The sum of the interior angles of a triangle is 180º. If we add the three angles of any triangle we choose, the result will always be 180º. This means that if we know the values of two angles of a triangle we can always calculate, with ease, the value of the third one: first we add the two angles we know and then we subtract from 180º The result of this subtraction will give us the value of the third angle of the triangle.
For example, given a triangle with two known interior angles of 45º and 60º degrees, we are asked to discover the measure of the third angle. First we add 45º plus 60º resulting in 105º degrees. Now we subtract 105º from 180º, yielding 75º degrees. In other words, the third angle of the triangle equals 75º degrees.
The above property is also called the triangle sum theorem, and can help us to solve problems involving the interior angles of a triangle, regardless of whether it is equilateral, isosceles or scalene.
Examples of different types of triangles and the sum of the interior angles in each
The angle beta is equal to 90°. The adjacent angle is also equal to 90° since the sum is equal to 180° degrees. The adjacent angle gamma 120° and their sum is equal to 180°, therefore, gamma is equal to 60° degrees.
α+γ+δ=180°
α+60°+90°=180°
α+150°=180°
α=180°−150°
α=30°
Answer
30°
Exercise 5
CE is parallel to AD
What is the value of X if it is given that ABC is isosceles, such that AB=BC
Solution
Angles ∢UCH and angle ∢ACE are opposite angles.
ACE=ICH=2X
∢DAC and angle ∢ACE are collateral angles.
2x+DAC=180
DAC=180−2x
∢FGA and angle ∢DAB are opposite angles.
FGA=DAB=x−10
BAC=DAC−DAB=
180−2x−(x−10)=
190−3x
The sum of the angles in the triangle is 180
ACB+CAB+B=180
ACB=180−(190−3x)−(3x−30)=20
ACB=BAC
20=190−3x
x=56.67
Answer
56.67
Check your understanding
Question 1
Angle A is equal to 30°. Angle B is equal to 60°. Angle C is equal to 90°.