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1.5: Triangles

  • Page ID
    34121
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    A triangle is formed when three straight line segments bound a portion of the plane. The line segments are called the sides of the triangle. A point where two sides meet is called a vertex of the triangle, and the angle formed is called an angle of the triangle. The symbol for triangle is \(\triangle\).

    The triangle in Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\) is denoted by \(\triangle ABC\) (or \(\triangle BCA\) or \(\triangle CAB\), etc.).

    • Its sides are \(AB\), \(AC\), and \(BC\).
    • Its vertices are \(A, B\), and \(C\).
    • Its angles are \(\angle A\), \(\angle B\), and \(\angle C\).
    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.52.39.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Triangle \(ABC\).

    The triangle is the most important figure in plane geometry, This is because figures with more than three sides can always be divided into triangles (Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)). If we know the properties of a triangle, we can extend this knowledge to the study of other figures as well.

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.53.53.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): A closed figure formed by more than three straight lines can be divided into triangles.

    A fundamental property of triangles is the following:

    Theorem \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    The sum of the angles of a triangle is \(180^{\circ}\).

    In \(\triangle ABC\) of Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\), \(\angle A + \angle B + \angle C = 180^{\circ}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Find \(\angle C\):

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.56.43.png

    Solution

    \[\begin{array} {rcl} {\angle A + \angle B + \angle C} & = & {180^{\circ}} \\ {40^{\circ} + 60^{\circ} + \angle C} & = & {180^{\circ}} \\ {100^{\circ} + \angle C} & = & {180^{\circ}} \\ {\angle C} & = & {180^{\circ} - 100^{\circ}} \\ {\angle C} & = & {80^{\circ}} \end{array} \nonumber\]

    Answer: \(\angle C = 80^{\circ}\)

    Proof of Theorem \(\PageIndex{1}\): Through \(C\) draw \(DE\) parallel to \(AB\) (see Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)). Note that we are using the parallel postulate here, \(\angle 1 = \angle A\) and \(\angle 3 = \angle B\) because they are alternate interior angles of parallel lines, Therefore \(\angle A + \angle B + \angle C = \angle 1 + \angle 3 + \angle 2 = 180^{\circ}\).

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午6.01.45.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Through \(C\) draw \(DE\) parallel to \(AB\).

    We may verify Theorem \(\PageIndex{1}\) by measuring the angles of a triangle with a protractor and taking the sum, However no measuring instrument is perfectly accurate, It is reasonable to expect an answer such as \(179^{\circ}\), \(182^{\circ}\), \(180.5^{\circ}\), etc. The purpose of our mathematical proof is to assure us that the sum of the angles of every triangle must be exactly \(180^{\circ}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Find \(x\):

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午6.57.45.png

    Solution

    \[\begin{array} {rcl} {\angle A + \angle B + \angle C} & = & {180^{\circ}} \\ {2x + 3x + 4x} & = & {180} \\ {9x} & = & {180} \\ {x} & = & {20} \end{array} \nonumber\]

    Check:

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.00.53.png

    Answer: \(x = 20\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Find \(y\) and \(x\):

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.02.06.png

    Solution

    \[\begin{array} {rcl} {50 + 100 + y} & = & {180} \\ {150 + y} & = & {180} \\ {y} & = & {180 - 150} \\ {y} & = & {30} \\ {} & & {} \\ {x} & = & {180 - 30 = 150} \end{array}\]

    Answer: \(y = 30\), \(x = 150\).

    In Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\), \(\angle x\) is called an exterior angle of \(\triangle ABC\), \(\angle A\), \(\angle B\), and \(\angle y\) are called the interior angles of \(\triangle ABC\). \(\angle A\) and \(\angle B\) are said to be the interior angles remote from the exterior angle \(\angle x\).

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.06.51.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): \(\angle x\) is an exterior angle of \(\triangle ABC\).

    The results of Example \(\PageIndex{3}\) suggest the following theorem.

    Theorem \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    An exterior angle is equal to the sum of the two remote interior angles,

    In Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\), \(\angle x = \angle A + \angle B\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{3}\) (repeated)

    Find \(x\):

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.10.23.png

    Solution

    Using Theorem \(\PageIndex{2}\), \(x^{\circ} = 100^{\circ} + 50^{\circ} = 150^{\circ}\).

    Answer: \(x = 150\).

    Proof of Theorem \(\PageIndex{2}\): We present this proof in double-column form, with statements in the left column and the reason for each statement in the right column. The last statement is the theorem we wish to prove.

    Statements Reasons
    1. \(\angle A + \angle B + \angle y = 180^{\circ}\) 1. The sum of the angles of a triangle is \(180^{\circ}\).
    2. \(\angle A + \angle B = 180^{\circ} - \angle y\) 2. Subtract \(\angle y\) from both sides of the equation, statement 1.
    3. \(\angle x = 180^{\circ} - \angle y.\) 3. \(\angle x\) and \(\angle y\) are supplementary.
    4. \(\angle x = \angle A + \angle B\). 4. Both \(\angle x\) (statement 3) and \(\angle A + \angle B\) (statement 2) equal \(180^{\circ} - \angle y\).
    Example \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Find \(x\):

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.19.05.png

    Solution

    \(\angle BCD\) is an exterior angle with remote interior angles \(\angle A\) and \(\angle B\). By Theorem \(\PageIndex{2}\),

    \[\begin{array} {rcl} {\angle BCD} & = & {\angle A + \angle B} \\ {\dfrac{12}{5} x} & = & {\dfrac{4}{3} x + x + 2} \end{array}\]

    The least common denominator (1, c, d) is 15.

    \[\begin{array} {rcl} {\begin{array} {c} {^3} \\ {(\cancel{15})} \end{array} \dfrac{12}{\cancel{5}} x} & = & {\begin{array} {c} {^3} \\ {(\cancel{15})} \end{array} \dfrac{4}{\cancel{3}} x + (15)x + (15)(2)} \\ {36x} & = & {20x + 15x + 30} \\ {36x} & = & {35x + 30} \\ {36x - 35x} & = & {30} \\ {x} & = & {30} \end{array} \nonumber\]

    Check:

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.25.45.png

    Answer: \(x = 30\).

    Our work on the sum of the angles of a triangle can easily be extended to other figures:

    Example \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Find the sum of the angles of a quadrilateral (four­ sided figure),

    Solution

    Divide the quadrilateral into two triangles as illustrated,

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.27.24.png

    \[\begin{array} {rcl} {\angle A + \angle B + \angle C + \angle D} & = & {\angle A + \angle 1 + \angle 3 + \angle 2 + \angle 4 + \angle C} \\ {} & = & {180^{\circ} + 180^{\circ}} \\ {} & = & {360^{\circ}} \end{array} \nonumber\]

    Answer: \(360^{\circ}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    Find the sum of the angles of a pentagon (five-sided figure).

    Solution

    Divide the pentagon into three triangles as illustrated, The sum is equal to the sum of the angles of the three triangle = \((3)(180^{\circ}) = 540^{\circ}\).

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.31.30.png

    Answer: \(540^{\circ}\).

    There is one more simple principle which we will derive from Theorem \(\PageIndex{1}\), Consider the two triangles in Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\).

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.32.35.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): Each triangle has an angle of \(60^{\circ}\) and \(40^{\circ}\).

    We are given that \(\angle A = \angle D = 60^{\circ}\) and \(\angle B = \angle E = 40^{\circ}\). A short calculation shows that we must also have \(\angle C = \angle F = 80^{\circ}\). This suggests the following theorem:

    Theorem \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    If two angles of one triangle are equal respectively to two angles of another triangle, then their remaining angles are also equal.

    In Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\), if \(\angle A = \angle D\) and \(\angle B = \angle E\) then \(\angle C = \angle F\).

    Proof

    \(\angle C = 180^{\circ} - (\angle A + \angle B) = 180^{\circ} - (\angle D + \angle E) = \angle F\).

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午7.37.30.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\). \(\angle A = \angle D\) and \(\angle B = \angle E\).
    Historical Note

    Our Theorem \(\PageIndex{1}\), which states that the sum of the angles of a triangle is \(180^{\circ}\), is one of the most important consequences of the parallel postulate, Therefore, one way of testing the truth of the parallel postulate (see the Historical Note in Section 1.4) is to test the truth of Theorem \(\PageIndex{1}\), This was actually tried by the German mathematician, astronomer, and physicist, Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777 - 1855). (This is the same Gauss whose name is used as a unit of measurement in the theory of magnetism), Gauss measured the sum of the angles of the triangle formed by three mountain peaks in Germany, He found the sum of the angles to be 14.85 seconds more than \(180^{\circ}\) (60 seconds 1 minute, 60 minutes = 1 degree). However this small excess could have been due to experimental error, so the sum might actually have been \(180^{\circ}\).

    Aside from experimental error, there is another difficulty involved in verifying the angle sum theorem. According to the non-Euclidean geometry of Lobachevsky, the sum of the angles of a triangle is always less than \(180^{\circ}\). In the non-Euclidean geometry of Riemann, the sum of the angles is always more than \(180^{\circ}\), However in both cases the difference from \(180^{\circ}\) is insignificant unless the triangle is very large, Neither theory tells us exactly how large such a triangle should be, Even if we measured the angles of a very large triangle, like one formed by three stars, and found the sum to be indistinguishable from \(180^{\circ}\), we could only say that the angle sum theorem and parallel postulate are apparently true for these large distances, These distances still might be too small to enable us to determine whichgeometric system best describes the universe as a whole,

    Problems

    1 - 12. Find \(x\) and all the missing angles of each triangle:

    1. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.47.38 PM.png 2. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.47.56 PM.png

    3. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.48.27 PM.png 4. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.48.39 PM.png

    5. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.49.27 PM.png 6. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.49.52 PM.png

    7. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.50.17 PM.png 8. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.50.39 PM.png

    9. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.51.01 PM.png 10. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.51.17 PM.png

    11. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.51.38 PM.png12. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.51.56 PM.png

    13 - 14. Find \(x, y\), and \(z\):

    13. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.52.33 PM.png14. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.52.49 PM.png

    15 - 20. Find \(x\):

    15. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.53.08 PM.png 16. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.53.24 PM.png

    17. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.53.50 PM.png18. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.54.10 PM.png

    19. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.54.38 PM.png 20. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.54.53 PM.png

    21. Find the sum of the angles of a hexagon (6-sided figure).

    22. Find the sum of the angles of an octagon (8-sided figure).

    23 - 26. Find \(x\):

    23. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.55.21 PM.png 24. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.55.35 PM.png

    25. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.55.52 PM.png 26. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 7.56.13 PM.png


    This page titled 1.5: Triangles is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Henry Africk (New York City College of Technology at CUNY Academic Works) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.