Polygon and star shapes in Figma - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding Polygon and Star Shape Properties

In Figma, when you create a polygon or star shape, you can adjust the number of points and the inner radius (for stars). Which property directly controls the number of corners or points on these shapes?

A The 'Points' property

B The 'Stroke' property

C The 'Fill' property

D The 'Opacity' property

💡 Hint

Think about how many corners a shape has and which setting changes that number.

The 'Points' property controls how many corners or points a polygon or star has. Increasing this number adds more corners.

❓ visualization

intermediate

Visualizing the Effect of Inner Radius on Star Shapes

You create a star shape in Figma and adjust the 'Inner Radius' slider. What visual change will you see as you increase the inner radius?

A The star's inner points move closer to the center, making the star look more like a circle

B The star's inner points move away from the center, making the star look more spiky

C The star's outer points become rounded

D The star's color changes automatically

💡 Hint

Think about what happens when the inner radius grows larger relative to the outer radius.

Increasing the inner radius moves the star's inner points farther from the center, making the star's spikes longer and more pronounced.

❓ data_modeling

advanced

Modeling Polygon Point Coordinates

You want to calculate the coordinates of each point of a regular polygon with n sides centered at the origin (0,0) with radius r. Which formula correctly calculates the x-coordinate of the k-th point (0-based index)?

A x = r * cos(2 * π * k / n)

B x = r * sin(2 * π * k / n)

C x = r * cos(π * k / n)

D x = r * sin(π * k / n)

💡 Hint

Recall that points are evenly spaced around a circle, and cosine gives the horizontal coordinate.

The x-coordinate of each point on a regular polygon is calculated using x = r * cos(2πk/n), where k is the point index and n is the number of points.

🔧 Formula Fix

advanced

Fixing Incorrect Star Point Calculation

Given the formula for star points, a developer wrote this code to calculate the y-coordinate of the inner points of a star with n points and inner radius r_in:

y = r_in * cos(π * k / n)

What is wrong with this formula?

A The radius should be outer radius, not inner radius

B The angle should be multiplied by 2π, not π

C It should use sine instead of cosine for y-coordinate

D The index k should start at 1, not 0

💡 Hint

Think about the relationship between sine and cosine for coordinates on a circle.

For coordinates on a circle, the y-coordinate is calculated using sine, not cosine. Using cosine for y causes incorrect vertical positioning.

🎯 Scenario

expert

Designing a Dashboard with Polygon and Star Shape Visuals

You are designing a business intelligence dashboard in Figma that uses polygon and star shapes to represent performance metrics. You want to ensure the shapes are accessible and clear for all users. Which practice should you prioritize?

A Use only star shapes with many points to make the dashboard look complex

B Use low contrast colors to reduce eye strain

C Avoid any text labels to keep the dashboard minimalistic

D Use high contrast colors and provide text labels for each shape

💡 Hint

Think about accessibility and clarity for all users, including those with visual impairments.

High contrast colors improve visibility, and text labels help users understand the meaning of shapes, making the dashboard accessible and clear.

Practice

1. What does increasing the number of sides in a polygon shape in Figma do to its appearance?

easy

A. It changes the color of the shape.

B. It makes the shape look more like a star.

C. It makes the shape look more like a circle.

D. It adds more points to the star shape.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand polygon sides effect

   Increasing sides adds more edges, making the polygon smoother and closer to a circle.

2. Step 2: Compare with star points

   Stars add points outward, polygons add sides around evenly; more sides mean rounder shape.

3. Final Answer:

   It makes the shape look more like a circle. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   More polygon sides = closer to circle [OK]

Hint: More polygon sides = smoother, circle-like shape [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing polygon sides with star points
• Thinking color changes with sides
• Assuming star points increase with polygon sides

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create a 5-point star shape in Figma?

easy

A. Select the star tool and set points to 5.

B. Select the polygon tool and set sides to 5.

C. Draw a circle and add 5 lines inside.

D. Use the rectangle tool and round corners to 5.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify star creation method

   Figma's star tool lets you set the number of points directly, so setting points to 5 creates a 5-point star.

2. Step 2: Differentiate polygon and star tools

   Polygon tool sets sides, not star points; circle and rectangle tools do not create stars.

3. Final Answer:

   Select the star tool and set points to 5. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Star tool + 5 points = 5-point star [OK]

Hint: Use star tool, set points for star shape [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using polygon tool instead of star tool
• Trying to create star from circle or rectangle
• Confusing sides with points

3. If you create a polygon with 6 sides and then increase the corner radius to half the side length, what shape will you see?

medium

A. A hexagon with sharp corners.

B. A star with 6 points.

C. A circle.

D. A hexagon with rounded corners.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand polygon sides and corner radius

   A polygon with 6 sides is a hexagon. Increasing corner radius rounds its corners.

2. Step 2: Effect of corner radius size

   Setting corner radius to half the side length rounds corners but keeps hexagon shape, not a circle or star.

3. Final Answer:

   A hexagon with rounded corners. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   6 sides + corner radius = rounded hexagon [OK]

Hint: Corner radius rounds polygon corners, doesn't change shape type [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it becomes a circle
• Confusing polygon with star shape
• Ignoring corner radius effect

4. You tried to create a star shape but it looks like a polygon. What is the most likely mistake?

medium

A. You used the polygon tool instead of the star tool.

B. You set the star points to 3.

C. You increased the corner radius too much.

D. You changed the fill color to transparent.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify tool used

   Using the polygon tool creates polygons, not stars. To get a star shape, the star tool must be used.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   Setting star points to 3 still creates a star, corner radius affects corners but not shape type, fill color doesn't change shape form.

3. Final Answer:

   You used the polygon tool instead of the star tool. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Polygon tool ≠ star shape [OK]

Hint: Use star tool for stars, polygon tool for polygons [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing polygon and star tools
• Thinking corner radius changes shape type
• Assuming fill color affects shape form

5. You want to create a dashboard icon combining a 7-sided polygon and a 5-point star in Figma. Which steps correctly describe how to do this?

hard

A. Create a star with 7 points, create a polygon with 5 sides, then overlap them.

B. Create a polygon with 7 sides, create a star with 5 points, then group them.

C. Create a polygon with 5 sides, create a star with 7 points, then merge shapes.

D. Create two polygons with 7 sides, then rotate one by 36 degrees.

Solution

1. Step 1: Create polygon and star with correct sides and points

   Create a polygon shape and set sides to 7, then create a star shape and set points to 5.

2. Step 2: Combine shapes properly

   Group the two shapes to keep them together as one icon without merging paths.

3. Final Answer:

   Create a polygon with 7 sides, create a star with 5 points, then group them. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Polygon 7 sides + star 5 points + group = icon [OK]

Hint: Create shapes separately, then group to combine [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing up polygon sides and star points
• Merging shapes instead of grouping
• Rotating polygons instead of using star shape