Find the Alpha Angle in Triangle ABC with 89° Interior Angle

Triangle Angle Sum with Mixed Numbers

Find the measure of the angle α \alpha

898989AAABBBCCC

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Determine the value of A
00:03 The sum of angles in a triangle equals 180
00:07 Substitute in the relevant values according to the given data and proceed to solve for A
00:12 Group terms
00:16 Isolate A
00:21 This is the solution

Step-by-step written solution

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1

Understand the problem

Find the measure of the angle α \alpha

898989AAABBBCCC

2

Step-by-step solution

Let's remember that the sum of angles in a triangle is equal to 180 degrees.

Therefore, we will use the following formula:

A+B+C=180 A+B+C=180

Now let's input the known data:

89+512+α=180 89+5\frac{1}{2}+\alpha=180

α+94.5=180 \alpha+94.5=180

We'll move the term to the other side and keep the appropriate sign:

α=18094.5 \alpha=180-94.5

α=85.5 \alpha=85.5

3

Final Answer

8512 85\frac{1}{2}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Triangle Rule: Sum of all three interior angles equals 180°
  • Technique: Add known angles: 89° + 5½° = 94.5°
  • Check: Verify sum: 89° + 5½° + 85½° = 180° ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting to add all known angles before subtracting
    Don't subtract each known angle separately from 180° = wrong calculation order! This creates confusion and arithmetic errors. Always add all known angles first, then subtract their sum from 180°.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Can a triangle have a right angle?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why does every triangle always add up to exactly 180°?

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This is a fundamental property of triangles in flat (Euclidean) geometry. No matter what size or shape your triangle is, the three interior angles will always sum to 180°!

How do I handle the mixed number 5½°?

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Convert mixed numbers to decimals for easier calculation: 512=5.5 5\frac{1}{2} = 5.5 . Then add normally: 89 + 5.5 = 94.5.

What if I get a decimal answer instead of a mixed number?

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Both forms are correct! 85.5° 85.5° and 8512° 85\frac{1}{2}° represent the same angle. Choose the format that matches your answer choices.

Can a triangle have angles that don't add to 180°?

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Never in regular flat geometry! If your angles don't sum to 180°, double-check your arithmetic. This rule is always true for triangles.

What if one of the given angles seems too big?

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Check that each angle is less than 180°. In this problem, 89° and 5½° are both reasonable. If an angle equals or exceeds 180°, reread the problem carefully.

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