Triangle

Triangle = Flat Shape with Three Sides

Basics
s₁ = side 1
s₂ = side 2
s3 = side 3
x = angle x
y = angle y
z = angle z
h = height
b = base
P = Perimeter = distance along sides of triangle
A = Area = area covering surface of triangle (measured in square units)

The three angles (x, y, z) inside the triangle add up to 180°.

The right triangle pictured above, in which one of the angles measures 90°, is probably the most common type of triangle featured on the GED.

For more about the right triangle, see Pythagorean Theorem.

Formulas (Mathematics Formula Sheet)
P = s₁ + s₂ + s₃

Formulas (NOT on Mathematics Formula Sheet)
s₁ = P – s₂ – s₃
s₂ = P – s₁ – s₃
s₃ = P – s₁ – s₂

b = 2 × A ÷ h
h = 2 × A ÷ b

x + y + z = 180°
x = 180° – y – z
y = 180° – x – z
z = 180° – x – z

Question
A right triangular billboard has sides of 6 feet, 8 feet, and 10 feet, respectively.  What is its perimeter?

Answer
24 feet

Answer Process
P = s₁ + s₂ + s₃
P = 6 + 8 + 10 = 24

Input	Display	Comment
	blinker	clears screen
6 + 8 + 10	6+8+10	P = s1 + s2 + s3
	24	Answer
		Triangle

Question
A right triangular billboard has a height of 6 feet and a base of 8 feet.  What is its area?

Answer
24 square feet

Answer Process

= 24

Input	Display	Comment
	blinker	clears screen
1  2  x 8 x 6	*8*6
	24	Answer
		Triangle

Question
A triangular piece of pizza has an angle x that measures 33° and an angle z that measures 90°.  What is the measurement of angle y (the triangular slice of pizza’s other angle) in degrees?

Answer
57°

Answer Process
y = 180° – x – z
y = 180 – 33 – 90 = 57

Input	Display	Comment
	blinker	clears screen
180 – 33 – 90	180 – 33 – 90	y = 180° – x – z
	57	Answer
		Triangle

 

Question
A right triangular billboard with a perimeter of 30 feet has one side that measures 5 feet and another side that measures 13 feet.  What is the length of its third side?

Answer
12 feet

Answer Process
s₃ = P – s₁ – s₂
s₃ = 30 – 5 – 13 = 12

Input	Display	Comment
	blinker	clears screen
30 – 5 – 13	30-5-13	s3 = P – s1 – s2
	12	Answer
		Triangle

Question
A triangular sign has an area of 42 square feet and a height of 7 feet.  How long is its base?

Answer
12 feet

Answer Process
b = 2 × A ÷ h
b = 2 × 42 ÷ 7 = 12

Input	Display	Comment
	blinker	clears screen
2 × 42 ÷ 7	2*42÷7	b = 2 × A ÷ h
	12	Answer
		Triangle

Question
A triangular sign has an area of 96 square feet and a base of 8 feet.  How high is it?

Answer
24 feet

Answer Process
h = 2 × A ÷ b
h = 2 × 96 ÷ 8 = 24

Input	Display	Comment
	blinker	clears screen
2 × 96 ÷ 8	2*96÷8	h = 2 × A ÷ b
	24	Answer
		Triangle

Practice – Questions
1.  A right triangular sign has a height of 3 feet, base of 4 feet, and hypotenuse of 5 feet.  What is its perimeter?

2.  A right triangular sign has a height of 3 feet, base of 4 feet, and hypotenuse of 5 feet.  What is its area?

3.  A triangular piece of pie has one angle that measures 47° and a second angle that measures 68°.  What is the measurement of the pie’s third angle in degrees?

4.  A right triangular tile with a perimeter of 34 centimeters has a base of 12 centimeters and a hypotenuse of 15 centimeters.  How high is it?

5.  A triangular sign has an area of 105 square feet and a height of 15 feet.  How long it its base?

Practice – Answers
1.  12 feet

2.  6 square feet

3.  65°

4.  7 centimeters

5.  14 feet