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1st Year · Mathematics
2D shapes · Shapes

Triangles

A "Yield" sign, the sail of a boat on Lough Derg, the roof of a house, the support of a ramp at a skatepark: the triangle is the most widely used shape in construction because, unlike a square, it cannot be deformed without breaking one of its sides.

Elements of a triangle

Triangle with vertices A, B and C, sides a, b and c opposite them, and interior angle A marked. ABC side c side a side b A
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In a triangle, we know the measure of two of its interior angles: $\hat{A} = 45^\circ$ and $\hat{B} = 75^\circ$. Calculate the measure of the third angle $\hat{C}$…

In a triangle, we know the measure of two of its interior angles: $\hat{A} = 45^\circ$ and $\hat{B} = 75^\circ$. Calculate the measure of the third angle $\hat{C}$ knowing that the sum of the angles in any triangle is always $180^\circ$.

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Classification by sides

Classification of triangles by their sides: equilateral, isosceles and scalene. equilateral3 equal sides isosceles2 equal sides scaleneall sides different
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To decorate her room, Aoife has cut out a fabric pennant shaped like a triangle. On measuring its sides, she found that they measure $15\text{ cm}$, $15\text{ cm}$ and…

To decorate her room, Aoife has cut out a fabric pennant shaped like a triangle. On measuring its sides, she found that they measure $15\text{ cm}$, $15\text{ cm}$ and $20\text{ cm}$. How is this triangle classified according to the length of its sides?

15 cm 15 cm 20 cm
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A garden is shaped like an equilateral triangle. If one of its sides measures $8\text{ metres}$, how many metres of fencing will we need to enclose it completely?…

A garden is shaped like an equilateral triangle. If one of its sides measures $8\text{ metres}$, how many metres of fencing will we need to enclose it completely? Calculate its perimeter.

8 m
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An isosceles triangle has an unequal angle measuring $40^\circ$. If the other two angles are equal to each other, what is the measure of each of those equal angles?

An isosceles triangle has an unequal angle measuring $40^\circ$. If the other two angles are equal to each other, what is the measure of each of those equal angles?

40° x x 2x + 40° = 180°
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Look at the "Give way" road sign. It is shaped like an equilateral triangle. State the measure of each of its interior angles without using a protractor. Justify your…

Look at the "Give way" road sign. It is shaped like an equilateral triangle. State the measure of each of its interior angles without using a protractor. Justify your answer based on the properties of this type of polygon.

Solve
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In a garden, a fence is to be put up to enclose a flower bed in the shape of an isosceles triangle. The unequal angle measures $100^\circ$. a) What is the measure of…

In a garden, a fence is to be put up to enclose a flower bed in the shape of an isosceles triangle. The unequal angle measures $100^\circ$.

  1. a) What is the measure of each of the other two angles of the flower bed?
  2. b) If we draw the median from the vertex of the $100^\circ$ angle to the opposite side, into what two types of triangles is the region divided? Classify them by their angles.
100° x x Median
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In a video game design workshop, a programmer needs to create a character shaped like an isosceles triangle. The top vertex angle measures $20^\circ$ less than three…

In a video game design workshop, a programmer needs to create a character shaped like an isosceles triangle. The top vertex angle measures $20^\circ$ less than three times one of the base angles. Calculate the measure of the three angles of the character so that the design is geometrically correct.

x x 3x - 20°
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Classification by angles

Classification of triangles by their angles: acute-angled, right-angled and obtuse-angled. acute-angledall 3 angles < 90° right-angledone angle of 90° obtuse-angledone angle > 90°
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Classify the following triangles according to the measure of their angles (acute-angled, right-angled or obtuse-angled): Triangle 1: Its angles measure $90^\circ$,…

Classify the following triangles according to the measure of their angles (acute-angled, right-angled or obtuse-angled):

  • Triangle 1: Its angles measure $90^\circ$, $40^\circ$ and $50^\circ$.

  • Triangle 2: Its angles measure $110^\circ$, $30^\circ$ and $40^\circ$.

  • Triangle 3: Its angles measure $60^\circ$, $60^\circ$ and $60^\circ$.

Solve
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In a right-angled triangle, the two sides that form the $90^\circ$ angle measure $6\text{ cm}$ and $8\text{ cm}$. What are these two sides called in the mathematical…

In a right-angled triangle, the two sides that form the $90^\circ$ angle measure $6\text{ cm}$ and $8\text{ cm}$. What are these two sides called in the mathematical terminology of right-angled triangles? And what is the longest side opposite the right angle called?

90° 6 cm 8 cm Longest side
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In Art class, Aoife is designing a stained-glass window with triangular glass pieces. In one of the pieces, she has measured two of its interior angles with a…

In Art class, Aoife is designing a stained-glass window with triangular glass pieces. In one of the pieces, she has measured two of its interior angles with a protractor, which turn out to be $27^\circ$ and $38^\circ$.\na) Before calculating the exact value of the third angle, make a reasoned estimation of whether this angle will be acute, right, or obtuse (observe whether the sum of the two known angles exceeds $90^\circ$ or not). Based on your estimation, indicate what type of triangle you expect to obtain according to its angles.\nb) Calculate the exact value of the third angle using the property of the sum of the interior angles of a triangle and check whether your estimation was correct.\nc) Knowing that the three sides of this piece have different lengths, classify the triangle according to its sides.

Solve
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In a graphic design studio, they are creating a new logo shaped like a triangle. We know that two of its interior angles measure $42^\circ$ and $68^\circ$. a) Calculate…

In a graphic design studio, they are creating a new logo shaped like a triangle. We know that two of its interior angles measure $42^\circ$ and $68^\circ$.

  1. a) Calculate the measure of the third angle of the logo.
  2. b) Classify the triangle by its angles (acute-angled, right-angled or obtuse-angled).
  3. c) Classify the triangle by its sides (equilateral, isosceles or scalene).
42° 68° α = ? A B C
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A graphic design team must create a logo containing a triangular figure strictly fulfilling three geometric conditions:\n1. The triangle must be isosceles and also…

A graphic design team must create a logo containing a triangular figure strictly fulfilling three geometric conditions:\n1. The triangle must be isosceles and also obtuse-angled.\n2. The obtuse angle is the unequal angle and its value in degrees must be a multiple of $10^\circ$.\n3. Each of the two equal angles must measure strictly more than $25^\circ$.\na) Set up the mathematical relationship between the three interior angles and deduce step by step all possible combinations of angles (triplets) that satisfy these three conditions.\nb) Could any valid solution exist if we added the condition that the equal angles measure more than $45^\circ$? Justify your answer using the definition of an obtuse-angled triangle.

Solve
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In the logo of a new sportswear brand, two rectangles intersect forming several triangles. In the central triangle $ABC$, we know that the angle at $A$ measures…

In the logo of a new sportswear brand, two rectangles intersect forming several triangles. In the central triangle $ABC$, we know that the angle at $A$ measures $45^\circ$ and that the exterior angle at vertex $B$ measures $115^\circ$.

  1. Calculate the three interior angles of triangle $ABC$.

  2. Classify the triangle by its sides and by its angles.

45º 115º ? ? A B C
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During a high-mountain trek in the Picos de Europa National Park, three shelters ($A$, $B$, and $C$) are connected by straight trails forming a triangle. The mountain…

During a high-mountain trek in the Picos de Europa National Park, three shelters ($A$, $B$, and $C$) are connected by straight trails forming a triangle. The mountain guide checks the fact sheets:

  • The angle at shelter $A$ is three times the angle at shelter $B$.

  • The angle at shelter $C$ measures exactly $20^\circ$.

  • The straight-line distance between shelter $A$ and shelter $B$ is $7\text{ km}$.

  • The straight-line distance between shelter $B$ and shelter $C$ is $18\text{ km}$.

  1. a) Model the situation by setting up an equation with the interior angles of the triangle and find the exact measure of the angles at shelter $A$ and shelter $B$.
  2. b) Classify the triangle formed by the three shelters both by its angles (acute, right, or obtuse) and by its sides (equilateral, isosceles, or scalene).
  3. c) A hiker claims: "To go directly from shelter $C$ to shelter $A$ in a straight line, we will have to walk more than $25\text{ km}$". Prove mathematically, using the triangle inequality, why the hiker's claim is impossible.
  4. d) The 112 emergency service needs to install an emergency antenna that is at the exact same distance from all three shelters. Name the notable point (triangle center) that the technicians must locate and explain which lines they must draw on the map to find it.
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The triangle inequality

Representation of the triangle inequality showing how two sides do not meet if their sum is less than the length of the third side. can be built does not close
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Cian has three wooden rods to build a triangular structure. The lengths of the rods are $12\text{ cm}$, $5\text{ cm}$ and $4\text{ cm}$. The figure shows the three rods…

Cian has three wooden rods to build a triangular structure. The lengths of the rods are $12\text{ cm}$, $5\text{ cm}$ and $4\text{ cm}$. The figure shows the three rods drawn to the same scale.

Explain with reasoning whether Cian will be able to form a triangle with them or whether it will be impossible.

Three horizontal rods drawn to scale, with lengths of 12 cm, 5 cm and 4 cm 12 cm 5 cm 4 cm
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A carpenter has three wooden battens to make a triangular frame for a mirror. The battens measure $15\text{ cm}$, $8\text{ cm}$ and $24\text{ cm}$. a) Explain, using the…

A carpenter has three wooden battens to make a triangular frame for a mirror. The battens measure $15\text{ cm}$, $8\text{ cm}$ and $24\text{ cm}$.

  1. a) Explain, using the triangle inequality property, whether it is possible to construct the frame with those measurements.
  2. b) If he decides to replace the batten of $24\text{ cm}$ with one of $20\text{ cm}$, could he construct it now? Explain your answer.
Solve
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An architect is designing a ramp for a skatepark. He has calculated that the main support must form a triangle with sides measuring $x + 2$ metres, $2x - 1$ metres, and…

An architect is designing a ramp for a skatepark. He has calculated that the main support must form a triangle with sides measuring $x + 2$ metres, $2x - 1$ metres, and $10$ metres.

  1. If the triangle must be isosceles, with sides $x + 2$ and $2x - 1$ being equal, what must the value of $x$ be?

  2. If $x = 3$, is it possible to construct that triangle? Justify your answer using the triangle inequality theorem.

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Pythagoras' theorem

In a right-angled triangle, there is a fixed relationship between its three sides.

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A tent has a front shaped like an isosceles triangle. The base of the tent measures $2.4\text{ metres}$ and the two equal sides measure $2\text{ metres}$ each. a) Use…

A tent has a front shaped like an isosceles triangle. The base of the tent measures $2.4\text{ metres}$ and the two equal sides measure $2\text{ metres}$ each.

  1. a) Use Pythagoras' theorem to calculate the height of the tent.
  2. b) Calculate the area of canvas needed to cover only the front of the tent.
1.2 m 2.4 m 2 m 2 m h
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A children's playground has a sandpit shaped like a right-angled triangle. We know that the longest side (the hypotenuse) measures $13\text{ metres}$ and one of the…

A children's playground has a sandpit shaped like a right-angled triangle. We know that the longest side (the hypotenuse) measures $13\text{ metres}$ and one of the sides forming the right angle measures $5\text{ metres}$.

  1. a) Calculate the length of the other side of the sandpit.
  2. b) Find the total perimeter of the sandpit.
  3. c) Calculate the surface area occupied by the sand.
Solve
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Look at the following figure composed of two triangles. Triangle $ABC$ is right-angled at $B$ and triangle $ACD$ is isosceles with $\overline{AC} = \overline{AD}$. If…

Look at the following figure composed of two triangles. Triangle $ABC$ is right-angled at $B$ and triangle $ACD$ is isosceles with $\overline{AC} = \overline{AD}$.

If $\overline{AB} = 8\text{ cm}$ and $\overline{BC} = 6\text{ cm}$, calculate:

  1. a) The length of side $\overline{AC}$.
  2. b) The total perimeter of the shaded figure $ABCD$ knowing that $\overline{CD} = 7\text{ cm}$.
A B C D 8 cm 6 cm 7 cm ?
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Observe the attached figure, which represents a metal piece. It consists of a large right-angled triangle and a smaller one inside it. We know that the horizontal leg of…

Observe the attached figure, which represents a metal piece. It consists of a large right-angled triangle and a smaller one inside it. We know that the horizontal leg of the large triangle is $15 \text{ cm}$ and its area is $60 \text{ cm}^2$. The small triangle is similar and has a base of $5 \text{ cm}$.

  1. Calculate the height of the large triangle.

  2. Using the logic of proportions, calculate the area of the small triangle. (Hint: if the base is one-third, what happens to the height?).

15 cm 5 cm Area = 60 cm² h = ?
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An explorer has placed a rope of $24$ metres around a triangular plot of land to set up his camp. 1. If the plot is an isosceles triangle and one of the equal sides…

An explorer has placed a rope of $24$ metres around a triangular plot of land to set up his camp.

  1. If the plot is an isosceles triangle and one of the equal sides measures $9 \text{ metres}$, how long is the remaining side?

  2. If the explorer wanted the triangle to be right-angled with sides of $6 \text{ m}$, $8 \text{ m}$ and $10 \text{ m}$, would the same rope work? Check also if Pythagoras' theorem holds in this latter case.

Rope: P = 24 m Case 1: Isosceles 9 m 9 m x = ? Case 2: Right-angled 6 m 8 m 10 m 6² + 8² = 10² ?
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Notable points

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