Acute / Obtuse Triangles - SSAT Upper Level Quantitative
Card 1 of 340
If the vertex angle of an isoceles triangle is
, what is the value of one of its base angles?
If the vertex angle of an isoceles triangle is , what is the value of one of its base angles?
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In an isosceles triangle, the base angles are the same. Also, the three angles of a triangle add up to
.
So, subtract the vertex angle from
. You get
.
Because there are two base angles you divide
by
, and you get
.
In an isosceles triangle, the base angles are the same. Also, the three angles of a triangle add up to .
So, subtract the vertex angle from . You get
.
Because there are two base angles you divide by
, and you get
.
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Figure NOT drawn to scale.
If
and
, evaluate
.

Figure NOT drawn to scale.
If and
, evaluate
.
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The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is the sum of the measures of its remote interior angles, so

The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is the sum of the measures of its remote interior angles, so
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Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Refer to the above diagram.


Which of the following could be a measure of
?

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Refer to the above diagram.
Which of the following could be a measure of ?
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The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is the sum of the measures of its remote interior angles, so
.
We also have the following constraints:


Then, by the addition property of inequalities,


Therefore, the measure of
must fall in that range. Of the given choices, only
falls in that range.
The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is the sum of the measures of its remote interior angles, so
.
We also have the following constraints:
Then, by the addition property of inequalities,
Therefore, the measure of must fall in that range. Of the given choices, only
falls in that range.
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Refer to the above diagram.


Which of the following could be a measure of
?

Refer to the above diagram.
Which of the following could be a measure of ?
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The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is the sum of the measures of its remote interior angles, so

or

Therefore, the maximum value of
is the least possible value of
subtracted from the greatest possible value of
:

The minimum value of
is the greatest possible value of
subtracted from the least possible value of
:

Therefore,

Since all of the choices fall in this range, all are possible measures of
.
The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is the sum of the measures of its remote interior angles, so
or
Therefore, the maximum value of is the least possible value of
subtracted from the greatest possible value of
:
The minimum value of is the greatest possible value of
subtracted from the least possible value of
:
Therefore,
Since all of the choices fall in this range, all are possible measures of .
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Find the angle measurement of
.

Find the angle measurement of .

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All the angles in a triangle must add up to
.



All the angles in a triangle must add up to .
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Find the angle measurement of
.

Find the angle measurement of .

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All the angles in a triangle must add up to 



All the angles in a triangle must add up to
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Find the angle measurement of
.

Find the angle measurement of .

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All the angles in a triangle must add up to
.



All the angles in a triangle must add up to .
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The interior angles of a triangle measure
. Of these three degree measures, give the greatest.
The interior angles of a triangle measure . Of these three degree measures, give the greatest.
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The degree measures of the interior angles of a triangle total 180 degrees, so







One angle measures 
The other two angles measure

and
.
We want the greatest of the three, or
.
The degree measures of the interior angles of a triangle total 180 degrees, so
One angle measures
The other two angles measure
and
.
We want the greatest of the three, or .
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An isosceles triangle has an angle whose measure is
.
What could be the measures of one of its other angles?
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
An isosceles triangle has an angle whose measure is .
What could be the measures of one of its other angles?
(a)
(b)
(c)
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By the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, an isosceles triangle has two congruent interior angles. There are two possible scenarios if one angle has measure
:
Scenario 1: The other two angles are congruent to each other. The degree measures of the interior angles of a triangle total
, so if we let
be the common measure of those angles:




This makes (b) a possible answer.
Scenario 2: One of the other angles measures
also, making (c) a possible answer. The degree measure of the third angle is
,
making (a) a possible answer. Therefore, the correct choice is (a), (b), or (c).
By the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, an isosceles triangle has two congruent interior angles. There are two possible scenarios if one angle has measure :
Scenario 1: The other two angles are congruent to each other. The degree measures of the interior angles of a triangle total , so if we let
be the common measure of those angles:
This makes (b) a possible answer.
Scenario 2: One of the other angles measures also, making (c) a possible answer. The degree measure of the third angle is
,
making (a) a possible answer. Therefore, the correct choice is (a), (b), or (c).
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One of the interior angles of a scalene triangle measures
. Which of the following could be the measure of another of its interior angles?
One of the interior angles of a scalene triangle measures . Which of the following could be the measure of another of its interior angles?
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A scalene triangle has three sides of different measure, so, by way of the Converse of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, each angle is of different measure as well. We can therefore eliminate
immediately.
Also, if the triangle also has a
angle, then, since the total of the degree measures of the angles is
, it follows that the third angle has measure
.
Therefore, the triangle has two angles that measure the same, and
can be eliminated.
Similarly, if the triangle also has a
angle, then, since the total of the degree measures of the angles is
, it follows that the third angle has measure
.
The triangle has two angles that measure
. This choice can be eliminated.
can be eliminated, since the third angle would have measure
,
an impossible situation since angle measures must be positive.
The remaining possibility is
. This would mean that the third angle has measure
.
The three angles have different measures, so the triangle is scalene.
is the correct choice.
A scalene triangle has three sides of different measure, so, by way of the Converse of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, each angle is of different measure as well. We can therefore eliminate immediately.
Also, if the triangle also has a angle, then, since the total of the degree measures of the angles is
, it follows that the third angle has measure
.
Therefore, the triangle has two angles that measure the same, and can be eliminated.
Similarly, if the triangle also has a angle, then, since the total of the degree measures of the angles is
, it follows that the third angle has measure
.
The triangle has two angles that measure . This choice can be eliminated.
can be eliminated, since the third angle would have measure
,
an impossible situation since angle measures must be positive.
The remaining possibility is . This would mean that the third angle has measure
.
The three angles have different measures, so the triangle is scalene. is the correct choice.
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Given:
with
. Locate
on
so that
is the angle bisector of
. What is
?
Given: with
. Locate
on
so that
is the angle bisector of
. What is
?
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Above is the figure described.
The measures of the interior angles of a triangle total
, so the measure of
is




Since
bisects this angle,

and





Above is the figure described.
The measures of the interior angles of a triangle total , so the measure of
is
Since bisects this angle,
and
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Given:
with
.
is located on
so that
bisects 
and forms isosceles triangle
.
Give the measure of
.
Given: with
.
is located on
so that
bisects
and forms isosceles triangle
.
Give the measure of .
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If
is isosceles, then by the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, two of its angles must be congruent.
Case 1: 
Since
bisects 
into two congruent angles, one of which must be
,

However, this is impossible, since
and
are two angles of the original triangle; their total measure is

Case 2: 
Then, since the degree measures of the interior angles of a triangle total
,




Since
bisects 
into two congruent angles, one of which must be
,

and




Case 3: 
Then








, which is not possible.
Therefore, the only possible measure of
is
.
If is isosceles, then by the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, two of its angles must be congruent.
Case 1:
Since bisects
into two congruent angles, one of which must be
,
However, this is impossible, since and
are two angles of the original triangle; their total measure is
Case 2:
Then, since the degree measures of the interior angles of a triangle total ,
Since bisects
into two congruent angles, one of which must be
,
and
Case 3:
Then
, which is not possible.
Therefore, the only possible measure of is
.
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is a right triangle with right angle
.
is located on
so that, when
is constructed, isosceles triangles
and
are formed.
What is the measure of
?
is a right triangle with right angle
.
is located on
so that, when
is constructed, isosceles triangles
and
are formed.
What is the measure of ?
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The figure referenced is below:

Since
is an isosceles right triangle, its acute angles - in particular,
- measure
each. Since this angle forms a linear pair with
:
.
is also isosceles, so, by the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, it has two congruent angles. Since
is obtuse, and no triangle has two obtuse angles:
.
Also,
is an exterior angle of
, whose measure is equal to the sum of those of its two remote interior angles, which are the congruent angles
. Therefore,




The figure referenced is below:

Since is an isosceles right triangle, its acute angles - in particular,
- measure
each. Since this angle forms a linear pair with
:
.
is also isosceles, so, by the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, it has two congruent angles. Since
is obtuse, and no triangle has two obtuse angles:
.
Also, is an exterior angle of
, whose measure is equal to the sum of those of its two remote interior angles, which are the congruent angles
. Therefore,
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If the vertex angle of an isosceles triangle is 30 degrees, what is the value of the angle that is exterior to one of the base angles?
If the vertex angle of an isosceles triangle is 30 degrees, what is the value of the angle that is exterior to one of the base angles?
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First, you subtract one angle so
. Because there are 2 base angles you divide that value by 2 to get 75 Degrees. The exterior angle and the base angle are supplementary angles so
.
First, you subtract one angle so . Because there are 2 base angles you divide that value by 2 to get 75 Degrees. The exterior angle and the base angle are supplementary angles so
.
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;
;
has perimeter 400.
Which of the following is equal to
?
;
;
has perimeter 400.
Which of the following is equal to ?
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The perimeter of
is actually irrelevant to this problem. Corresponding sides of similar triangles are in proportion, so use this to calculate
, or
:

The perimeter of is actually irrelevant to this problem. Corresponding sides of similar triangles are in proportion, so use this to calculate
, or
:
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;
;
has perimeter 300.
Evaluate
.
;
;
has perimeter 300.
Evaluate .
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The ratio of the perimeters of two similar triangles is equal to the ratio of the lengths of a pair of corresponding sides. Therefore,
and
, or

By one of the properties of proportions, it follows that

The perimeter of
is
, so




The ratio of the perimeters of two similar triangles is equal to the ratio of the lengths of a pair of corresponding sides. Therefore,
and
, or
By one of the properties of proportions, it follows that
The perimeter of is
, so
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;
;
;
has perimeter 90.
Give the perimeter of
.
;
;
;
has perimeter 90.
Give the perimeter of .
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The ratio of the perimeters of two similar triangles is the same as the ratio of the lengths of a pair of corresponding sides. Therefore,




The ratio of the perimeters of two similar triangles is the same as the ratio of the lengths of a pair of corresponding sides. Therefore,
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.


Evaluate
.
.
Evaluate .
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The similarity of the triangles is actually extraneous information here. The sum of the measures of a triangle is
, so:








The similarity of the triangles is actually extraneous information here. The sum of the measures of a triangle is , so:
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Given:
and
;
.
Which of the following statements would not be enough, along with what is given, to prove that
?
Given: and
;
.
Which of the following statements would not be enough, along with what is given, to prove that ?
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From both the given proportion statement and either
or
, it follows that
—all three pairs of corresponding sides are in proportion; by the Side-Side-Side Similarity Theorem,
. From the given proportion statement and
, since these are the included angles of the sides that are in proportion, then by the Side-Angle-Side Similarity Theorem,
. From the given proportion statement and
, since these are nonincluded angles of the sides that are in proportion, no similarity can be deduced.
From both the given proportion statement and either or
, it follows that
—all three pairs of corresponding sides are in proportion; by the Side-Side-Side Similarity Theorem,
. From the given proportion statement and
, since these are the included angles of the sides that are in proportion, then by the Side-Angle-Side Similarity Theorem,
. From the given proportion statement and
, since these are nonincluded angles of the sides that are in proportion, no similarity can be deduced.
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Given:
and
;
and
.
Which of the following statements would not be enough, along with what is given, to prove that
?
Given: and
;
and
.
Which of the following statements would not be enough, along with what is given, to prove that ?
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Two pairs of corresponding angles are stated to be congruent in the main body of the problem; it follows from the Angle-Angle Similarity Postulate that the triangles are similar. No further information is needed.
Two pairs of corresponding angles are stated to be congruent in the main body of the problem; it follows from the Angle-Angle Similarity Postulate that the triangles are similar. No further information is needed.
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