HSPT Math : How to find the measure of an angle

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Measure Of An Angle

What is the sum of the interior angles of a triangle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 90\)

\(\displaystyle 270\)

\(\displaystyle 180\)

\(\displaystyle 360\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 180\)

Explanation:

The sum of the three interior angles of a triangle is \(\displaystyle 180\) degrees.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Measure Of An Angle

Two of the interior angles of a triangle measure \(\displaystyle 50^{\circ }\) and \(\displaystyle 45^{\circ}\). What is the greatest measure of any of its exterior angles?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 95^{\circ }\)

\(\displaystyle 85^{\circ }\)

It cannot be determined from the information given.

\(\displaystyle 135^{\circ }\)

\(\displaystyle 130^{\circ }\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 135^{\circ }\)

Explanation:

The interior angles of a triangle must have measures whose sum is \(\displaystyle 180^{\circ }\), so the measure of the third angle must be \(\displaystyle 180 - (50+45) = 85^{\circ }\).

By the Triangle Exterior-Angle Theorem, an exterior angle of a triangle measures the sum of its remote interior angles; therefore, to get the greatest measure of any exterior angle, we add the two greatest interior angle measures: \(\displaystyle 50+85= 135^{\circ }\)

Example Question #3 : Triangles

Two angles are supplementary and have a ratio of 1:4.  What is the size of the smaller angle?

Possible Answers:

36^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 36^{\circ}\)

45^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 45^{\circ}\)

18^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 18^{\circ}\)

144^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 144^{\circ}\)

72^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 72^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

36^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 36^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Since the angles are supplementary, their sum is 180 degrees.  Because they are in a ratio of 1:4, the following expression could be written:

x+4x=180\(\displaystyle x+4x=180\)

5x=180\(\displaystyle 5x=180\)

x=36^{\circ}\(\displaystyle x=36^{\circ}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

In a given triangle, the angles are in a ratio of 1:3:5.  What size is the middle angle?

Possible Answers:

45^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 45^{\circ}\)

90^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}\)

75^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 75^{\circ}\)

60^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 60^{\circ}\)

20^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 20^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

60^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 60^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Since the sum of the angles of a triangle is 180^{\circ}\(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\), and given that the angles are in a ratio of 1:3:5, let the measure of the smallest angle be \(\displaystyle x\), then the following expression could be written:

x+3x+5x=180\(\displaystyle x+3x+5x=180\)

9x=180\(\displaystyle 9x=180\)

x=20\(\displaystyle x=20\)

 

If the smallest angle is 20 degrees, then given that the middle angle is in ratio of 1:3, the middle angle would be 3 times as large, or 60 degrees.

Example Question #1 : Triangles

The measure of 3 angles in a triangle are in a 1:2:3 ratio. What is the measure of the middle angle?

Possible Answers:
90
45
30
60
Correct answer: 60
Explanation:

The angles in a triangle sum to 180 degrees. This makes the middle angle 60 degrees.

Example Question #1 : Use Variables To Represent Numbers And Write Expressions: Ccss.Math.Content.6.Ee.B.6

Call the three angles of a triangle \(\displaystyle \angle 1, \angle 2, \angle 3\)

The measure of \(\displaystyle \angle2\) is twenty degrees greater than that of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\); the measure of \(\displaystyle \angle 3\) is thirty degrees less than twice that of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\). If \(\displaystyle x\) is the measure of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\), then which of the following equations would we need to solve in order to calculate the measures of the angles?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x + (x+20) = (2x+30)\)

\(\displaystyle x + (x-20) + 2(x-30) = 180\)

\(\displaystyle x + (x+20) + (2x-30) = 360\)

\(\displaystyle x + (x-20) + 2(x-30) = 360\)

\(\displaystyle x + (x+20) + (2x-30) = 180\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x + (x+20) + (2x-30) = 180\)

Explanation:

The measure of \(\displaystyle \angle2\) is twenty degrees greater than the measure \(\displaystyle x\) of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\), so its measure is 20 added to that of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\) - that is, \(\displaystyle x + 2 0\).

The measure of \(\displaystyle \angle 3\) is thirty degrees less than twice that of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\). Twice the measure of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\) is \(\displaystyle 2x\), and thirty degrees less than this is 30 subtracted from \(\displaystyle 2x\) - that is, \(\displaystyle 2x-30\).

The sum of the measures of the three angles of a triangle is 180, so, to solve for \(\displaystyle x\) - thereby allowing us to calulate all three angle measures - we add these three expressions and set the sum equal to 180. This yields the equation:

\(\displaystyle x + (x+20) + (2x-30) = 180\)

Example Question #2 : Use Variables To Represent Numbers And Write Expressions: Ccss.Math.Content.6.Ee.B.6

Call the three angles of a triangle \(\displaystyle \angle 1, \angle 2, \angle 3\)

The measure of \(\displaystyle \angle2\) is forty degrees less than that of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\); the measure of \(\displaystyle \angle 3\) is ten degrees less than twice that of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\). If \(\displaystyle x\) is the measure of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\), then which of the following equations would we need to solve in order to calculate the measures of the angles?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x + (x-40) + (2x - 10) = 180\)

\(\displaystyle x + (x-40) + 2 (x - 10) = 360\)

\(\displaystyle x + (x-40) + 2 (x - 10) = 180\)

\(\displaystyle x + (x-40) + (2x - 10) = 360\)

\(\displaystyle x + (x-40) = (2x - 10)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x + (x-40) + (2x - 10) = 180\)

Explanation:

The measure of \(\displaystyle \angle2\) is forty degrees less than the measure \(\displaystyle x\) of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\), so its measure is 40 subtracted from that of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\) - that is, \(\displaystyle x -40\).

The measure of \(\displaystyle \angle 3\) is ten degrees less than twice that of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\). Twice the measure of \(\displaystyle \angle 1\) is \(\displaystyle 2x\), and ten degrees less than this is 10 subtracted from \(\displaystyle 2x\) - that is, \(\displaystyle 2x-10\).

The sum of the measures of the three angles of a triangle is 180, so, to solve for \(\displaystyle x\) - thereby allowing us to calulate all three angle measures - we add these three expressions and set the sum equal to 180. This yields the equation:

\(\displaystyle x + (x-40) + (2x - 10) = 180\)

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Measure Of An Angle

Two interior angles of a triangle adds up to \(\displaystyle 64\) degrees.  What is the measure of the other angle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 84\)

\(\displaystyle 116\)

\(\displaystyle 148\)

\(\displaystyle 26\)

\(\displaystyle 32\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 116\)

Explanation:

The sum of the three angles of a triangle add up to 180 degrees.  Subtract 64 degrees to determine the third angle.

\(\displaystyle 180-64= 116\)

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Measure Of An Angle

What is \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{5}\) of the measure of a right angle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 85$^{\circ}$\)

\(\displaystyle 22$^{\circ}$\)

\(\displaystyle 18$^{\circ}$\)

\(\displaystyle 450$^{\circ}$\)

\(\displaystyle 45$^{\circ}$\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 18$^{\circ}$\)

Explanation:

A right angle has a measure of \(\displaystyle 90$^{\circ}$\).  One fifth of the angle is:

\(\displaystyle \angle A=\frac{90}{5}= 18$^{\circ}$\)

Example Question #661 : Grade 7

What angle is complementary to \(\displaystyle 65$^{\circ}$\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 35$^{\circ}$\)

\(\displaystyle 130$^{\circ}$\)

\(\displaystyle 65$^{\circ}$\)

\(\displaystyle 25$^{\circ}$\)

\(\displaystyle 115$^{\circ}$\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 25$^{\circ}$\)

Explanation:

To find the other angle, subtract the given angle from \(\displaystyle 90$^{\circ}$\) since complementary angles add up to \(\displaystyle 90$^{\circ}$\).

The complementary is:

\(\displaystyle \angle 90-\angle65 = \angle25\)

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