Isosceles Triangle Practice Problems with Solutions

Master identifying isosceles triangles with step-by-step practice problems. Learn to recognize equal angles, heights, medians, and angle bisectors in triangles.

📚What You'll Master in This Practice Session
  • Identify isosceles triangles using equal angle conditions
  • Apply height and angle bisector coincidence rules
  • Recognize when median and height are the same line
  • Solve problems involving isosceles triangle properties
  • Distinguish between isosceles and other triangle types
  • Use triangle identification methods in real geometry problems

Understanding Identification of an Isosceles Triangle

Complete explanation with examples

When we have a triangle, we can identify that it is an isosceles if at least one of the following conditions is met:

1) If the triangle has two equal angles - The triangle is isosceles.
2) If in the triangle the height also bisects the angle of the vertex - The triangle is isosceles.
3) If in the triangle the height is also the median - The triangle is isosceles.
4) If in the triangle the median is also the bisector - The triangle is isosceles.

Detailed explanation

Practice Identification of an Isosceles Triangle

Test your knowledge with 20 quizzes

Does the diagram show an obtuse triangle?

Examples with solutions for Identification of an 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 in geometry?

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An isosceles triangle can be identified by checking if: 1) Two angles are equal, 2) The height bisects the vertex angle, 3) The height is also the median, or 4) The median is also the angle bisector. If any of these conditions are met, the triangle is isosceles.

What are the 4 ways to prove a triangle is isosceles?

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The four methods are: 1) Show two angles are equal, 2) Prove the height bisects the vertex angle, 3) Demonstrate the height equals the median, 4) Show the median equals the angle bisector. These conditions stem from the fundamental property that isosceles triangles have two equal sides.

Why do equal angles prove an isosceles triangle?

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Equal angles prove an isosceles triangle because of the angle-side relationship: sides opposite to equal angles are also equal. Therefore, if two angles in a triangle are equal, the sides opposite those angles must be equal, making it isosceles.

What happens when height, median, and angle bisector coincide in triangles?

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When any two of these three lines (height, median, angle bisector) coincide in a triangle, it proves the triangle is isosceles. In isosceles triangles, all three of these special lines from the vertex angle to the base are actually the same line.

Can you identify isosceles triangles without measuring sides?

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Yes, you can identify isosceles triangles without measuring sides by using angle measurements or geometric properties. Check for equal angles, or verify if special lines like height, median, or angle bisector coincide - these methods don't require side measurements.

What's the difference between isosceles triangle identification and other triangle types?

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Isosceles triangles have exactly two equal sides and two equal base angles, while equilateral triangles have all sides equal and scalene triangles have no equal sides. The identification methods for isosceles triangles specifically look for these 'two equal' properties.

How do you solve isosceles triangle problems step by step?

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Follow these steps: 1) Identify given information about angles, sides, or special lines, 2) Check which identification condition applies, 3) Apply the appropriate rule (equal angles, coinciding lines, etc.), 4) Use isosceles properties to find unknown values, 5) Verify your answer makes geometric sense.

What are common mistakes when identifying isosceles triangles?

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Common mistakes include: assuming a triangle is isosceles without proof, confusing isosceles with equilateral triangles, not recognizing when special lines coincide, and forgetting that equal angles indicate equal opposite sides. Always verify using one of the four identification methods.

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