ACT Math : Rhombuses

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #441 : Act Math

A rhombus has two interior angles each with a measurement of \(\displaystyle 46$^\circ$\). Find the measurement for one of the two remaining angles. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 64$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 134$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 94$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 88$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 124$^\circ$\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 134$^\circ$\)

Explanation:

First, consider that the sum total of the four interior angles in any rhombus must equal \(\displaystyle 360$^\circ$\). Secondly, a rhombus must have two sets of equivalent opposite interior angles, and a rhombus must have two sets of adjacent interior angles. The adjacent interior angles must be supplementary—meaning they have a sum total of \(\displaystyle 180$^\circ$\)

One way to approach this problem is to realize that each of the remaining two angles must have the same measurement, and that each will be supplementary angles with \(\displaystyle 46$^\circ$\). Therefore, find the difference between \(\displaystyle 180$^\circ$\) and \(\displaystyle 46$^\circ$\) to find the solution. 

\(\displaystyle 180-46=134$^\circ$\)

Example Question #441 : Plane Geometry

A rhombus has two interior angles each with a measurement of \(\displaystyle 159$^\circ$\). Find the measurement for one of the two remaining angles. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 19$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 40$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 21$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 18$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 42$^\circ$\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 21$^\circ$\)

Explanation:

A rhombus must have two sets of equivalent opposite interior angles, and a rhombus must have two sets of adjacent interior angles. The adjacent interior angles must be supplementary—meaning they have a sum total of \(\displaystyle 180$^\circ$\). 

One way to approach this problem is to realize that each of the remaining two angles must have the same measurement, and that each will be supplementary angles with \(\displaystyle 159$^\circ$\). Find the difference between \(\displaystyle 180$^\circ$\) and \(\displaystyle 159$^\circ$\) to find the solution. 

\(\displaystyle 180-159=21$^\circ$\)

Example Question #443 : Act Math

A rhombus has two interior angles each with a measurement of \(\displaystyle 121$^\circ$\). Find the sum of the remaining two angles. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 59$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 180$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 118$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 62$^\circ$\)

\(\displaystyle 90$^\circ$\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 118$^\circ$\)

Explanation:

To solve this problem, consider that the sum total of the four interior angles in any rhombus must equal \(\displaystyle 360$^\circ$\). Furthermore, a rhombus must have two sets of equivalent opposite interior angles, and a rhombus must have two sets of adjacent interior angles. The adjacent interior angles must be supplementary—meaning they have a sum total of \(\displaystyle 180$^\circ$\).

Since this problem provides the measurement for two of the interior angles, find the sum of those two angles. Then subtract that sum from \(\displaystyle 360$^\circ$\) to find the sum of the two remaining interior angles.

The solution is:

\(\displaystyle 121+121=242\)

\(\displaystyle 360-242=118$^\circ$\)

Note: this means that each of the two remaining angles must have a measurement of \(\displaystyle 59$^\circ$\).  

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Rhombus

If the area of a rhombus is \(\displaystyle 60\:cm^2\), and the length of one of its diagonals is \(\displaystyle 2\:cm\), what must be the length of the other diagonal?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 45\:cm\)

\(\displaystyle 90\:cm\)

\(\displaystyle 30\:cm\)

\(\displaystyle 60\:cm\)

\(\displaystyle 120\:cm\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 60\:cm\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for the area of a rhombus.

\(\displaystyle A=\frac{d_1\cdot d_2}{2}\)

Plug in the given area and diagonal length. Solve for the other diagonal.

\(\displaystyle 60\:cm^2=\frac{2\:cm\cdot d_2}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2(60\:cm^2)=2(\frac{2\:cm\cdot d_2}{2})\)

\(\displaystyle 120\:cm^2=2\:cm\cdot d_2\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{120\:cm}{2\:cm}=\frac{2\:cm\cdot d_2}{2\:cm}\)

\(\displaystyle d_2 =60\:cm\)

Example Question #11 : Rhombuses

A rhombus contains diagonals with the length \(\displaystyle 12 \:cm\) and \(\displaystyle 6 \:cm\). Find the area of the rhombus.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 96\:cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 88\:cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 36\:cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 72\:cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 54\:cm^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 36\:cm^2\)

Explanation:

The equation for the area of a rhombus is given by:

\(\displaystyle A= \frac{p \cdot q}{2}\)

where \(\displaystyle p\) and \(\displaystyle q\) are the two diagonal lengths. 

This problem very quickly becomes one of the "plug and chug" type, where the given values just need to be substituted into the equation and the equation then solved. By plugging in the values given, we get:

\(\displaystyle A = \frac{12\:cm \cdot 6\:cm}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle A = \frac{72\:cm^2}2{}\)

\(\displaystyle A= 36\:cm^2\)

Example Question #12 : Rhombuses

Find the area of a rhombus if the diagonals lengths are \(\displaystyle 20\:cm\) and \(\displaystyle 40\:cm\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 800\:cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 200\:cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 900\:cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 400\:cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 600\:cm^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 400\:cm^2\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for the area of a rhombus:

\(\displaystyle A=\frac{d_1 \cdot d_2}{2}\)

Substitute the given lengths of the diagonals and solve:

\(\displaystyle A=\frac{d1 \cdot d2}{2} = \frac{20\:cm \cdot 40\:cm}{2} =\frac{800\:cm^2}{2} = 400\:cm^2\)

Example Question #101 : Plane Geometry

Find the area of a rhombus if the diagonals lengths are \(\displaystyle 2a\) and \(\displaystyle 5a^2\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10a^3\)

\(\displaystyle 2a+5a^2\)

\(\displaystyle 5a^3\)

\(\displaystyle 7a^3\)

\(\displaystyle 5a^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5a^3\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for finding the area of a rhombus. Substitute the diagonals and evaluate.

\(\displaystyle A=\frac{d1\cdot d2}{2}= \frac{2a \cdot 5a^2}{2}= 5a^3\)

Example Question #451 : Plane Geometry

If a side length of a rhombus is half, what is the perimeter of the rhombus?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt2}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2\)

Explanation:

Write the formula to find the perimeter of a rhombus.

\(\displaystyle P=4s\)

Substitute the side length and simplify.

\(\displaystyle P=4(\frac{1}{2})=2\)

Example Question #452 : Plane Geometry

Find the perimeter of a rhombus if the side length is \(\displaystyle 9\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 36\)

\(\displaystyle 39\)

\(\displaystyle 81\)

\(\displaystyle 13\)

\(\displaystyle 52\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 36\)

Explanation:

Write the formula to find the perimeter of a rhombus.

\(\displaystyle P=4s\)

Substitute the side length and solve.

\(\displaystyle P=4(9)=36\)

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A Rhombus

If the side length of a rhombus is \(\displaystyle \frac{11}{8}a+\frac{1}{2}b\), what is the perimeter?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{2}a+2b\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{8}a^4+\frac{1}{2}b^4\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{8}a^2+\frac{1}{2}b^2\)

\(\displaystyle 4a+4b\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{32}{11}a+\frac{1}{8}b\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{2}a+2b\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for the perimeter of a rhombus.

\(\displaystyle P=4s\)

Substitute the side length and solve for the perimeter.

\(\displaystyle P=4\left(\frac{11}{8}a+\frac{1}{2}b\right) = \frac{11}{2}a+2b\)

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