Exterior Angles of Triangles Practice Problems & Solutions

Master exterior angle theorems with step-by-step practice problems. Learn to find missing angles using the exterior angle property of triangles.

📚Practice Exterior Angle Problems and Build Your Confidence
  • Apply the exterior angle theorem to find missing interior angles
  • Calculate exterior angles using the sum of non-adjacent interior angles
  • Solve problems involving supplementary relationships between adjacent angles
  • Work with right triangles and exterior angle properties
  • Use the 360° sum property of all exterior angles
  • Practice both direct calculation and algebraic methods

Understanding Exterior angles of a triangle

Complete explanation with examples

Exterior angles of a triangle

The exterior angle of a triangle is the one that is found between the original side and the extension of the side.

Key Properties:

  • The exterior angle is equal to the sum of the two interior angles of the triangle that are not adjacent to it.
  • Each exterior angle is supplementary to its adjacent interior angle, meaning their sum is 180∘180^\circ.
  • The sum of all exterior angles of a triangle is always 360∘360^\circ, no matter the shape of the triangle.

It is defined as follows:

α=∢A+∢Bα=∢A+∢B

A1 - Exterior angle of a triangle

Detailed explanation

Practice Exterior angles of a triangle

Test your knowledge with 65 quizzes

Indicates which angle is greater

Examples with solutions for Exterior angles of a triangle

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

Can a triangle have a right angle?

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine if a triangle can have a right angle, consider the following explanation:

  • Definition of a Right Angle: An angle is classified as a right angle if it measures exactly 90∘90^\circ.
  • Definition of a Right Triangle: A right triangle is a type of triangle that contains exactly one right angle.
  • According to the definition, a right triangle specifically includes a right angle. This is a well-established classification of triangles in geometry.

Thus, a triangle can indeed have a right angle and is referred to as a right triangle.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is Yes.

Answer:

Yes

Video Solution
Exercise #2

Is the straight line in the figure the height of the triangle?

Step-by-Step Solution

The triangle's altitude is a line drawn from a vertex perpendicular to the opposite side. The vertical line in the diagram extends from the triangle's top vertex straight down to its base. By definition of altitude, this line is the height if it forms a right angle with the base.

To solve this problem, we'll verify that the line in question satisfies the altitude condition:

  • Step 1: Identify the triangle's vertices and base. From the diagram, the base appears horizontal, and the vertex lies directly above it.
  • Step 2: Check the nature of the line. The line is vertical when the base is horizontal, indicating perpendicularity.
  • Conclusion: The vertical line forms right angles with the base, thus acting as the altitude or height.

Therefore, the straight line depicted is indeed the height of the triangle. The answer is Yes.

Answer:

Yes

Video Solution
Exercise #3

Is the straight line in the figure the height of the triangle?

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine if the straight line is the height of the triangle, we'll analyze its role within the triangle:

  • Step 1: Observe the triangle and the given line. The triangle seems to be made of three sides and a vertical line within it.
  • Step 2: Recall that the height of a triangle, in geometry, is defined as a perpendicular dropped from a vertex to the opposite side.
  • Step 3: Examine the positioning of the line: The vertical line starts at one vertex of the triangle and intersects the base, appearing to be perpendicular.
  • Step 4: Verify perpendicularity: Given that the line is shown as a clear vertical (and a small perpendicular indicator suggests perpendicularity), we accept this line as the height.
  • Step 5: Conclude with verification that the line is effectively meeting the definition of height for the triangle in the diagram.

Therefore, the vertical line in the figure is indeed the height of the triangle.

Yes

Answer:

Yes

Video Solution
Exercise #4

Can a plane angle be found in a triangle?

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine whether a plane angle can be found in a triangle, we need to understand what a plane angle is and compare it to the angles within a triangle.

  • A plane angle is an angle formed by two lines lying in the same plane.
  • In the context of geometry, angles found within a triangle are the interior angles, which are the angles between the sides of the triangle.
  • Although the angles in a triangle are indeed contained within a plane (since a triangle itself is a planar figure), when referencing "plane angles" in geometry, we usually consider angles related to different geometric configurations beyond those specifically internal to defined planar shapes like a triangle.
  • The term "plane angle" typically refers to the measurement of an angle in radians or degrees within a plane, but this doesn't specifically pertain to angles of a triangle.

Therefore, based on the context and usual geometric conventions, the concept of a "plane angle" is not typically used to describe the angles found within a triangle. Thus, a plane angle as defined generally in geometry is not found specifically within a triangle.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is No \text{No} .

Answer:

No

Video Solution
Exercise #5

Is the straight line in the figure the height of the triangle?

Step-by-Step Solution

In the given problem, we have a triangle depicted with a specific line drawn inside it. The question asks if this line represents the height of the triangle. To resolve this question, we need to discern whether the line is perpendicular to one of the sides of the triangle when extended, as only a line that is perpendicular from a vertex to its opposite side can be considered the height.

The line in question is shown intersecting one of the sides within the triangle but does not form a perpendicular angle with any side shown or the ground (as is required for it to be the height of the triangle). A proper height would typically intersect perpendicularly either at or along the extended line of the opposite side from a vertex.

Therefore, based on the visual clues provided and the typical geometric definition of a height (or altitude) in a triangle, this specific line does not fit the criteria for being a height.

Thus, we conclude that the line depicted is not the height of the triangle. The correct answer is No.

Answer:

No

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exterior angle theorem for triangles?

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The exterior angle theorem states that an exterior angle of a triangle equals the sum of the two non-adjacent interior angles. For example, if angles A and B are 50° and 30°, the exterior angle at vertex C would be 80°.

How do you find an exterior angle of a triangle step by step?

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To find an exterior angle: 1) Identify the two interior angles that are NOT adjacent to the exterior angle, 2) Add these two angles together, 3) The sum equals the exterior angle. Alternatively, subtract the adjacent interior angle from 180°.

What is the sum of all exterior angles of a triangle?

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The sum of all three exterior angles of any triangle is always 360°, regardless of the triangle's shape or size. This is a fundamental property that applies to all triangles.

How are exterior and interior angles of triangles related?

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An exterior angle and its adjacent interior angle are supplementary, meaning they add up to 180°. The exterior angle also equals the sum of the two remote (non-adjacent) interior angles.

What are common mistakes when solving exterior angle problems?

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Common errors include: confusing which angles are adjacent vs. non-adjacent, forgetting that exterior and adjacent interior angles sum to 180°, and incorrectly identifying which angle is actually the exterior angle.

Can you use exterior angles to find interior angles of triangles?

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Yes! If you know an exterior angle, you can find interior angles by: 1) Subtracting from 180° to get the adjacent interior angle, or 2) Using the exterior angle theorem if you know one of the non-adjacent interior angles.

Do exterior angle rules work for all types of triangles?

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Yes, the exterior angle theorem applies to all triangles - acute, right, obtuse, scalene, isosceles, and equilateral. The relationships between exterior and interior angles remain consistent regardless of triangle type.

How do you identify an exterior angle in a triangle diagram?

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An exterior angle is formed between one original side of the triangle and the extension of an adjacent side. It lies outside the triangle and is supplementary to the interior angle at the same vertex.

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