Polygons and Circles

Date: 4/3/96 at 14:38:10
From: "Rebecca J. White"
Subject: math question

Dear Dr. MATH,

Is a circle a polygon?  Why or why not?

What is a 3-D shape that has 18 sides called?

From Ryan, Amanda, and Danielle

Date: 4/3/96 at 16:56:49
From: Doctor Jodi
Subject: Re: math question

Hi Ryan, Amanda, and Danielle!  Thanks for your questions.

Since the Greek prefix for 18 is octakaideca (which means eight 
and ten), we could call a polyhedron with 18 sides an 
octakaidecahedron.  Boy is that a name for a shape!  Can you think 
of any ways to make one of those?

What might you nickname an octakaidecahedron?

As for calling a circle a polygon.. Boy this is a very interesting 
question!  Well, as you add more and more sides to a polygon, it 
does start to look more and more like a circle.  So some people, 
even some mathematicians, have called a circle an "infinite 
polygon"--that is, a polygon with infinitely many sides.  Other 
people heartily disagree.

I'm not sure what to think about the whole thing... What about you 
three?

-Doctor Jodi,  The Math Forum