All terms in triangle calculation

🏆Practice parts of a triangle

Terms used in triangle calculations

  • Line

A line is a general term for straight lines (hence its name) that extend from a specific point on the triangle.

  • Height

Height is a line that extends from a specific vertex and reaches perpendicularly to the opposite side, creating a right angle. The height is marked with the letter h (from the word height).

  • Median

The median is also a line extending from a specific vertex to the opposite side, but it reaches exactly the middle of the opposite side and divides it into two equal parts.

  • Angle Bisector

An angle bisector is a line that extends from a specific vertex and actually divides the vertex into two equal angles.

  • Perpendicular Bisector

A perpendicular bisector is a line that extends from the middle of a side perpendicular to it.

  • Midsegment

A midsegment is a line that connects the midpoints of two sides and is parallel to the third side, with its length being half of it.

  • Opposite Side

An opposite side is the side that is located opposite to a specific vertex and does not pass through it.

Diagram of a triangle ABC illustrating key geometric concepts: height (H) in green, median in blue, angle bisector in red, perpendicular bisector from CB in orange, midsegment in purple, and the side opposite to vertex A highlighted in orange. Labels are color-coded for clarity.

Start practice

Test yourself on parts of a triangle!

Given the following triangle:

Write down the height of the triangle ABC.

AAABBBCCCDDD

Practice more now

Terms used in triangle calculations

Line

A ray is a general name for straight lines (hence its name) that extend from a specific point on the triangle.

Height

Height is a line that extends from a specific vertex and reaches perpendicularly to the opposite side, creating a right angle. Height is marked with the letter h (from the word height in English).

Median

The median is also a line that extends from a specific vertex to the opposite side, but it reaches exactly the middle of the opposite side and divides it into two equal parts.

Angle Bisector

An angle bisector is a line that extends from a specific vertex and divides the angle into two equal angles.

Perpendicular Bisector

A median perpendicular is a line that extends from the middle of a side perpendicular to it.

Midsegment

A midsegment is a line segment that connects the midpoints of two sides and is parallel to the third side, and its length is half of it.

Opposite Side

An opposite side is the side located across from a specific vertex and does not pass through it.

Diagram of a triangle ABC illustrating key geometric concepts: height (H) in green, median in blue, angle bisector in red, perpendicular bisector from CB in orange, midsegment in purple, and the side opposite to vertex A highlighted in orange. Labels are color-coded for clarity.

Join Over 30,000 Students Excelling in Math!
Endless Practice, Expert Guidance - Elevate Your Math Skills Today
Test your knowledge

Examples with solutions for Parts of a Triangle

Exercise #1

Given the following triangle:

Write down the height of the triangle ABC.

AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To resolve this problem, let's focus on recognizing the elements of the triangle given in the diagram:

  • Step 1: Identify that ABC \triangle ABC is a right-angled triangle on the horizontal line BC, with a perpendicular dropped from vertex A A (top of the triangle) to point D D on BC BC , creating two right angles ADB \angle ADB and ADC \angle ADC .
  • Step 2: The height corresponds to the perpendicular segment from the opposite vertex to the base.
  • Step 3: Recognize segment BD BD as described in the choices, fitting the perpendicular from A to BC in this context correctly.

Thus, the height of triangle ABC \triangle ABC is effectively identified as segment BD BD .

Answer

BD

Exercise #2

Given the following triangle:

Write down the height of the triangle ABC.

AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we need to identify the height of triangle ABC from the diagram. The height of a triangle is defined as the perpendicular line segment from a vertex to the opposite side, or to the line containing the opposite side.

In the given diagram:

  • A A is the vertex from which the height is drawn.
  • The base BC BC is a horizontal line lying on the same level.
  • AD AD is the line segment originating from point A A and is perpendicular to BC BC .

The perpendicularity of AD AD to BC BC is illustrated by the right angle symbol at point D D . This establishes AD AD as the height of the triangle ABC.

Considering the options provided, the line segment that represents the height of the triangle ABC is indeed AD AD .

Therefore, the correct choice is: AD AD .

Answer

AD

Exercise #3

Which of the following is the height in triangle ABC?

AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's remember the definition of height of a triangle:

A height is a straight line that descends from the vertex of a triangle and forms a 90-degree angle with the opposite side.

The sides that form a 90-degree angle are sides AB and BC. Therefore, the height is AB.

Answer

AB

Exercise #4

Given the following triangle:

Write down the height of the triangle ABC.

AAABBBCCCDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine the height of triangle ABC \triangle ABC , we need to identify the line segment that extends from a vertex and meets the opposite side at a right angle.

Given the diagram of the triangle, we consider the base AC AC and need to find the line segment from vertex B B to this base.

From the diagram, segment BD BD is drawn from B B and intersects the line AC AC (or its extension) perpendicularly. Therefore, it represents the height of the triangle ABC \triangle ABC .

Thus, the height of ABC \triangle ABC is segment BD BD .

Answer

BD

Exercise #5

Given the following triangle:

Write down the height of the triangle ABC.

AAABBBCCCEEEDDD

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

An altitude in a triangle is the segment that connects the vertex and the opposite side, in such a way that the segment forms a 90-degree angle with the side.

If we look at the image it is clear that the above theorem is true for the line AE. AE not only connects the A vertex with the opposite side. It also crosses BC forming a 90-degree angle. Undoubtedly making AE the altitude.

Answer

AE

Start practice
Related Subjects