ACT Math : Plane Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Kites

In a particular kite, one angle that lies between congruent sides measures \(\displaystyle 50^{\circ}\), and one angle that lies between non-congruent sides measures \(\displaystyle 25^{\circ}\). What is the measure of the angle opposite the \(\displaystyle 50^{\circ}\) angle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 80^{\circ}\)

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

\(\displaystyle 260^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 50^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 225^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 260^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

One of the rules governing kites is that the angles which lie between non-congruent sides are congruent to each other. Thus, we know one of the missing angles is also \(\displaystyle 25^{\circ}\). Since all angles in a quadrilateral must sum to \(\displaystyle 360^{\circ}\), we know that the other missing angle is

\(\displaystyle \angle x = 360^{\circ} - (25^{\circ} + 25^{\circ} + 50^{\circ}) = 260^{\circ}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Kite

Kite vt act

Using the kite shown above, find the length of the red (vertical) diagonal. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 15.5\)

\(\displaystyle 19.5\)

\(\displaystyle 17.5\)

\(\displaystyle 19\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 17\)

Explanation:

In order to solve this problem, first observe that the red diagonal line divides the kite into two triangles that each have side lengths of \(\displaystyle 15\) and \(\displaystyle 8.\) Notice, the hypotenuse of the interior triangle is the red diagonal. Therefore, use the Pythagorean theorem: \(\displaystyle a^2+b^2=c^2\), where \(\displaystyle c=\) the length of the red diagonal. 

The solution is: 

\(\displaystyle 8^2+15^2=c^2\)

\(\displaystyle 64+225=c^2\)

\(\displaystyle c^2=289\)

\(\displaystyle c=\sqrt{289}=\sqrt{17\times 17}=17\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Kite

A kite has two perpendicular interior diagonals. One diagonal is twice the length of the other diagonal. The total area of the kite is \(\displaystyle 196\textup{ units}^{2}\). Find the length of each interior diagonal.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 7\textup{ and }14\)

\(\displaystyle 15\textup{ and }30\)

\(\displaystyle 7^2\textup{ and }15\)

\(\displaystyle 14\textup{ and }28\)

\(\displaystyle 15\textup{ and }45\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 14\textup{ and }28\)

Explanation:

To solve this problem, apply the formula for finding the area of a kite: 

\(\displaystyle Area=\frac{diagonalA\times diagonalB}{2}\)

However, in this problem the question only provides information regarding the exact area. The lengths of the diagonals are represented as a ratio, where 
\(\displaystyle diagonalA:diagonalB=1:2\)

Therefore, it is necessary to plug the provided information into the area formula. Diagonal \(\displaystyle A\) is represented by \(\displaystyle x\) and diagonal \(\displaystyle B=2\)\(\displaystyle x\).

The solution is:

\(\displaystyle 196=\frac{x\times 2x}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 196\times2=x\times 2x\)

\(\displaystyle 392=2x^2\)

\(\displaystyle x^2=\frac{392}{2}=196\)

\(\displaystyle x=\sqrt{196}=14\)

Thus, if \(\displaystyle x=14\), then diagonal \(\displaystyle B\) must equal \(\displaystyle 2(14)=28\)


Example Question #12 : Kites

A kite has two perpendicular interior diagonals. One diagonal has a measurement of \(\displaystyle 8\) and the area of the kite is \(\displaystyle 60\textup{ units}^{2}\). Find the length of the other interior diagonal.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 5.5\)

\(\displaystyle 7.5\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{15}\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 15\)

Explanation:

This problem can be solved by applying the area formula: 



Since this question provides the area of the kite and length of one diagonal, plug that information into the equation to solve for the missing diagonal. 

Thus the solution is: 

\(\displaystyle 60=\frac{8\times diagonal B}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 60\times2=8\times diagonalB\)

\(\displaystyle 120=8(diagonalB)\)

\(\displaystyle diagonal B=\frac{120}{8}=15\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Kite

A kite has two perpendicular interior diagonals. One diagonal has a measurement of \(\displaystyle 18\) and the area of the kite is \(\displaystyle 45\textup{ units}^{2}\). Find the length of the other interior diagonal.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 8.5\)

\(\displaystyle 5.5\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5\)

Explanation:

This problem can be solved by applying the area formula: 



Since this question provides the area of the kite and length of one diagonal, plug that information into the equation to solve for the missing diagonal. 

Thus the solution is: 

\(\displaystyle 45=\frac{18\times diagonal B}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 45\times2=18\times diagonalB\)

\(\displaystyle 90=18(diagonalB)\)

\(\displaystyle diagonal B=\frac{90}{18}=5\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Kite

A kite has two perpendicular interior diagonals. One diagonal has a measurement of \(\displaystyle 250\) and the area of the kite is \(\displaystyle 6\textup{,}250\textup{ units}^{2}\). Find the sum of the two perpendicular interior diagonals.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2\textup{,}000\)

\(\displaystyle 200\)

\(\displaystyle 50\)

\(\displaystyle 450\)

\(\displaystyle 300\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 300\)

Explanation:

First find the length of the missing diagonal before you can find the sum of the two perpendicular diagonals. 

To find the missing diagonal, apply the area formula: 




This question provides the area of the kite and length of one diagonal, plug that information into the equation to solve for the missing diagonal. 


\(\displaystyle 6,250=\frac{250\times diagonal B}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 6250\times2=250\times diagonalB\)

\(\displaystyle 12,500=250(diagonalB)\)

\(\displaystyle diagonal B=\frac{12,500}{250}=50\)

Therefore, the sum of the two diagonals is: 

\(\displaystyle 250+50=300\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Kite

A kite has two perpendicular interior diagonals. One diagonal has a measurement of \(\displaystyle 4\) and the area of the kite is \(\displaystyle 28\textup{ units}^{2}\). Find the sum of the two perpendicular interior diagonals.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 28\)

\(\displaystyle 56\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 18\)

Explanation:

You must find the length of the missing diagonal before you can find the sum of the two perpendicular diagonals. 

To find the missing diagonal, apply the area formula: 




This question provides the area of the kite and length of one diagonal, plug that information into the equation to solve for the missing diagonal. 


\(\displaystyle 28=\frac{4\times diagonal B}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 28\times2=4\times diagonalB\)

\(\displaystyle 56=4(diagonalB)\)

\(\displaystyle diagonal B=\frac{56}{4}=14\)

Therefore, the sum of the two diagonals is: 

\(\displaystyle 14+4=18\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Kite

Kite vt act

The area of the kite shown above is \(\displaystyle 125\textup{ units}^{2}\) and the red diagonal has a length of \(\displaystyle 25\). Find the length of the black (horizontal) diagonal. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

Explanation:

To find the length of the black diagonal apply the area formula: 



Since this question provides the area of the kite and length of one diagonal, plug that information into the equation to solve for the missing diagonal. 

Thus the solution is: 

\(\displaystyle 125=\frac{25\times diagonal B}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 125\times2=25\times diagonalB\)

\(\displaystyle 250=25(diagonalB)\)

\(\displaystyle diagonal B=\frac{250}{25}=10\)

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Kite

A kite has two perpendicular interior diagonals. One diagonal has a measurement of \(\displaystyle 22\textup{mm}\) and the area of the kite is \(\displaystyle 297\textup{mm}^{2}\). Find the length of the other interior diagonal.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 35\textup{mm}\)

\(\displaystyle 19\textup{mm}\)

\(\displaystyle 25\textup{mm}\)

\(\displaystyle 37\textup{mm}\)

\(\displaystyle 27\textup{mm}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 27\textup{mm}\)

Explanation:

This problem can be solved by applying the area formula: 



Since this question provides the area of the kite and length of one diagonal, plug that information into the equation to solve for the missing diagonal. 

Thus the solution is: 

\(\displaystyle 297=\frac{22\times diagonal B}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 297\times2=22\times diagonalB\)

\(\displaystyle 594=22(diagonalB)\)

\(\displaystyle diagonal B=\frac{594}{22}=27\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Kite

A kite has two perpendicular interior diagonals. One diagonal has a measurement of \(\displaystyle 9\) and the area of the kite is \(\displaystyle 54\textup{ units}^{2}\). Find the length of the other interior diagonal.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12\)

Explanation:

This problem can be solved by applying the area formula: 



Since this question provides the area of the kite and length of one diagonal, plug that information into the equation to solve for the missing diagonal. 

Thus the solution is: 

\(\displaystyle 54=\frac{9\times diagonal B}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 54\times2=9\times diagonalB\)

\(\displaystyle 108=9(diagonalB)\)

\(\displaystyle diagonal B=\frac{108}{9}=12\)

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