ACT Math : Parallelograms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Parallelogram

Parallelogram_2

In parallelogram \(\displaystyle ABCD\)\(\displaystyle \overline{AB} = 15\) and the height is \(\displaystyle 12\).  What is \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 53.1^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 38.7^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 90.0^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 51.3^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 36.9^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 53.1^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

We can start this problem by drawing the height and labeling the lengths with the given values.

Parallelogram_3

When we do this, we can see that we have drawn a triangle inside the paralellogram including \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A\). Because we know the lengths of two sides of this triangle, we can use trigonometry to find \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A\).

With respect to \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A\), we know the values of the opposite and hypotenuse sides of the triangle. Thus, we can use the sine function to solve for \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A\).

\(\displaystyle \sin \left (\measuredangle A\right ) = \frac{\textup{opposite}}{\textup{hypotenuse}}\)

\(\displaystyle \sin \left (\measuredangle A\right ) = \frac{12}{15}= 0.8\)

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle A = \arcsin\left ( 0.8\right ) = 53.1^{\circ}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Parallelogram

Parallelogram_4

In parallelogram \(\displaystyle ABCD\)\(\displaystyle \measuredangle B = \left (2x + 15 \right )^{\circ}\) and \(\displaystyle \measuredangle C = x^{\circ}\). Find \(\displaystyle x\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 45\)

\(\displaystyle 25\)

\(\displaystyle 55\)

\(\displaystyle 65\)

\(\displaystyle 115\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 55\)

Explanation:

In a parallelogram, consecutive angles are supplementary. Thus,

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle B + \measuredangle C = 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( 2x + 15\right ) + x = 180\)

\(\displaystyle 3x + 15 = 180\)

\(\displaystyle 3x = 165\)

\(\displaystyle x = 55\)

Example Question #1 : Parallelograms

Parallelogram_5

\(\displaystyle ABCD\) is a parallelogram. Find \(\displaystyle z\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 119\)

\(\displaystyle 73\)

\(\displaystyle 58\)

\(\displaystyle 35\)

\(\displaystyle 61\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 61\)

Explanation:

In a parallelogram, consecutive angles are supplementary (i.e. add to \(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\)) and opposite angles are congruent (i.e. equal). Using these properties, we can write a system of equations.

1. \(\displaystyle \measuredangle B = \measuredangle D\)

2. \(\displaystyle \measuredangle C + \measuredangle D = 180^{\circ}\)

 

Starting with equation 1.,

\(\displaystyle 2x + 3 = y + x\)

\(\displaystyle x + 3 = y\)

\(\displaystyle x = y - 3\)

 

Now substituting into equation 2.,

\(\displaystyle y + \left ( y + x\right ) = 180\)

\(\displaystyle 2y + x = 2y + (y - 3) = 180\)

\(\displaystyle 3y - 3 = 180\)

\(\displaystyle 3y = 183\)

\(\displaystyle y = 61\)

 

Finally, because opposite angles are congruent, we know that \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A = \measuredangle C\).

\(\displaystyle z = y\)

\(\displaystyle z = 61\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Parallelogram

Parallelogram_7

\(\displaystyle ABCD\) is a parallelogram. Find \(\displaystyle z\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 45\)

\(\displaystyle 60\)

\(\displaystyle 80\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)

\(\displaystyle 90\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 60\)

Explanation:

In a parallelogram, consecutive angles are supplementary and opposite angles are congruent. Using these properties, we can write a system of equations.

1. \(\displaystyle \measuredangle B =\measuredangle D\)

2. \(\displaystyle \measuredangle B + \measuredangle C = 180^{\circ}\)

3. \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A = \measuredangle C\)

 

Starting with equation 1.,

\(\displaystyle x = 4y - x\)

\(\displaystyle 2x = 4y\)

\(\displaystyle x = 2y\)

 

Substituting into equation 2.,

\(\displaystyle x + y = 180\)

\(\displaystyle 2y + y = 180\)

\(\displaystyle 3y = 180\)

\(\displaystyle y = 60\)

 

Using equation 3.,

\(\displaystyle z = y\)

\(\displaystyle z = 60\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Parallelogram

Parallelogram_2

In parallelogram \(\displaystyle ABCD\)\(\displaystyle \measuredangle C = 75^{\circ}\). What is \(\displaystyle \measuredangle D\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 105^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 75^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 125^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 115^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 105^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

In a parellelogram, consecutive angles are supplementary.

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle C + \measuredangle D = 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 75^{\circ} + \measuredangle D = 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle D = 105^{\circ}\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find An Angle In A Parallelogram

Parallelogram_2

In parallelogram \(\displaystyle ABCD\)\(\displaystyle \measuredangle D = 125^{\circ}\). What is \(\displaystyle \measuredangle B\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 120^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 125^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 115^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 125^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

In a parallelogram, opposite angles are congruent.

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle B = \measuredangle D\)

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle B = 125^{\circ}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Parallelogram

Parallelogram_8

\(\displaystyle ABCD\) is a parallelogram. Find \(\displaystyle y\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 57\)

\(\displaystyle 60\)

\(\displaystyle 44\)

\(\displaystyle 85.5\)

\(\displaystyle 63\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 57\)

Explanation:

In a parallelogram, consecutive angles are supplementary and opposite angles are congruent.

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle A + \measuredangle D = 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle z + \left ( 2z + 9\right ) = 180\)

\(\displaystyle 3z + 9 = 180\)

\(\displaystyle 3z = 171\)

\(\displaystyle z = 57\)

 

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle A = \measuredangle C\)

\(\displaystyle z = y\)

\(\displaystyle 57 = y\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Parallelogram

Parallelogram_2

In parallelogram \(\displaystyle ABCD\)\(\displaystyle \measuredangle A = 45^{\circ}\). What is \(\displaystyle \measuredangle B?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 120^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 135^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 45^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 135^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

In the above parallelogram, \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A\) and \(\displaystyle \measuredangle B\) are consecutive angles (i.e. next to each other). In a parallelogram, consecutive angles are supplementary, meaning they add to \(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\).

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle A + \measuredangle B = 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 45^{\circ} + \measuredangle B = 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle B = 135^{\circ}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find An Angle In A Parallelogram

Parallelogram_2

In parallelogram \(\displaystyle ABCD\)\(\displaystyle \measuredangle B = 117^{\circ}\). What is \(\displaystyle \measuredangle D\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 63^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 117^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 135^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 117^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

In parallelogram \(\displaystyle ABCD\)\(\displaystyle \measuredangle B\) and \(\displaystyle \measuredangle D\) are opposite angles. In a parallelogram, opposite angles are congruent. This means these two angles are equal.

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle D = \measuredangle B\)

\(\displaystyle \measuredangle D = 117^{\circ}\)

Example Question #4 : How To Find An Angle In A Parallelogram

Parallelogram_2

In parallelogram \(\displaystyle ABCD\), what is the sum of \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A\) and \(\displaystyle \measuredangle D\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 270^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 135^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 360^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

In a parallelogram, consecutive angles are supplementary.  \(\displaystyle \measuredangle A\) and \(\displaystyle \measuredangle D\) are consecutive, so their sum is \(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\).

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