Hexagon vs. Hexagram

Date: 01/11/99 at 10:57:14
From: pvazqez
Subject: Hexagon vs hexagram

What is the difference between a hexagon and a hexagram?

Date: 01/11/99 at 12:29:59
From: Doctor Rick
Subject: Re: Hexagon vs hexagram

Hi, and welcome to Ask Dr. Math.

A hexagon is a polygon with six sides. A hexagram also has six sides, 
but they are arranged in two overlapping triangles. A hexagram is also 
known as a star of David.

You can make a hexagram by starting with a hexagon and joining 
alternate pairs of vertices. That is, if you number the vertices of the 
hexagon in the order in which they are connected, then connect 1 to 3, 
3 to 5, 5 to 1, 2 to 4, 4 to 6, and 6 to 2, the new lines make a 
hexagram. You can do likewise with a pentagon to make a pentagram 
(5-pointed star). Starting with a heptagon (7 sides), you can make two 
different "star polygons" by joining every second vertex or every third 
vertex.

- Doctor Rick, The Math Forum
  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/