AMC8 2009 8, Problem 9

Construct a square on one side of an equilateral triangle. On one non-adjacent side of the square, construct a regular pentagon, as shown. On a non-adjacent side of the pentagon, construct a hexagon. Continue to construct regular polygons in the same way, until you construct an octagon. How many sides does the resulting polygon have? [asy] defaultpen(linewidth(0.6)); pair O=origin, A=(0,1), B=A+1*dir(60), C=(1,1), D=(1,0), E=D+1*dir(-72), F=E+1*dir(-144), G=O+1*dir(-108); draw(O--A--B--C--D--E--F--G--cycle); draw(O--D, dashed); draw(A--C, dashed);[/asy]

Solution: Of the six shapes used to create the polygon, the triangle and octagon are adjacent to the others on one side, and the others are adjacent on two sides. In the triangle and octagon $3+8-2(1)=9$ sides are on the outside of the final polygon. In the other shapes $4+5+6+7-4(2) = 14$ sides are on the outside. The resulting polygon has $9+14 = \fbox{23}$ sides.

Answer: 23