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The sum of angles in a triangle
Learn step-by-step with practice exercises built right in.
The sum of the interior angles of any triangle is .
In a triangle, two angles measure 45° and 70°. Find the measure of the third angle.
Step 1: Recall Triangle Angle Sum Theorem: The sum of the three interior angles of any triangle is 180°
Step 2: Set up the equation: 45° + 70° + x = 180°
Step 3: Simplify: 115° + x = 180°
Step 4: Solve for x: x = 180° - 115° x = 65°
Step 5: Verify: 45° + 70° + 65° = 180° ✓
Answer: The third angle measures 65°
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Explore more Geometry topics
Acute Triangle: All three angles are acute (< 90°)
Right Triangle: One angle is exactly 90°
Obtuse Triangle: One angle is obtuse (> 90°)
Equiangular Triangle: All three angles equal 60°
An exterior angle of a triangle equals the sum of the two remote interior angles.
Example: If an exterior angle measures , and one remote interior angle is , the other remote interior angle is:
The measure of each angle of an equilateral triangle is .
This theorem is used to:
Two angles of a triangle measure and . Find the third angle.
Use the Triangle Angle Sum Theorem:
Answer:
Two angles of a triangle measure and . Find the third angle.
Use the Triangle Angle Sum Theorem:
Answer:
In triangle ABC, angle A = 3x, angle B = 2x, and angle C = x. Find the value of x and the measure of each angle.
Step 1: Use Triangle Angle Sum: The sum of angles = 180° A + B + C = 180°
Step 2: Substitute the expressions: 3x + 2x + x = 180°
Step 3: Combine like terms: 6x = 180°
Step 4: Solve for x: x = 180°/6 x = 30°
Step 5: Find each angle: Angle A = 3x = 3(30°) = 90° Angle B = 2x = 2(30°) = 60° Angle C = x = 30°
Step 6: Verify: 90° + 60° + 30° = 180° ✓
Answer: x = 30°, angles are 90°, 60°, and 30°
An exterior angle of a triangle measures 125°. One of the non-adjacent interior angles is 55°. Find the other non-adjacent interior angle.
Step 1: Recall Exterior Angle Theorem: An exterior angle of a triangle equals the sum of the two non-adjacent (remote) interior angles
Step 2: Set up the equation: Exterior angle = Sum of two remote interior angles 125° = 55° + x
Step 3: Solve for x: x = 125° - 55° x = 70°
Step 4: Verify using Triangle Angle Sum: Adjacent interior angle = 180° - 125° = 55° All three interior angles: 55° + 55° + 70° = 180° ✓
Answer: The other non-adjacent interior angle is 70°
In a triangle, the angles are in the ratio . Find all three angle measures.
Let the angles be , , and .
The three angles are:
Check: ✓
Answer: , ,
In a triangle, the angles are in the ratio . Find all three angle measures.
Let the angles be , , and .
The three angles are:
Check: ✓
Answer: , ,
An exterior angle of a triangle measures . One of the remote interior angles measures . Find the other two angles of the triangle.
Step 1: Use Exterior Angle Theorem
The exterior angle equals the sum of remote interior angles:
So one remote interior angle is .
Step 2: Find the third angle (adjacent to exterior)
The exterior angle and its adjacent interior angle are supplementary:
The three angles are: , ,
Check: ✓
Answer: The three angles are , , and
An exterior angle of a triangle measures . One of the remote interior angles measures . Find the other two angles of the triangle.
Step 1: Use Exterior Angle Theorem
The exterior angle equals the sum of remote interior angles:
So one remote interior angle is .
Step 2: Find the third angle (adjacent to exterior)
The exterior angle and its adjacent interior angle are supplementary:
The three angles are: , ,
Check: ✓
Answer: The three angles are , , and
In triangle XYZ, angle X = (2a + 10)°, angle Y = (3a - 5)°, and angle Z = (a + 25)°. Find the value of a and all three angle measures.
Step 1: Use Triangle Angle Sum Theorem: X + Y + Z = 180°
Step 2: Substitute the expressions: (2a + 10) + (3a - 5) + (a + 25) = 180
Step 3: Combine like terms: 2a + 3a + a + 10 - 5 + 25 = 180 6a + 30 = 180
Step 4: Solve for a: 6a = 180 - 30 6a = 150 a = 25
Step 5: Find each angle: Angle X = 2a + 10 = 2(25) + 10 = 50 + 10 = 60° Angle Y = 3a - 5 = 3(25) - 5 = 75 - 5 = 70° Angle Z = a + 25 = 25 + 25 = 50°
Step 6: Verify: 60° + 70° + 50° = 180° ✓
Answer: a = 25, angles are 60°, 70°, and 50°
In an isosceles triangle, the vertex angle is twice the measure of each base angle. Find all three angles.
Step 1: Define variables: Let x = measure of each base angle In an isosceles triangle, the two base angles are equal Vertex angle = 2x (given as twice a base angle)
Step 2: Apply Triangle Angle Sum: Base angle + Base angle + Vertex angle = 180° x + x + 2x = 180°
Step 3: Solve: 4x = 180° x = 45°
Step 4: Find all angles: Each base angle = x = 45° Vertex angle = 2x = 2(45°) = 90°
Step 5: Verify: 45° + 45° + 90° = 180° ✓ This is a 45-45-90 triangle (an isosceles right triangle)
Step 6: Check the relationship: Vertex angle = 90° = 2(45°) ✓ The vertex angle is indeed twice each base angle
Answer: The base angles are 45° each, and the vertex angle is 90°