Is a point inside regular hexagon

Question

I\'m looking for advice on the best way to proceed. I\'m trying to find whether a given point A:(a, b) is inside a regular hexagon, defined with center O:(x, y) and diameter

Answer 1

You can use the equations for each of the sides of the hexagon; with them you can find out if a given point is in the same half-plane as the center of the hexagon.

For example, the top-right side has the equation:

-sqrt(3)x - y + sqrt(3)/2 = 0

You plug in this the coordinates of the point and then the coordinates of the center. If the results have the same sign, then the point is in the bottom-left half-plane (so it may be inside the hexagon).

You then repeat by using the equations of the others sides.
Note that this algorithm will work for any convex polygon.

Answer 2

What you want is the code to find out whether a point is inside a convex polygon, an hexagon being a particular case of that.

Here's a good answer: https://stackoverflow.com/a/34689268/516188

I did modify that function for my use, I find my version clearer. It's typescript (you just squint and it's javascript):

function vectorX(v: Vector): number {
    return v[1].x - v[0].x;
}

function vectorY(v: Vector): number {
    return v[1].y - v[0].y;
}

function crossProduct(v1: Vector, v2: Vector): number {
    return vectorX(v1)*vectorY(v2) - vectorY(v1)*vectorX(v2);
}

function isInConvexPolygon(testPoint: Point, polygon: Polygon): boolean {
    // https://stackoverflow.com/a/34689268/516188
    if (polygon.length < 3) {
        throw "Only supporting polygons of length at least 3";
    }
    // going through all the edges around the polygon. compute the
    // vector cross-product http://allenchou.net/2013/07/cross-product-of-2d-vectors/
    // to find out for each edge on which side of the edge is the point.
    // if the point is on the same side for all the edges, it's inside
    let initCrossIsPositive = undefined;
    for (var i=0;i<polygon.length;i++) {
        if (polygon[i].x === testPoint.x &&
            polygon[i].y === testPoint.y) {
            // testPoint is an edge of the polygon
            return true;
        }
        const curPointOnEdge = polygon[i];
        const nextPointOnEdge = polygon[(i+1)%polygon.length];
        const vector1 = <[Point,Point]>[curPointOnEdge, nextPointOnEdge];
        const vector2 = <[Point,Point]>[curPointOnEdge, testPoint];
        const cross = crossProduct(vector1, vector2);
        if (initCrossIsPositive === undefined) {
            initCrossIsPositive = cross > 0;
        } else {
            if (initCrossIsPositive !== (cross > 0)) {
                return false;
            }
        }
    }
    // all the cross-products have the same sign: we're inside
    return true;
}