GED Math : Angles and Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Angles And Triangles

Which of the following can be the measures of the three angles of an acute isosceles triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For the triangle to be acute, all three angles must measure less than . We can eliminate  and  for this reason. 

In an isosceles triangle, at least two angles are congruent, so we can eliminate .

The degree measures of the three angles of a triangle must total 180, so, since , we can eliminate .

 is correct.

Example Question #1 : Angles And Triangles

Triangle

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above triangle. Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The degree measures of a triangle total , so

Example Question #55 : Triangles

Triangle

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above figure. Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The degree measures of the interior angles of a triangle total , so, if we let  be the measure of the unmarked angle, then

Three angles with measures  together form a straight angle, so

Example Question #3 : Angles And Triangles

Thingy

Figure drawn to scale.

Refer to the above diagram. 

Which of the following is a valid description of  ?

Possible Answers:

Right

Equiangular

Obtuse

Acute

Correct answer:

Obtuse

Explanation:

One of the angles of  - namely,  - can be seen to be an obtuse angle, as it is wider than a right angle. This makes , by definition, an obtuse triangle.

Example Question #2 : Angles And Triangles

Thingy

Refer to the above diagram. 

Which of the following is a valid description of  ?

Possible Answers:

Acute

Right

Obtuse

Equiangular

Correct answer:

Right

Explanation:

One of the angles of  - namely,  - is marked as a right angle. This makes , by definition, a right triangle.

Example Question #3 : Angles And Triangles

Which of the following follows from the fact that ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A congruency statement about two triangles implies nothing about the relationship between two angles of one of the triangles, so  is not correct.

Also, letters in the same position between the two triangles refer to corresponding - and subsequently, congruent - angles. Therefore,  implies that:

Of the given choices, only  is a consequence. It is the correct response.

Example Question #4 : Angles And Triangles

An exterior angle of an isosceles triangle measures . What is the greatest measure of any of the three angles of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to answer this question.

Correct answer:

Insufficient information is given to answer this question.

Explanation:

The triangle has an exterior angle of , so it has an interior angle of . By the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, an isosceles triangle must have two congruent angles; there are two possible scenarios that fit this criterion:

Case 1: Two angles have measure . The third angle will have measure

.

 will be the greatest of the angle measures.

Case 2: One angle has measure  and the others are congruent. Their common measure will be

.

 will be the greatest of the angle measures.

The given information is therefore inconclusive.

Example Question #3 : Angles And Triangles

An exterior angle of an isosceles triangle measures . What is the least measure of any of the three angles of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to answer this question

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The triangle has an exterior angle of , so it has an interior angle of . By the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, an isosceles triangle must have two congruent angles; there are two possible scenarios that fit this criterion:

Case 1: Two angles have measure . The third angle will have measure

.

 will be the least of the angle measures.

Case 2: One angle has measure  and the others are congruent. Their common measure will be

.

 will be the least of the angle measures.

In both cases, the least of the degree measures of the angles will be .

Example Question #2 : Angles And Triangles

An exterior angle of an isosceles triangle measures . What is the least measure of any of the three angles of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to answer this question.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The triangle has an exterior angle of , so it has an interior angle of .

Since this is an obtuse angle, its other two angles must be acute. By the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, an isosceles triangle must have two congruent angles - the acute angles are those. Since the sum of their measures is the same as their remote exterior angle -  - each has measure .This is the correct response.

Example Question #4 : Angles And Triangles

An exterior angle of an isosceles triangle measures . What is the greatest measure of any of the three angles of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to answer this question.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The triangle has an exterior angle of , so it has an interior angle of .

Since this is an obtuse angle, its other two angles must be acute. Therefore, this angle is the one of greatest measure.

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