MATHS QUERY

# Triangle and its Types

## Introduction

We have already discussed about polygons in the Polygon and its Types chapter. There we learnt that polygon is a closed curve, which is made up of only line segments.

Triangle is such one type of polygon which has three sides or line segments. It is a polygon with least number of sides, in other words, a polygon with less than three sides does not exist.

Triangle is a closed figure which is formed by joining three line segments. It has 3 sides, 3 vertices and 3 angles.

Triangle is denoted by $$\triangle$$, a delta symbol.

Lets, learn about triangle with the following figure.

Example of a triangle $$\triangle ABC$$

So, this is a triangle whose name is written as $$\triangle ABC$$, where $$\triangle$$ is a symbol of triangle and ABC is the name of triangle, which always includes three vertices of triangle. We can use any three vertices in any order to represent a triangle.

For example, ABC or BAC or CAB or ACB. Therefore, the triangle can also be written as $$\triangle BAC$$ or $$\triangle CAB$$ or $$\triangle ACB$$.

## Sides of triangle

As you know that triangle has three sides always. These sides are also called the line segments.

So, in $$\triangle ABC$$, line segments AB, BC and CA are sides of the $$\triangle ABC$$. These three sides of a triangle are written as $$\overline{AB}$$, $$\overline{BC}$$ and $$\overline{CA}$$.

## Vertex of triangle

Vertex of a triangle is that point where any two sides of a triangle meet out or intersect.

In the $$\triangle ABC$$ in above figure, sides AB and AC meet at point A. So, A is vertex of $$\triangle ABC$$.

Similarly, sides BC and AB meet at point B. So B is a vertex of $$\triangle ABC$$.

Also, sides AC and BC meet at point C. So C is a vertex of $$\triangle ABC$$.

Therefore, A, B and C are the three vertices of $$\triangle ABC$$.

## Angles of triangle

Angles are formed at vertex of a triangle. It is a measurement of how slanted two lines are to each other. The angles are measured in degrees units.

Let’s understand angles in a triangle $$\triangle ABC$$ from the above figure.

As we already discussed above that $$\triangle ABC$$ has three vertices A, B and C.

Therefore, we can say angles are formed at vertices A, B and C. Angles are written as $$\angle ABC$$, $$\angle BAC$$ and $$\angle ACB$$ or in a short form as $$\angle B$$, $$\angle A$$ and $$\angle C$$ respectively.

In other words, we can say:

$$\angle ABC$$ or $$\angle B$$ is formed at vertex B of $$\triangle ABC$$.

$$\angle BAC$$ or $$\angle A$$ is formed at vertex A of $$\triangle ABC$$.

$$\angle ACB$$ or $$\angle C$$ is formed at vertex C of $$\triangle ABC$$.

## Types of triangle on the basis of length of sides

Triangle has many types depending upon the length of its sides.

### Equilateral triangle

A triangle is said to be equilateral triangle if all sides of a triangle are of equal length.

$$\triangle ABC$$ is equilateral triangle because AB = BC = CA, where AB is length of side AB, BC is length of side BC and CA is length of side CA.

Equilateral triangle $$\triangle ABC$$

### Isosceles triangle

A triangle is said to be Isosceles triangle if any two sides of triangle are of equal length.

$$\triangle ABC$$ is Isosceles triangle because AB = AC.

Isosceles triangle $$\triangle ABC$$

### Scalene triangle

A triangle is said to be scalene triangle if all sides of triangle are of unequal length.

$$\triangle ABC$$ is Scalene triangle because AB $$\neq$$ BC $$\neq$$ AC.

Scalene triangle $$\triangle ABC$$

## Types of triangle on the basis of size of angles

Triangle has many types depending upon the length of its angles.

### Acute angled triangle

A triangle is said to be acute angled triangle if each angle of a triangle is acute. Acute angle is that angle which is less than $$90^o$$.

So, the $$\triangle ABC$$ in figure is an acute angled triangle because all angles are less than $$90^o$$. That is, $$\angle A$$, $$\angle B$$ and $$\angle C$$ are all less than $$90^o$$.

Acute angled triangle $$\triangle ABC$$

### Right angled triangle

A triangle is said to be right angles triangle if one of its angle is right angle. Right angle is that angle whose measure is $$90^o$$.

So, the $$\triangle ABC$$ in figure is a right angled triangle because $$\angle C$$ is equal to $$90^o$$.

Right angled triangle $$\triangle ABC$$

### Obtuse angled triangle

A triangle is said to be obtuse angled triangle if one of its angles is obtuse angle. Obtuse angle is that angle which is greater than $$90^o$$.

So, the $$\triangle ABC$$ in figure is an obtuse angled triangle because $$\angle C$$ is greater than $$90^o$$.

Obtuse angled triangle $$\triangle ABC$$

### Q) What is a triangle?

Triangle is a plane and closed figure which is formed by three line segments.

### Q) How many sides are there in a triangle?

There are 3 sides in a triangle.

### Q) How many angles are there in a triangle?

There are 3 angles in a triangle.

### Q) What are the types of a triangle according to its sides?

There are three types of a triangle according to its sides.
1. Equilateral triangle
2. Isosceles triangle
3. Scalene triangle

### Q) What are the types of a triangle according to its angles?

There are three types of a triangle according to its angles.
1. Right angled triangle
2. Obtuse angle triangle
3. Acute angle triangle

### Q) What is the sum of three angles of a triangle?

Sum of three angles of a triangle is equal to 1800.

## Solved Examples

### 1) In isosceles triangle ▵ABC, with AB=AC, if base angle = 300, find the other angles.

Solution

In isosceles ▵ABC

AB = AC

∴ ∠B = ∠C ( ∵ base angles are equal )

∠C = 300

In ▵ABC,

∠A + ∠B + ∠C = 1800

∠A + 300 + 300 = 1800

∠A + 600 = 1800

∠A = 1800 - 600

∠A = 1200

### 2) In right angled triangle ▵ABC at B, if ∠C = 300, find ∠A.

Solution

In right angled triangle ▵ABC

∠A + ∠B + ∠C = 1800

∠A + 900 + 300 = 1800

∠A + 1200 = 1800

∠A = 1800- 1200

∠A = 600

### 2) In triangle ▵ABC, if ∠A = 500, ∠B = 300, find ∠C.

Solution

In triangle ▵ABC

∠A + ∠B + ∠C = 1800

500 + 600 + ∠C= 1800

1100 + ∠C= 1800

∠C = 1800- 1100

∠C = 700

### 2) If the angles of ▵ABC are in ratio 1 : 2 : 3, find all angles.

Solution

Let the angles be x, 2x and 3x

In triangle, sum of three angles is 1800.

∴ ∠A + ∠B + ∠C = 1800

x + 2x + 3x = 1800

6x = 1800

x = $$\frac{180}{6}$$

x = 300

∴ the three angles are:

x = 300

2x = 2 x 300 = 600

3x = 3 x 300 = 900

∴ the three angles are 300, 600 and 900

## Multiple Choice Questions

a) 1800

b) 3600

c) 7200

d) 14400

a) 500

b) 400

c) 600

d) 700

a) 300

b) 400

c) 900

d) 600

### 4) A triangle whose all sides are equal is called as

a) scalene triangle

b) acute triangle

c) equilateral triangle

d) isosceles triangle

a) 900

b) 1000

c) 1100

d) 1200

a) true

b) false

c) maybe

d) none of these

### 7) A triangle whose two sides are equal is called as

a) scalene triangle

b) equilateral triangle

c) isosceles triangle

d) right angled triangle

### 8) A triangle with one angle more than 900 is called as

a) scalene triangle

b) obtuse triangle

c) equilateral triangle

d) right angled triangle

### 9) A triangle with one angle less than 900 is called

a) obtuse triangle

b) acute triangle

c) right angled triangle

d) equilateral triangle