Isosceles Triangle Practice Problems and Exercises

Master isosceles triangles with step-by-step practice problems. Learn to identify equal sides, calculate base angles, and solve vertex angle problems.

📚Master Isosceles Triangle Properties Through Practice
  • Identify equal sides and legs in isosceles triangles
  • Calculate base angles using the equal angles property
  • Find vertex angles when given base angle measurements
  • Classify isosceles triangles as acute, right, or obtuse
  • Apply the angle sum property to solve triangle problems
  • Distinguish between base angles and vertex angles in examples

Understanding Isosceles triangle

Complete explanation with examples

Definition of isosceles triangle

The isosceles triangle is a type of triangle that has two sides (legs) of equal length.

A consequence of having two sides of equal length implies that also the two angles opposite these sides measure the same.

Key Parts:

  • Legs: The two equal sides
  • Base: The third side (different length)
  • Vertex angle: The angle between the two legs
  • Base angles: The two equal angles adjacent to the base

This fundamental property—that equal sides create equal opposite angles—makes isosceles triangles essential building blocks in geometry and forms the basis for the Isosceles Triangle Theorem.

A - Identification of an isosceles triangle

Detailed explanation

Practice Isosceles triangle

Test your knowledge with 20 quizzes

Does the diagram show an obtuse triangle?

Examples with solutions for Isosceles triangle

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

In a right triangle, the side opposite the right angle is called....?

Step-by-Step Solution

The problem requires us to identify the side of a right triangle that is opposite to its right angle.
In right triangles, one of the most crucial elements to recognize is the presence of a right angle (90 degrees).
The side that is directly across or opposite the right angle is known as the hypotenuse. It is also the longest side of a right triangle.
Therefore, when asked for the side opposite the right angle in a right triangle, the correct term is the hypotenuse.

Selection from the given choices corroborates our analysis:

  • Choice 1: Leg - In the context of right triangles, the "legs" are the two sides that form the right angle, not the side opposite to it.
  • Choice 2: Hypotenuse - This is the correct identification for the side opposite the right angle.

Therefore, the correct answer is Hypotenuse \text{Hypotenuse} .

Answer:

Hypotenuse

Exercise #2

In an isosceles triangle, what are each of the two equal sides called ?

Step-by-Step Solution

In an isosceles triangle, there are three sides: two sides of equal length and one distinct side. Our task is to identify what the equal sides are called.

To address this, let's review the basic properties of an isosceles triangle:

  • An isosceles triangle is defined as a triangle with at least two sides of equal length.
  • The side that is different in length from the other two is usually called the "base" of the triangle.
  • The two equal sides of an isosceles triangle are referred to as the "legs."

Therefore, each of the two equal sides in an isosceles triangle is called a "leg."

In our problem, we confirm that the correct terminology for these two equal sides is indeed "legs," distinguishing them from the "base," which is the unequal side. This aligns with both the typical definitions and properties of an isosceles triangle.

Thus, the equal sides in an isosceles triangle are known as legs.

Answer:

Legs

Exercise #3

In a right triangle, the two sides that form a right angle are called...?

Step-by-Step Solution

In a right triangle, there are specific terms for the sides. The two sides that form the right angle are referred to as the legs of the triangle. To differentiate, the side opposite the right angle is called the hypotenuse, which is distinct due to being the longest side. Hence, in response to the problem, the sides forming the right angle are correctly identified as Legs.

Answer:

Legs

Exercise #4

Does the diagram show an obtuse triangle?

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine if the triangle in the diagram is obtuse, we will visually assess the angles:

  • Step 1: Identify the angles in the diagram. The triangle has three angles, with one angle appearing between the horizontal base and the left slanted side.
  • Step 2: Evaluate the angle between the base and the left side. If it opens wider than a right angle, it's considered obtuse. This angle seems to be greater than 9090^\circ, indicating obtuseness.
  • Step 3: Conclude based on visual inspection. Since this key angle is greater than 9090^\circ, the triangle must be an obtuse triangle.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is Yes; the diagram does show an obtuse triangle.

Answer:

Yes

Video Solution
Exercise #5

Does the diagram show an obtuse triangle?

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine if the triangle shown in the diagram is obtuse, we proceed as follows:

  • Step 1: Identify that the diagram is indeed a triangle by observing the confluence of three edges forming a closed shape.
  • Step 2: Appreciate the geometric arrangement of the triangle, focusing on the sides' lengths and angles visually.
  • Step 3: Noticeably, the longest side of the triangle represents a noticeable tilt indicating the presence of an obtuse angle.

Based on the observation above, notably from the triangle's longest side against the base, it's clear that one angle is larger than 9090^\circ. Hence, the triangle in the diagram is indeed an obtuse triangle.

Therefore, the correct answer is Yes.

Answer:

Yes

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you identify an isosceles triangle?

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An isosceles triangle has two sides of equal length called legs. You can identify it by looking for two equal sides or two equal angles opposite those sides.

What are base angles in an isosceles triangle?

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Base angles are the two angles adjacent to the base (the unequal side) of an isosceles triangle. These angles are always equal to each other and are always acute angles (less than 90°).

How do you find the vertex angle of an isosceles triangle?

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To find the vertex angle: 1) Add the two base angles together, 2) Subtract this sum from 180°, 3) The result is your vertex angle. Remember that all triangle angles sum to 180°.

Can an isosceles triangle have a right angle?

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Yes, an isosceles triangle can have a right angle (90°) at the vertex. In this case, the two base angles would each measure 45°, since 180° - 90° = 90°, and 90° ÷ 2 = 45°.

What is the difference between legs and base in isosceles triangles?

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The legs are the two equal sides of an isosceles triangle, while the base is the third side that has a different length. The vertex angle lies between the two legs.

How do you solve isosceles triangle angle problems?

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Use these key properties: 1) Base angles are equal, 2) All angles sum to 180°, 3) If you know one base angle, the other base angle is the same, 4) Subtract the sum of base angles from 180° to find the vertex angle.

Can base angles in an isosceles triangle be obtuse?

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No, base angles in an isosceles triangle cannot be obtuse (greater than 90°). If they were obtuse, their sum would exceed 180°, which is impossible since all three angles must sum to exactly 180°.

What are the types of isosceles triangles?

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Isosceles triangles are classified by their vertex angle: 1) Acute isosceles - vertex angle less than 90°, 2) Right isosceles - vertex angle equals 90°, 3) Obtuse isosceles - vertex angle greater than 90°.

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