ACT Math : Plane Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Plane Geometry

 

 

In the following diagram, lines \(\displaystyle b\) and \(\displaystyle c\) are parallel to each other. What is the value for \(\displaystyle x\)?

Sat_math_166_03

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 60^o\)

It cannot be determined

\(\displaystyle 80^o\)

\(\displaystyle 30^o\)

\(\displaystyle 100^o\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 80^o\)

Explanation:

When two parallel lines are intersected by another line, the sum of the measures of the interior angles on the same side of the line is 180°. Therefore, the sum of the angle that is labeled as 100° and angle y is 180°. As a result, angle y is 80°.

Another property of two parallel lines that are intersected by a third line is that the corresponding angles are congruent. So, the measurement of angle x is equal to the measurement of angle y, which is 80°.

Example Question #184 : Coordinate Geometry

The measure of the supplement of angle A is 40 degrees larger than twice the measure of the complement of angle A. What is the sum, in degrees, of the measures of the supplement and complement of angle A?

Possible Answers:

40

140

50

190

90

Correct answer:

190

Explanation:

Let A represent the measure, in degrees, of angle A. By definition, the sum of the measures of A and its complement is 90 degrees. We can write the following equation to determine an expression for the measure of the complement of angle A.

A + measure of complement of A = 90

Subtract A from both sides.

measure of complement of A = 90 – A

Similarly, because the sum of the measures of angle A and its supplement is 180 degrees, we can represent the measure of the supplement of A as 180 – A.

The problem states that the measure of the supplement of A is 40 degrees larger than twice the measure of the complement of A. We can write this as 2(90-A) + 40.

Next, we must set the two expressions 180 – A and 2(90 – A) + 40 equal to one another and solve for A:

180 – A = 2(90 – A) + 40

Distribute the 2:

180 - A = 180 – 2A + 40

Add 2A to both sides:

180 + A = 180 + 40

Subtract 180 from both sides:

A = 40

Therefore the measure of angle A is 40 degrees. 

The question asks us to find the sum of the measures of the supplement and complement of A. The measure of the supplement of A is 180 – A = 180 – 40 = 140 degrees. Similarly, the measure of the complement of A is 90 – 40 = 50 degrees.

The sum of these two is 140 + 50 = 190 degrees.

 

Example Question #12 : How To Find An Angle Of A Line

 \dpi{100} \small \overline{AB}\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \overline{AB}\) is a straight line. \dpi{100} \small \overline{CD}\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \overline{CD}\) intersects \dpi{100} \small \overline{AB}\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \overline{AB}\) at point \dpi{100} \small E\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small E\). If \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\) measures 120 degrees, what must be the measure of \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\)?

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 65\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 65\) degrees

\dpi{100} \small 75\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 75\) degrees

\dpi{100} \small 60\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 60\) degrees

\dpi{100} \small 70\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 70\) degrees

None of the other answers

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 60\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 60\) degrees

Explanation:

\dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\)\dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\) must add up to 180 degrees. So, if \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\) is 120, \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\) (the supplementary angle) must equal 60, for a total of 180.

Example Question #11 : Plane Geometry

Two parallel lines are intersected by a transversal. If the minor angle of intersection between the first parallel line and the transversal is \(\displaystyle 36^{\circ}\), what is the minor angle of intersection between the second parallel line and the transversal?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 66^{\circ}\)

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

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

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

\(\displaystyle 54^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

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

Explanation:

When a line intersects two parallel lines as a transversal, it always passes through both at identical angles (regardless of distance or length of arc).

Example Question #11 : Plane Geometry

Angle \(\displaystyle \angle ABC\) measures \(\displaystyle 20^{\circ}\)

 \(\displaystyle \overrightarrow{BD}\) is the bisector of \(\displaystyle \angle ABC\)

 \(\displaystyle \overrightarrow{BE}\) is the bisector of \(\displaystyle \angle CBD\)

What is the measure of \(\displaystyle \angle ABE\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 40^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 15^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 30^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 5^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 15^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Angle pic

Let's begin by observing the larger angle. \(\displaystyle \angle ABC\) is cut into two 10-degree angles by \(\displaystyle \overrightarrow{BD}\). This means that angles \(\displaystyle \angle ABD\) and \(\displaystyle \angle CBD\) equal 10 degrees. Next, we are told that \(\displaystyle \overrightarrow{BE}\) bisects \(\displaystyle \angle CBD\), which creates two 5-degree angles.  \(\displaystyle \angle ABE\) consists of \(\displaystyle \angle ABD\), which is 10 degrees, and \(\displaystyle \angle DBE\), which is 5 degrees. We need to add the two angles together to solve the problem.

\(\displaystyle \angle ABE=\angle ABD+\angle DBE\)

\(\displaystyle \angle ABE=10^{\circ}+5^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle \angle ABE=15^{\circ}\)

Example Question #1472 : Concepts

If  \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow{FH} \parallel \overleftrightarrow{AD}\), \(\displaystyle \overline{BE}\perp \overleftrightarrow{GC}\), and \(\displaystyle m\angle HGC=58^\circ\), what is the measure, in degrees, of \(\displaystyle \angle ABE\)

Alternate interior angles   

 

Possible Answers:

122

62

148

58

32

Correct answer:

148

Explanation:

The question states that \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow{FH} \parallel \overleftrightarrow{AD}\). The alternate interior angle theorem states that if two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then pairs of alternate interior angles are congruent; therefore, we know the following measure:

\(\displaystyle m\angle GCA = 58^\circ\)

The sum of angles of a triangle is equal to 180 degrees. The question states that \(\displaystyle \overline{BE}\perp \overleftrightarrow{GC}\); therefore we know the following measure:

\(\displaystyle m \angle BEC = 90^\circ\)

Use this information to solve for the missing angle: \(\displaystyle \angle EBC\)

\(\displaystyle 180^\circ=m\angle EBC+58^\circ+90^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle m\angle EBC=32^\circ\)

The degree measure of a straight line is 180 degrees; therefore, we can write the following equation:

\(\displaystyle 180^\circ=m\angle ABE+32^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle m\angle ABE=148^\circ\)

The measure of \(\displaystyle \angle ABE\) is 148 degrees. 

Example Question #1556 : Plane Geometry

Lines A and B in the diagram below are parallel. The triangle at the bottom of the figure is an isosceles triangle.

Act2

What is the degree measure of angle \(\displaystyle y\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 35\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 25\)

\(\displaystyle 40\)

\(\displaystyle 32\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 20\)

Explanation:

Since A and B are parallel, and the triangle is isosceles, we can use the supplementary rule for the two angles, \(\displaystyle 4x\) and \(\displaystyle 2x+30\) which will sum up to \(\displaystyle 180\). Setting up an algebraic equation for this, we get \(\displaystyle 4x+2x+30=180\). Solving for \(\displaystyle x\), we get \(\displaystyle x=25\). With this, we can get either \(\displaystyle 2(25)+30=80\) (for the smaller angle) or \(\displaystyle 4(25)=100\) (for the larger angle - must then use supplementary rule again for inner smaller angle). Either way, we find that the inner angles at the top are 80 degrees each. Since the sum of the angles within a triangle must equal 180, we can set up the equation as \(\displaystyle 80+80+y=180\)

\(\displaystyle y=20\) degrees.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Pentagon

The perimeter of a regular pentagon is \(\displaystyle 85\). What is the length of one side?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt{6}\)

\(\displaystyle 8.5\)

\(\displaystyle 14\sqrt{7}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 17\)

Explanation:

A problem like this is very easy. A regular pentagon just looks like:

Pentagon

All of its sides are equal. Therefore, you know that \(\displaystyle 5s = 85\), where \(\displaystyle s\) is the length of one side. Solving for \(\displaystyle s\), you get \(\displaystyle s=17\).

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Pentagon

If the perimeter of a given regular pentagon is \(\displaystyle 1,268 \:in\). What is the length of one side of this regular pentagon in inches?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 251.8\)

\(\displaystyle 254.4\)

\(\displaystyle 248.8\)

\(\displaystyle 253.6\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 253.6\)

Explanation:

Use the formula for perimeter to solve for the side length of the regular pentagon:

\(\displaystyle P=5s\)

Where \(\displaystyle P\) is the perimeter and \(\displaystyle s\) is the length of a side.

In this case:

\(\displaystyle 1,268=5s\)

\(\displaystyle s=\frac{1,268}{5}=253.6\)

Example Question #12 : Plane Geometry

Find the length of each side for regular pentagon with a perimeter of \(\displaystyle 55\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10.5\)

\(\displaystyle 11\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 11.5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 11\)

Explanation:

Use the formula for perimeter to solve for the side length:

\(\displaystyle P=5s\)

\(\displaystyle 55=5s\)

\(\displaystyle s=11\)

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors