Find ∠CAD in a Right Triangle with 61° and 17° Angles

Angle Relationships with Triangle Angle Sum

ΔABD is a right-angled triangle.

CAD=? ∢\text{CAD}=\text{?}

AAABBBDDDCCC6117

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find angle CAD
00:05 The sum of angles in a triangle equals 180
00:18 Let's gather terms and isolate A
00:41 This is angle A
00:47 Part of the angle equals the total angle minus the second part
01:04 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

ΔABD is a right-angled triangle.

CAD=? ∢\text{CAD}=\text{?}

AAABBBDDDCCC6117

2

Step-by-step solution

If we look at triangle ABD, we can see that we are given two angles: 90° and 17°.

Since the sum of all angles in a triangle equals 180°, we can calculate angle BAD as follows:

1809017=73 180-90-17=73

Since we know angle BAC, we can calculate angle CAD as follows:

7361=12 73-61=12

3

Final Answer

12°

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Triangle Rule: All three angles in any triangle sum to 180°
  • Technique: Find missing angle first: 180° - 90° - 17° = 73°
  • Check: Verify angle subtraction: 73° - 61° = 12° for ∠CAD ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Trying to find ∠CAD directly without finding ∠BAD first
    Don't attempt to use only the given angles 61° and 17° to find ∠CAD directly = wrong approach! You need the complete angle ∠BAD first. Always find the missing triangle angle using the 180° sum, then subtract the known part.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Indicates which angle is greater

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just subtract 61° from 17° to get the answer?

+

Those angles aren't directly related! The 61° is part of a larger angle, and 17° is at a completely different vertex. You need to find the whole angle ∠BAD first.

How do I know which angles to use for the 180° rule?

+

Look for a complete triangle! In triangle ABD, you have the right angle (90°), the 17° angle, and one unknown angle. These three must sum to 180°.

What if I forgot that angle A was split into two parts?

+

Always examine the diagram carefully! When you see a line like AC inside triangle ABD, it divides angle A into smaller angles. The 61° is just one piece of the larger angle.

Can I solve this problem without using the triangle angle sum?

+

No! The triangle angle sum (180°) is essential here. It's the only way to find the complete angle ∠BAD, which you need to subtract 61° from.

Why is the answer 12° and not something else?

+

Follow the steps: Triangle ABD has angles that sum to 180°, so ∠BAD = 180° - 90° - 17° = 73°. Since ∠BAC = 61°, then ∠CAD = 73° - 61° = 12°.

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Angles questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations