What Makes a Shape a Polygon?
Think of a polygon as a shape that follows very specific rules, just like how your favorite video game has certain requirements to unlock levels. A polygon must be a closed, flat figure made entirely of straight line segments that connect at their endpoints.
Here's the cool part - not every shape gets to be called a polygon! The shape has to be completely two-dimensional (flat like a piece of paper), and none of its sides can lie on the same straight line.
If a shape has curves, doesn't close properly, or tries to be 3D like a cube, it gets kicked out of the polygon club. Only the shapes that follow all these rules - like triangles, rectangles, and octagons - earn the polygon title.
Quick Check: Next time you see a stop sign, remember it's an octagon - a perfect example of a polygon with 8 straight sides that connect to form a closed shape!