Lesson 4.

Geometric Shapes and Tessellations

Geometric shapes are defined as figures or objects which are bounded by
lines, curves, or points. A shape can be two-dimensional like the square and
circle, or it can be three-dimensional like the cube and cone.
Two-dimensional geometric shapes
Two-dimensional shapes are figures which only have length and width. The
most common 2-dimensional shape that we know is the polygons and the circle.
The polygons are closed figures bounded by line segments that into at their
endpoints.
Example of polygons Examples of not polygons

A polygon can either be convex or concave. In a convex polygon, all of its

interior angles must be less than 180 degrees, otherwise, it is concave. One way
of checking if it is convex or concave is to draw its diagonals. If all parts of the
diagonal lie inside the polygon, then it is convex. If some parts of the diagonal lie
outside the polygon, then it is concave.
Convex Concave

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GECC 103a-Mathematics in the Modern World, MODULE I – MATHEMATICS IN NATURE AND ARTS
 A polygon can also be equilateral, equiangular, or both. Equilateral
polygons have congruent sides and equiangular have congruent angles. If a
polygon is both equilateral and equiangular, it is called a regular polygon.

Equilateral Equiangular Regular

Types of Polygons according to the number of sides:

Number of Sides Name of the Regular Irregular Polygon
Polygon Polygon

3 Triangle

4 Quadrilateral

5 Pentagon

6 Hexagon

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GECC 103a-Mathematics in the Modern World, MODULE I – MATHEMATICS IN NATURE AND ARTS
 7 Heptagon

8 Octagon

9 Nonagon

10 Decagon

11 Hendecagon

12 Dodecagon

𝑛 𝑛-gon

Aside from polygons, circles and other shapes formed by curve lines are also 2-
dimensional shapes.

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GECC 103a-Mathematics in the Modern World, MODULE I – MATHEMATICS IN NATURE AND ARTS
Three-dimensional Shapes
Three-dimensional shapes are solid figures with three dimensions, namely
length, width, and height. A three-dimensional shape has faces, edges, and
vertices.
Edge

Face

Vertex

Here are some of the common three-dimensional shapes:

Name of a 3D
Figure
shape

Cube

Pyramid

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GECC 103a-Mathematics in the Modern World, MODULE I – MATHEMATICS IN NATURE AND ARTS
 Cone

Cylinder

Sphere

The shapes discussed can be seen anywhere in nature, arts, and other man-made
structures. Can you identify the shapes which can be seen in the following picture?

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GECC 103a-Mathematics in the Modern World, MODULE I – MATHEMATICS IN NATURE AND ARTS
 Honeycomb Water Ripples

Earth The Great Pyramid of Giza

Malacañan Palace

Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Charity, Agoo, la Union

Tessellations

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GECC 103a-Mathematics in the Modern World, MODULE I – MATHEMATICS IN NATURE AND ARTS
 Study the pictures given below. What can you say about the images?

The given images are examples of tessellation. A tessellation is created using a

shape or shapes which can be repeated over and over to cover a plane without
gaps and overlaps. Tessellation can also be referred to as tiling. In creating a
tessellation, one concept being applied is symmetry. Symmetry means that a
shape is identical to another shape when it is moved, rotated, or flipped. There
are 4 types of symmetry in a plane. These are translation, reflection, rotation,
and glide reflection.

1. Translation
In translation, a shape is simply slid across the plane or just copied to another
location.

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2. Reflection
A reflection is a shape that has been flipped. The shape is usually flipped to
the left or right with respect to the vertical line (y-axis) or flipped to the top
or bottom with respect to the horizontal line (x-axis). Nevertheless, reflection
can also be done at an angle.

3. Rotation
The rotation occurs when a shape is moved circularly around a central point
called the point of rotation.

4. Glide Reflection
In glide reflection, translation and reflection are used simultaneously. The
shape’s reflection is translated in another location.

In the given tessellation examples, identify the symmetry used.

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 _____________________________ _____________________________

_____________________________ _____________________________

Regular Tessellations
Regular tessellations are tessellations made up of regular polygons. Only
three regular tessellations can be constructed and these are using the equilateral
triangle, the square, and the regular hexagon.

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GECC 103a-Mathematics in the Modern World, MODULE I – MATHEMATICS IN NATURE AND ARTS
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GECC 103a-Mathematics in the Modern World, MODULE I – MATHEMATICS IN NATURE AND ARTS