How Does Hexagons Are NotSoGreatAgons Work?

Hexagons are not-so-great-agon shapes that help us understand how some shapes work, like when you're trying to fit together puzzle pieces or arrange your toy blocks.

Imagine you have a bunch of cookie cutters, and one of them is shaped like a hexagon, it has six sides. Now imagine you’re trying to cover a table with these cookie cutters without any gaps. That’s pretty easy with a hexagon because each side matches up nicely with its neighbors. But what if the cookie cutter was a different shape, like a pentagon (five sides) or a heptagon (seven sides)? Then you’d have little bits of space left over, kind of like when your puzzle pieces don’t quite fit together.

That’s where not-so-great-agon shapes come in. They're shapes that are close to hexagons but not perfect, just like how some puzzle pieces might be a little off. These shapes help us see why things don't always line up perfectly, and that's okay!

So when you're playing with your blocks or stacking cups, remember: even if they’re not-so-great-agon, they still make for a fun game!