Math Is Fun Forum

paulb203

Member

Registered: 2023-02-24

Posts: 136

When is a polygon not a polygon?

Is a frequency polygon actually a polygon?

It looks to me like a series of connected lines, a shape, but not a closed one.

Do polygons need to be closed?

If it's not actually a polygon why do they call it one?

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,198

Re: When is a polygon not a polygon?

You're right; it's not really a polygon. It's made up of straight lines (tick) but it's not closed so it fails that test.

Why do they call it that? Search me ... but the language is full of misused words :

"It took light years to happen."

"It was a quantum leap forward."

"To boldly go where no one has gone before."

"He sailed the Atlantic single handed. " This one was from a BBC news report that had me laughing.

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

paulb203

Member

Registered: 2023-02-24

Posts: 136

Re: When is a polygon not a polygon?

Thanks, Bob.
I found out what it actually is. It's a polygonal chain. So they should be called Frequency Polygonal chains