In
geometry
Geometry (; ) is a branch of mathematics concerned with properties of space such as the distance, shape, size, and relative position of figures. Geometry is, along with arithmetic, one of the oldest branches of mathematics. A mathematician w ...
, a hendecagon (also undecagon
or endecagon) or 11-gon is an eleven-sided
polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure made up of line segments connected to form a closed polygonal chain.
The segments of a closed polygonal chain are called its '' edges'' or ''sides''. The points where two edges meet are the polygon ...
. (The name ''hendecagon'', from Greek ''hendeka'' "eleven" and ''–gon'' "corner", is often preferred to the hybrid ''undecagon'', whose first part is formed from Latin ''undecim'' "eleven".)
Regular hendecagon
A ''
regular hendecagon'' is represented by
Schläfli symbol
In geometry, the Schläfli symbol is a notation of the form \ that defines List of regular polytopes and compounds, regular polytopes and tessellations.
The Schläfli symbol is named after the 19th-century Swiss mathematician Ludwig Schläfli, wh ...
.
A regular hendecagon has
internal angle
In geometry, an angle of a polygon is formed by two adjacent edge (geometry), sides. For a simple polygon (non-self-intersecting), regardless of whether it is Polygon#Convexity and non-convexity, convex or non-convex, this angle is called an ...
s of 147.
27 degrees (=147
degrees). The area of a regular hendecagon with side length ''a'' is given by
[.]
:
As 11 is not a
Fermat prime
In mathematics, a Fermat number, named after Pierre de Fermat (1601–1665), the first known to have studied them, is a positive integer of the form:F_ = 2^ + 1, where ''n'' is a non-negative integer. The first few Fermat numbers are: 3, 5, ...
, the regular hendecagon is not
constructible with
compass and straightedge
In geometry, straightedge-and-compass construction – also known as ruler-and-compass construction, Euclidean construction, or classical construction – is the construction of lengths, angles, and other geometric figures using only an Idealiz ...
. Because 11 is not a
Pierpont prime
In number theory, a Pierpont prime is a prime number of the form
2^u\cdot 3^v + 1\,
for some nonnegative integers and . That is, they are the prime numbers for which is 3-smooth. They are named after the mathematician James Pierpont, who us ...
, construction of a regular hendecagon is still impossible
even with the usage of an angle trisector.
Close approximations to the regular hendecagon can be constructed. For instance, the ancient Greek mathematicians approximated the side length of a hendecagon inscribed in a
unit circle
In mathematics, a unit circle is a circle of unit radius—that is, a radius of 1. Frequently, especially in trigonometry, the unit circle is the circle of radius 1 centered at the origin (0, 0) in the Cartesian coordinate system in the Eucli ...
as being 14/25 units long.
The hendecagon can be constructed exactly via
neusis construction
In geometry, the neusis (; ; plural: ) is a geometric construction method that was used in antiquity by Greek mathematicians.
Geometric construction
The neusis construction consists of fitting a line element of given length () in between tw ...
and also via two-fold origami.
Approximate construction
The following construction description is given by T. Drummond from 1800:
On a unit circle:
* Constructed hendecagon side length
* Theoretical hendecagon side length
* Absolute error
– if is 10 m then this error is approximately 2.3 mm.
Symmetry

The ''regular hendecagon'' has
Dih11 symmetry, order 22. Since 11 is a
prime number
A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a Product (mathematics), product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime ...
there is one subgroup with dihedral symmetry: Dih
1, and 2
cyclic group
In abstract algebra, a cyclic group or monogenous group is a Group (mathematics), group, denoted C_n (also frequently \Z_n or Z_n, not to be confused with the commutative ring of P-adic number, -adic numbers), that is Generating set of a group, ge ...
symmetries: Z
11, and Z
1.
These 4 symmetries can be seen in 4 distinct symmetries on the hendecagon.
John Conway labels these by a letter and group order. Full symmetry of the regular form is r22 and no symmetry is labeled a1. The dihedral symmetries are divided depending on whether they pass through vertices (d for diagonal) or edges (p for perpendiculars), and i when reflection lines path through both edges and vertices. Cyclic symmetries in the middle column are labeled as g for their central gyration orders.
Each subgroup symmetry allows one or more degrees of freedom for irregular forms. Only the g11 subgroup has no degrees of freedom but can be seen as
directed edges.
Use in coinage
The
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar (currency symbol, symbol: $; ISO 4217, code: CAD; ) is the currency of Canada. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $. There is no standard disambiguating form, but the abbreviations Can$, CA$ and C$ are frequently used f ...
coin, the
loonie
The loonie (), formally the Canadian one-dollar coin, is a gold-coloured Canadian coin that was introduced in 1987 and is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint at its facility in Winnipeg. The most prevalent versions of the coin show a common ...
, is similar to, but not exactly, a regular
hendecagonal prism, as are the Indian 2-
rupee
Rupee (, ) is the common name for the currency, currencies of
Indian rupee, India, Mauritian rupee, Mauritius, Nepalese rupee, Nepal, Pakistani rupee, Pakistan, Seychellois rupee, Seychelles, and Sri Lankan rupee, Sri Lanka, and of former cu ...
coin and several other lesser-used coins of other nations.
[.] The cross-section of a loonie is actually a
Reuleaux hendecagon. The United States
Susan B. Anthony dollar has a hendecagonal outline along the inside of its edges.
Related figures
The hendecagon shares the same set of 11 vertices with four regular
hendecagram
In geometry, a hendecagram (also endecagram or endekagram) is a star polygon that has eleven Vertex (geometry), vertices.
The name ''hendecagram'' combines a Greek numeral prefix, ''wikt:hendeca-, hendeca-'', with the Greek language, Greek suffix ...
s:
See also
*
10-simplex - can be seen as a complete graph in a regular hendecagonal orthogonal projection
References
Works cited
*
External links
Properties of an Undecagon (hendecagon)With interactive animation
*
Regular hendecagonsRegular hendecagon, an approximate construction
{{Polygons
Polygons by the number of sides
11 (number)
Elementary shapes