Definition

The straight line distance from the center of a regular polygon to the midpoint of one of its sides.

Example

To calculate the area of a regular polygon, you need to know the length of the apothem.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of an apothem in geometry?

Yeah, I think it’s the line from the center to the side of a polygon, right?

Exactly! It helps in calculating the area of regular polygons.

That's so interesting! Geometry can be quite tricky sometimes.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Apothem is derived from the Greek word "apothemē" (ἀποθέμη), meaning "that which is placed away" or "a setting down." It refers specifically to the line segment from the center of a regular polygon to the midpoint of one of its sides, thus representing a distance that is set away from the center.

Memory Tip

Imagine a line that is 'set away' from the center of a shape — that's what an apothem represents, a distance from the center to the side.

Visually Confused Words