Geometry question

[ndavies]

It works out the octagon sides need to be about 10 inches. The cut needs to be 7 inches from the corners.

http://buster2058.netfirms.com/octag...ayout_calc.htm

[MikeM]

Take a pencil and draw two lines connecting opposite corners - they will form an "X" intersecting in the middle. Use a compass or a nail and string to draw a circle, centered on the X, whose circumference is equal to the edge of the board - the arc of the circle should touch all four sides. Using a triangle or something similar, draw lines perpindicular to the "X" lines tangent to the circle - they will form the four "corners" of the octagon. Slice off those corners and you should have an equilateral octagon.

[agirlintheD]

Take a pencil and draw two lines connecting opposite corners - they will form an "X" intersecting in the middle. Use a compass or a nail and string to draw a circle, centered on the X, whose circumference is equal to the edge of the board - the arc of the circle should touch all four sides. Using a triangle or something similar, draw lines perpindicular to the "X" lines tangent to the circle - they will form the four "corners" of the octagon. Slice off those corners and you should have an equilateral octagon.

Yep, all these years after high school and this still makes NO sense...lol!!!