ACT Math : Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Geometry

 

 

In the following diagram, lines  and  are parallel to each other. What is the value for ?

Sat_math_166_03

Possible Answers:

It cannot be determined

Correct answer:

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 #1 : 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:

90

50

190

140

40

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 #1561 : Basic Geometry

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

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 60 degrees

None of the other answers

\dpi{100} \small 75 degrees

\dpi{100} \small 70 degrees

\dpi{100} \small 65 degrees

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 60 degrees

Explanation:

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

Example Question #11 : Intersecting Lines And Angles

Two parallel lines are intersected by a transversal. If the minor angle of intersection between the first parallel line and the transversal is , what is the minor angle of intersection between the second parallel line and the transversal?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

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 #12 : Geometry

Angle  measures 

  is the bisector of

  is the bisector of

What is the measure of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Angle pic

Let's begin by observing the larger angle.  is cut into two 10-degree angles by . This means that angles  and  equal 10 degrees. Next, we are told that  bisects , which creates two 5-degree angles.   consists of , which is 10 degrees, and , which is 5 degrees. We need to add the two angles together to solve the problem.

Example Question #11 : Geometry

If  , , and , what is the measure, in degrees, of 

Alternate interior angles   

 

Possible Answers:

58

122

62

148

32

Correct answer:

148

Explanation:

The question states that . 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:

The sum of angles of a triangle is equal to 180 degrees. The question states that ; therefore we know the following measure:

Use this information to solve for the missing angle:

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

The measure of  is 148 degrees. 

Example Question #11 : How To Find An Angle Of A Line

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 ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since A and B are parallel, and the triangle is isosceles, we can use the supplementary rule for the two angles,  and  which will sum up to . Setting up an algebraic equation for this, we get . Solving for , we get . With this, we can get either  (for the smaller angle) or  (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

 degrees.

Example Question #13 : Act Math

The perimeter of a regular pentagon is . What is the length of one side?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

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 , where  is the length of one side. Solving for , you get .

Example Question #15 : Act Math

If the perimeter of a given regular pentagon is . What is the length of one side of this regular pentagon in inches?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

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

Where  is the perimeter and  is the length of a side.

In this case:

Example Question #11 : Plane Geometry

Find the length of each side for regular pentagon with a perimeter of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

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

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