Intermediate Geometry : Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Intermediate Geometry

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangles

In an obtuse isosceles triangle the largest angle is \(\displaystyle 118\) degrees. Find the measurement of one of the acute angles. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15^\circ\) 

\(\displaystyle 62^\circ\) 

\(\displaystyle 31^\circ\) 

\(\displaystyle 18^\circ\) 

\(\displaystyle 64^\circ\) 

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 31^\circ\) 

Explanation:

Isosceles triangles always have two equivalent interior angles, and all three interior angles of any triangle always have a sum of \(\displaystyle 180\) degrees. Since this is an obtuse isosceles triangle, the two missing angles must be acute angles. 

The solution is:

\(\displaystyle 180-118=62\)

\(\displaystyle 62\div2=31\)

Example Question #41 : Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangles

In an acute isosceles triangle the measurement of the non-equivalent interior angle is \(\displaystyle 86\) degrees. Find the measurement of one of the equivalent interior angles. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 52^\circ\) 

\(\displaystyle 94^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle 45^\circ\) 

\(\displaystyle 14^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle 47^\circ\) 

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 47^\circ\) 

Explanation:

Isosceles triangles always have two equivalent interior angles, and all three interior angles of any triangle always have a sum of \(\displaystyle 180\) degrees. Since this is an acute isosceles triangle, all of the interior angles must be acute angles.

The solution is:

\(\displaystyle 180-86=94\)

\(\displaystyle 94\div2=47\)

Example Question #42 : Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangles

In an obtuse isosceles triangle, the largest interior angle is \(\displaystyle 135\) degrees. What is the measurement of one of the equivalent interior angles? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle 16.5^\circ\) 

\(\displaystyle 22.5^\circ\) 

\(\displaystyle 51^\circ\) 

\(\displaystyle 45^\circ\) 

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 22.5^\circ\) 

Explanation:

Isosceles triangles always have two equivalent interior angles, and all three interior angles of any triangle always have a sum of \(\displaystyle 180\) degrees. Since this is an obtuse isosceles triangle, the two missing angles must be acute angles. 

The solution is:

\(\displaystyle 180-135=45\)

\(\displaystyle 45\div2=22.5\)

Example Question #41 : Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangles

You are flying a kite at an altitude of 40 feet after having let out 75 feet of string. What is the kite's angle of elevation from where you are holding the spool of string at a height of 4 feet off the ground? Round answer to one decimal place. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 25.6^{o}\)

\(\displaystyle 65.8^{o}\)

\(\displaystyle 28.7^{o}\)

\(\displaystyle 45.3^{o}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 28.7^{o}\)

Explanation:

First, we must draw a picture to include all important parts given in the problem. 

Kite1

Once this is determined we can use trigonometry to find the angle of elevation. 

\(\displaystyle sin(x)=\frac{36}{75}\)

Use the inverse sin on a calculator to solve. 

\(\displaystyle sin^{-1}\left (sin(x) \right )=sin^{-1}\left (\frac{36}{75} \right )\)

\(\displaystyle x=28.7^{0}\)

Example Question #41 : Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangles

Two angles in an isosceles triangle are 50 and 80 degrees respectively. What is the measure of the third angle? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 50^{o}\)

\(\displaystyle 40^{o}\)

\(\displaystyle 130^{o}\)

\(\displaystyle 80^{o}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 50^{o}\)

Explanation:

If a triangle is isosceles, two of the angles must be congruent. So the angle must be either 50 degrees or 80 degrees. 

We know that the three angles in all triangles must sum to equal 180 degrees. The only answer choice that is both the same as one of the given angles and results in a sum equal to 180 degrees is the 50 degree angle. 

50+50+80=180. 

Example Question #481 : Intermediate Geometry

An isosceles triangle has one angle measuring \(\displaystyle 25^o\). Which of the following are possible values for angles in this triangle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 130^o\)or \(\displaystyle 77.5^o\)

\(\displaystyle 102.5^o\) or \(\displaystyle 77.5^o\)

\(\displaystyle 77.5^o\) or \(\displaystyle 115^o\)

\(\displaystyle 115^o\) or \(\displaystyle 102.5^o\)

\(\displaystyle 130^o\) or \(\displaystyle 102.5^o\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 130^o\)or \(\displaystyle 77.5^o\)

Explanation:

An isosceles triangle has 2 congruent angles and then a third angle. These angles, as in any triangle, must add to 180.

One possibility is that the 25-degree angle is the "different" one, and the other two are congruent. This could be expressed using the algebraic expression \(\displaystyle 25+ x + x = 180\). To find the other two angles, solve for x. First combine like terms:

\(\displaystyle 25+ 2x = 180\) subtract 25 from both sides

\(\displaystyle 2x = 155\) divide both sides by 2

\(\displaystyle x = 77.5\)

The other possibility is that there are 2 25-degree angles and then some different angle measure. This could be expressed using the algebraic expression \(\displaystyle 25 + 25 + x = 180\). Again, solve for x. First add the 2 25's to get 50:

\(\displaystyle 50 + x = 180\) subtract 50 from both sides

\(\displaystyle x = 130\)

Example Question #41 : Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangles

Isosceles

Refer to the above triangle. By what statement does it follow that \(\displaystyle \angle B \cong \angle C\)?

Possible Answers:

The Side-Angle-Side Postulate

The Converse of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem

The Side-Side-Side Postulate

The Isosceles Triangle Theorem

The Pythagorean Theorem

Correct answer:

The Isosceles Triangle Theorem

Explanation:

We are given that, in \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ABC\), two sides are congruent; specifically, \(\displaystyle \overline{AB} \cong\overline{AC}\). It is a consequence of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem that the angles opposite the sides are also congruent - that is, \(\displaystyle \angle B \cong \angle C\).

Example Question #41 : Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangles

Thingy

Refer to the above diagram. \(\displaystyle \overline{AD} \cong \overline{BC}\) and \(\displaystyle \overline{AC} \cong \overline{BD}\). By what statement does it follow that \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ADC \cong \bigtriangleup BCD\)

Possible Answers:

The Converse of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem

The Side-Angle-Side Postulate

The Isosceles Triangle Theorem

The Hinge Theorem

The Side-Side-Side Postulate

Correct answer:

The Side-Side-Side Postulate

Explanation:

In addition to the fact that \(\displaystyle \overline{AD} \cong \overline{BC}\) and \(\displaystyle \overline{AC} \cong \overline{BD}\), we also have that \(\displaystyle \overline{DC} \cong \overline{DC}\), since, by the Reflexive Property of Congruence, any segment is congruent to itself. We can restate this in a more usable form as \(\displaystyle \overline{DC} \cong \overline{CD}\); since we have three side congruences between triangles, it follows from the Side-Side-Side Postulate that \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ADC \cong \bigtriangleup BCD\).

Example Question #1 : How To Find If Of Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangles Are Congruent

Given: \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ABC\) and \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup DEF\) such that 

\(\displaystyle \overline{AB} \cong \overline{AC}\)

\(\displaystyle \overline{DE} \cong \overline{DF}\)

\(\displaystyle \overline{BC} \cong \overline{EF}\)

Which statement(s) must be true?

(a) \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ABC \sim \bigtriangleup DEF\)

(b) \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ABC \cong \bigtriangleup DEF\)

Possible Answers:

Neither (a) nor (b)

(a) and (b)

(a) but not (b)

(b) but not (a)

Correct answer:

Neither (a) nor (b)

Explanation:

Neither similarity nor congruence of the two triangles follows from the statements given, as can be seen from the figure below:

Isosceles 1

\(\displaystyle \overline{AB} \cong \overline{AC}\)\(\displaystyle \overline{DE} \cong \overline{DF}\), and \(\displaystyle \overline{BC} \cong \overline{EF}\). However, the triangles are not similar, as 

\(\displaystyle \frac{EF}{BC} = \frac{10}{10}= 1\)

and

\(\displaystyle \frac{DE}{AB} = \frac{15}{10} = \frac{3}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{DE}{AB} \ne \frac{EF}{BC}\), so at least one pair of corresponding sides is not in proportion. Therefore, 

\(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ABC \nsim \bigtriangleup DEF\)

The triangles are not similar, and thus cannot be congruent either, so neither statement holds.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of Of An Acute / Obtuse Isosceles Triangle

Find the perimeter of the triangle below.

11

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 58\)

\(\displaystyle 36\)

\(\displaystyle 48\)

\(\displaystyle 38\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 48\)

Explanation:

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the base of the right triangle.

\(\displaystyle 12^2+x^2=15^2\)

\(\displaystyle 144+x^2=225\)

\(\displaystyle x^2=81\)

\(\displaystyle x=9\)

Now, because two of the angles in this triangle are the same, this is an isosceles triangle. In an isosceles triangle, the sides that are directly across from the congruent angles are also congruent.

In addition, the height in an isosceles triangle will always cut the 3rd side in half. With this information, fill out the triangle as shown below:

11a

To find the perimeter, add up all the sides.

\(\displaystyle \text{Perimeter}=15+15+18=48\)

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