape2 cm32 − 4 = 28 cm
c.T-shape2 cm32 − 4 = 28 cm
d.Z / step shape3 cm32 − 6 = 26 cm

Check b by walking round it: 8 + 6 + 2 + 4 + 6 + 2 = 28 cm ✔   Check d: 2 + 3 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 6 = 26 cm

Why the area never changes: in every arrangement the same two pieces are used, so the area stays 6 × 4 = 24 sq cm. Only the perimeter changes — a beautiful example of “same area, different perimeter”.
Q3.
Arrange the two pieces to form a figure with a perimeter of 22 cm.
Answer

Use the rule found above and work backwards.

32 − 2 × L = 22
2 × L = 32 − 22 = 10
L = 5 cm

So the two pieces must touch along 5 cm. Place the two 6 cm × 2 cm pieces side by side with their long edges together, but slide one of them 1 cm up. Then 5 cm of the 6 cm edges touch (the last figure in the picture above).

Walking round: 2 + 1 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 6 = 22 cm
Tip: if you join the long edges completely (6 cm), you get a 6 cm × 4 cm rectangle again, with perimeter 32 − 12 = 20 cm — the smallest possible. Sliding the pieces apart increases the perimeter step by step.
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