ACT Math : Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Acute / Obtuse Triangles

Two interior angles in an obtuse triangle measure 123^{\circ} and 11^{\circ}. What is the measurement of the third angle. 

Possible Answers:

123^{\circ}

46^{\circ}

104^{\circ}

50^{\circ}

57^{\circ}

Correct answer:

46^{\circ}

Explanation:

Interior angles of a triangle always add up to 180 degrees. 

Example Question #1 : Acute / Obtuse Triangles

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

Possible Answers:

45^{\circ}

60^{\circ}

75^{\circ}

20^{\circ}

90^{\circ}

Correct answer:

60^{\circ}

Explanation:

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

x+3x+5x=180

9x=180

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 #111 : Triangles

In the triangle below, AB=BC (figure is not to scale) .  If angle A is 41°, what is the measure of angle B?

                                       A (Angle A = 41°)

                                       Act_math_108_02               

                                     B                           C

 

Possible Answers:

90

98

82

41

Correct answer:

98

Explanation:

  If angle A is 41°, then angle C must also be 41°, since AB=BC.  So, the sum of these 2 angles is:

41° + 41° = 82°

Since the sum of the angles in a triangle is 180°, you can find out the measure of the remaining angle by subtracting 82 from 180:

180° - 82° = 98°

 

 

Example Question #112 : Triangles

Points A, B, C, D are collinear. The measure of ∠ DCE is 130° and of ∠ AEC is 80°. Find the measure of ∠ EAD.

Screen_shot_2013-03-18_at_3.27.08_pm

Possible Answers:

80°

60°

70°

50°

Correct answer:

50°

Explanation:

To solve this question, you need to remember that the sum of the angles in a triangle is 180°. You also need to remember supplementary angles. If you know what ∠ DCE is, you also know what ∠ ECA is. Hence you know two angles of the triangle, 180°-80°-50°= 50°. 

Example Question #531 : Plane Geometry

Triangles

Points A, B, and C are collinear (they lie along the same line). The measure of angle CAD is 30^{\circ}. The measure of angle CBD is 60^{\circ}. The length of segment \overline{AD} is 4.

Find the measure of \dpi{100} \small \angle ADB.

Possible Answers:

15^{\circ}

60^{\circ}

90^{\circ}

45^{\circ}

30^{\circ}

Correct answer:

30^{\circ}

Explanation:

The measure of \dpi{100} \small \angle ADB is 30^{\circ}. Since \dpi{100} \small A, \dpi{100} \small B, and \dpi{100} \small C are collinear, and the measure of \dpi{100} \small \angle CBD is 60^{\circ}, we know that the measure of \dpi{100} \small \angle ABD is 120^{\circ}.

Because the measures of the three angles in a triangle must add up to 180^{\circ}, and two of the angles in triangle \dpi{100} \small ABD are 30^{\circ} and 120^{\circ}, the third angle, \dpi{100} \small \angle ADB, is 30^{\circ}.

Example Question #1 : Acute / Obtuse Triangles

Observe the following image and answer the question below:

Triangles

Are triangles  and  congruent?

Possible Answers:

No

Yes

Maybe

Not enough information to decide.

Correct answer:

Yes

Explanation:

Two triangles are only congruent if all of their sides are the same length, and all of the corresponding angles are of the same degree. Luckily, we only need three of these six numbers to completely determine the others, as long as we have at least one angle and one side, and any other combination of the other numbers.

In this case, we have two adjacent angles and one side, directly across from one of our angles in both triangles. This can be called the AAS case. We can see from our picture that all of our angles match, and the two sides match as well. They're all in the same position relative to each other on the triangle, so that is enough information to say that the two triangles are congruent.

Example Question #1 : Acute / Obtuse Triangles

Two similiar triangles have a ratio of perimeters of 7:2.

If the smaller triangle has sides of 3, 7, and 5, what is the perimeter of the larger triangle.

Possible Answers:

49.5

50.5

51.5

52.5

48.5

Correct answer:

52.5

Explanation:

Adding the sides gives a perimeter of 15 for the smaller triangle. Multipying by the given ratio of \frac{7}{2}, yields 52.5.

Example Question #1 : Acute / Obtuse Triangles

Two similiar triangles exist where the ratio of perimeters is 4:5 for the smaller to the larger triangle. If the larger triangle has sides of 6, 7, and 12 inches, what is the perimeter, in inches, of the smaller triangle?

Possible Answers:

18

20

23

25

Correct answer:

20

Explanation:

The larger triangle has a perimeter of 25 inches. Therefore, using a 4:5 ratio, the smaller triangle's perimeter will be 20 inches.

Example Question #116 : Triangles

Two similar triangles' perimeters are in a ratio of . If the lengths of the larger triangle's sides are , , and , what is the perimeter of the smaller triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

1. Find the perimeter of the larger triangle:

2. Use the given ratio to find the perimeter of the smaller triangle:

Cross multiply and solve:

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Perimeter Of An Acute / Obtuse Triangle

There are two similar triangles. Their perimeters are in a ratio of . If the perimeter of the smaller triangle is , what is the perimeter of the larger triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use proportions to solve for the perimeter of the larger triangle:

Cross multiply and solve:

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