Geometry
Area from the perimeter and apothem
The general regular polygon formula, which also covers the hexagon.
The Formula
A = 0.5 x perimeter x apothem
The general regular polygon formula, which also covers the hexagon.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Area | square units | The area of the hexagon. |
| P | Perimeter | units | Six times the side length. |
| a | Apothem | units | The centre to side distance, sqrt(3)/2 times s. |
What Each Symbol Means
Asquare units
Area
The area of the hexagon.
Punits
Perimeter
Six times the side length.
aunits
Apothem
The centre to side distance, sqrt(3)/2 times s.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate the area of a hexagon page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate The Area Of A Hexagon, filed under Math. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.