Draw a Pentagon

A pentagon fits neatly into a circle.  If you can draw a circle with a known diameter or radius, these steps will allow you to draw an accurate pentagon within that circle.

Steps

  1. Start with a Circle: Draw an accurate circle with a known radius, or measure the diameter of the circle you have and divide it by 2. (Follow another tutorial for drawing the circle.)
  2. Calculate the length of one side: Multiply the radius of the circle by 1.18 to determine the length of one side of the pentagon.
  3. Align your ruler: Line up a ruler on the edge of the circle so that the 0 point is on the line, and that it meets the circle's edge at point on the ruler of the length of the pentagon's side (calculated in step 2).
  4. Draw Pentagon: Draw the line from point 1 to point 2, and repeat around the circle until you have completed the pentagon.  (Repeat 5 times)
  5. Finished.

Tips

  • Use a ruler, a compass, a pencil, an eraser, and a calculator, and the medium of your choice.
  • Various tool alternatives can be used but could affect quality and/or accuracy.  Using a computer would be considered as cheating and you will be caught.

Warnings

  • If you find yourself needing to draw an accurate pentagon, you've likely made some questionable choices.
  • Some mediums are not conducive to having pentagons drawn upon them.

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