The difference between any two consecutive interior angles of a polygon is 5°

Question:

The difference between any two consecutive interior angles of a polygon is $5^{\circ}$. If the smallest angle is $120^{\circ}$, find the number of the sides of the polygon.

Solution:

The angles of the polygon will form an A.P. with common difference $d$ as $5^{\circ}$ and first term $a$ as $120^{\circ}$.

It is known that the sum of all angles of a polygon with $n$ sides is $180^{\circ}(n-2)$.

$\therefore S_{n}=180^{\circ}(n-2)$

$\Rightarrow \frac{n}{2}[2 a+(n-1) d]=180^{\circ}(n-2)$

$\Rightarrow \frac{n}{2}\left[240^{\circ}+(n-1) 5^{\circ}\right]=180(n-2)$

$\Rightarrow n[240+(n-1) 5]=360(n-2)$

$\Rightarrow 240 n+5 n^{2}-5 n=360 n-720$

$\Rightarrow 5 n^{2}+235 n-360 n+720=0$

$\Rightarrow 5 n^{2}-125 n+720=0$

$\Rightarrow n^{2}-25 n+144=0$

$\Rightarrow n^{2}-16 n-9 n+144=0$

$\Rightarrow n(n-16)-9(n-16)=0$

$\Rightarrow(n-9)(n-16)=0$

$\Rightarrow n=9$ or 16

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