Final answer:
The difference between constructing a square and a regular hexagon lies in the use of the circle's radius or diameter. For a square, the side lengths equal the diameter of the circle, while for a hexagon, the side lengths match the circle's radius. Hexagonal packing is also more space-efficient compared to square packing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary difference between constructing a square and constructing a regular hexagon relates to the use of a circle's radius (r) and diameter (2r). When constructing a square, each side of the square equals the diameter of the circle, which is twice the length of the radius. In contrast, when constructing a regular hexagon, each side of the hexagon equals the radius of the circumscribed circle. Additionally, for a hexagon, you can place six arcs around the circle, each arc being equal in length to the radius, to determine the vertices of the hexagon.
In terms of packing efficiency, a hexagonal-packed arrangement is more space-efficient than a square-packed arrangement. While square packing covers 78 percent of the area, hexagonal packing yields 91 percent coverage, demonstrating the more efficient use of space in the hexagonal grid.