5.

1 Angles of Triangles
Essential Question How are the angle measures of a
triangle related?

Writing a Conjecture
Work with a partner.
a. Use dynamic geometry software to draw any triangle and label it △ABC.
b. Find the measures of the interior angles of the triangle.
c. Find the sum of the interior angle measures.
d. Repeat parts (a)–(c) with several other triangles. Then write a conjecture about the
CONSTRUCTING sum of the measures of the interior angles of a triangle.
VIABLE Sample
ARGUMENTS Angles
To be proficient in math, A m∠A = 43.67°
you need to reason m∠B = 81.87°
inductively about data C m∠C = 54.46°
and write conjectures.

Writing a Conjecture
Work with a partner.
a. Use dynamic geometry software
to draw any triangle and label
it △ABC.
D
b. Draw an exterior angle at any A
vertex and find its measure.
C
c. Find the measures of the two
nonadjacent interior angles
of the triangle.
d. Find the sum of the measures of
the two nonadjacent interior angles. B
Compare this sum to the measure
of the exterior angle. Sample
e. Repeat parts (a)–(d) with several other triangles. Then Angles
write a conjecture that compares the measure of an exterior m∠A = 43.67°
angle with the sum of the measures of the two nonadjacent m∠B = 81.87°
interior angles. m∠ACD = 125.54°

Communicate Your Answer

3. How are the angle measures of a triangle related?
4. An exterior angle of a triangle measures 32°. What do you know about the
measures of the interior angles? Explain your reasoning.

Section 5.1 Angles of Triangles 231

5.1 Lesson What You Will Learn
Classify triangles by sides and angles.
Find interior and exterior angle measures of triangles.
Core Vocabul
Vocabulary
larry
interior angles, p. 233 Classifying Triangles by Sides and by Angles
exterior angles, p. 233
Recall that a triangle is a polygon with three sides. You can classify triangles by sides
corollary to a theorem, p. 235
and by angles, as shown below.
Previous
triangle
Core Concept
Classifying Triangles by Sides
Scalene Triangle Isosceles Triangle Equilateral Triangle

READING
Notice that an equilateral
no congruent sides at least 2 congruent sides 3 congruent sides
triangle is also isosceles.
An equiangular triangle
Classifying Triangles by Angles
is also acute.
Acute Right Obtuse Equiangular
Triangle Triangle Triangle Triangle

3 acute angles 1 right angle 1 obtuse angle 3 congruent angles

Classifying Triangles by Sides and by Angles

Classify the triangular shape of

the support beams in the diagram
by its sides and by measuring
its angles.

SOLUTION
The triangle has a pair of congruent sides, so it is isosceles. By measuring, the angles
are 55°, 55°, and 70°.

So, it is an acute isosceles triangle.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

1. Draw an obtuse isosceles triangle and an acute scalene triangle.

232 Chapter 5 Congruent Triangles

 Classifying a Triangle in the Coordinate Plane

Classify △OPQ by its sides. Then y

determine whether it is a right triangle. 4
Q(6, 3)
P(−1, 2)

−2 O(0, 0) 4 6 8 x

SOLUTION
Step 1 Use the Distance Formula to find the side lengths.
—— —— —
OP = √(x2 − x1)2 + (y2 − y1)2 = √(−1 − 0)2 + (2 − 0)2 = √ 5 ≈ 2.2
—— —— —
OQ = √(x2 − x1)2 + (y2 − y1)2 = √(6 − 0)2 + (3 − 0)2 = √ 45 ≈ 6.7
—— —— —
PQ = √ (x2 − x1)2 + (y2 − y1)2 = √[6 − (−1)]2 + (3 − 2)2 = √ 50 ≈ 7.1
Because no sides are congruent, △OPQ is a scalene triangle.
— is —
Step 2 Check for right angles. The slope of OP
2−0 —
= −2. The slope of OQ
−1 − 0
3−0 1
6−0 2
1
()
is — = —. The product of the slopes is −2 — = −1. So, OP
2
— ⊥ OQ — and
∠POQ is a right angle.

So, △OPQ is a right scalene triangle.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

2. △ABC has vertices A(0, 0), B(3, 3), and C(−3, 3). Classify the triangle by its
sides. Then determine whether it is a right triangle.

Finding Angle Measures of Triangles

When the sides of a polygon are extended, other angles are formed. The original
angles are the interior angles. The angles that form linear pairs with the interior
angles are the exterior angles.

B B

A C A
C

interior angles exterior angles

Theorem
Theorem 5.1 Triangle Sum Theorem
B
The sum of the measures of the interior
angles of a triangle is 180°.

A C
Proof p. 234; Ex. 53, p. 238 m∠A + m∠B + m∠C = 180°

Section 5.1 Angles of Triangles 233

 To prove certain theorems, you may need to add a line, a segment, or a ray to a given
diagram. An auxiliary line is used in the proof of the Triangle Sum Theorem.

Triangle Sum Theorem

B D
Given △ABC
4 2 5
Prove m∠1 + m∠2 + m∠3 = 180°

Plan a. Draw an auxiliary line through B that 1 3

for —.
is parallel to AC A C
Proof
b. Show that m∠4 + m∠2 + m∠5 = 180°, ∠1 ≅ ∠4, and ∠3 ≅ ∠5.
c. By substitution, m∠1 + m∠2 + m∠3 = 180°.

Plan STATEMENTS REASONS

in
Action a. 1. Draw ⃖))⃗
—.
BD parallel to AC 1. Parallel Postulate (Post. 3.1)
b. 2. m∠4 + m∠2 + m∠5 = 180° 2. Angle Addition Postulate (Post. 1.4)
and definition of straight angle
3. ∠1 ≅ ∠4, ∠3 ≅ ∠5 3. Alternate Interior Angles Theorem
(Thm. 3.2)
4. m∠l = m∠4, m∠3 = m∠5 4. Definition of congruent angles
c. 5. m∠l + m∠2 + m∠3 = 180° 5. Substitution Property of Equality

Theorem
Theorem 5.2 Exterior Angle Theorem
The measure of an exterior angle of B
a triangle is equal to the sum of the
measures of the two nonadjacent
interior angles. 1
A C
Proof Ex. 42, p. 237 m∠1 = m∠A + m∠B

Finding an Angle Measure

Find m∠JKM. J
x°
SOLUTION
Step 1 Write and solve an equation 70° (2x − 5)°
to find the value of x. L K M
(2x − 5)° = 70° + x° Apply the Exterior Angle Theorem.
x = 75 Solve for x.

Step 2 Substitute 75 for x in 2x − 5 to find m∠JKM.

⋅
2x − 5 = 2 75 − 5 = 145

So, the measure of ∠JKM is 145°.

234 Chapter 5 Congruent Triangles

 A corollary to a theorem is a statement that can be proved easily using the theorem.
The corollary below follows from the Triangle Sum Theorem.

Corollary
Corollary 5.1 Corollary to the Triangle Sum Theorem
The acute angles of a right triangle C
are complementary.

A B
m∠A + m∠B = 90°
Proof Ex. 41, p. 237

Modeling with Mathematics

In the painting, the red triangle is a right triangle.

The measure of one acute angle in the triangle is
twice the measure of the other. Find the measure
of each acute angle.

SOLUTION
1. Understand the Problem You are given a
right triangle and the relationship between the
two acute angles in the triangle. You need to
find the measure of each acute angle.
2. Make a Plan First, sketch a diagram of the situation. You can use the Corollary
2x° to the Triangle Sum Theorem and the given relationship between the two acute
angles to write and solve an equation to find the measure of each acute angle.
3. Solve the Problem Let the measure of the smaller acute angle be x°. Then the
x°
measure of the larger acute angle is 2x°. The Corollary to the Triangle Sum
Theorem states that the acute angles of a right triangle are complementary.
Use the corollary to set up and solve an equation.
x° + 2x° = 90° Corollary to the Triangle Sum Theorem
x = 30 Solve for x.

So, the measures of the acute angles are 30° and 2(30°) = 60°.
4. Look Back Add the two angles and check that their sum satisfies the Corollary
to the Triangle Sum Theorem.

30° + 60° = 90° ✓

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

3. Find the measure of ∠1. 4. Find the measure of each acute angle.

3x° 2x°

40° 1 (5x − 10)° (x − 6)°

Section 5.1 Angles of Triangles 235

 5.1 Exercises Dynamic Solutions available at BigIdeasMath.com

Vocabulary and Core Concept Check

1. WRITING Can a right triangle also be obtuse? Explain your reasoning.

2. COMPLETE THE SENTENCE The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is equal to the sum of the
measures of the two ____________________ interior angles.

Monitoring Progress and Modeling with Mathematics

In Exercises 3 – 6, classify the triangle by its sides and by In Exercises 15–18, find the measure of the exterior
measuring its angles. (See Example 1.) angle. (See Example 3.)
3. X 4. M 15. 16.
75°
(2x − 2)°
64° 2

L N
Y Z x° 45°

5. J K 6. A 17.
24°
C
(2x + 18)°
H B (3x + 6)°

In Exercises 7–10, classify △ABC by its sides. Then 18.

determine whether it is a right triangle. (See Example 2.)
7. A(2, 3), B(6, 3), C(2, 7) (7x − 16)°

8. A(3, 3), B(6, 9), C(6, −3)

(x + 8)° 4x°
9. A(1, 9), B(4, 8), C(2, 5)

10. A(−2, 3), B(0, −3), C(3, −2) In Exercises 19–22, find the measure of each acute
angle. (See Example 4.)
In Exercises 11–14, find m∠1. Then classify the triangle
by its angles. 19. 20.
3x° x°
11. 12. 1 30°
1
2x° (3x + 2)°
40°
78° 31°
21. 22.
(6x + 7)°
13. 1 14.
(19x − 1)°
60° (11x − 2)°
38° 1
60° (13x − 5)°

236 Chapter 5 Congruent Triangles

In Exercises 23–26, find the measure of each acute angle 37. USING TOOLS Three people are standing on a stage.
in the right triangle. (See Example 4.) The distances between the three people are shown in
the diagram. Classify the triangle by its sides and by
23. The measure of one acute angle is 5 times the measure
measuring its angles.
of the other acute angle.
8 ft
24. The measure of one acute angle is 8 times the measure
of the other acute angle.
6.5 ft 5 ft
25. The measure of one acute angle is 3 times the sum of
the measure of the other acute angle and 8.

26. The measure of one acute angle is twice the difference 38. USING STRUCTURE Which of the following sets of
of the measure of the other acute angle and 12. angle measures could form a triangle? Select all
that apply.
ERROR ANALYSIS In Exercises 27 and 28, describe and
A 100°, 50°, 40° B 96°, 74°, 10°
correct the error in finding m∠1.
C 165°, 113°, 82° D 101°, 41°, 38°
27.

✗ 39°
115° + 39° + m∠1 = 360°
E 90°, 45°, 45° F 84°, 62°, 34°

39. MODELING WITH MATHEMATICS You are bending a

154° + m∠1 = 360°
strip of metal into an isosceles triangle for a sculpture.
m∠1 = 206° The strip of metal is 20 inches long. The first bend is
115° 1 made 6 inches from one end. Describe two ways you
could complete the triangle.

28.

✗ 80°
40. THOUGHT PROVOKING Find and draw an object
(or part of an object) that can be modeled by a triangle
and an exterior angle. Describe the relationship
1 50° between the interior angles of the triangle and the
exterior angle in terms of the object.
m∠1 + 80° + 50° = 180°
m∠1 + 130° = 180° 41. PROVING A COROLLARY Prove the Corollary to the
m∠1 = 50° Triangle Sum Theorem (Corollary 5.1).
Given △ABC is a right triangle.
In Exercises 29–36, find the measure of the
numbered angle. Prove ∠A and ∠B are complementary.
A

7
2
1 3
4
40°
5 C B
8
6
42. PROVING A THEOREM Prove the Exterior Angle
Theorem (Theorem 5.2).
29. ∠1 30. ∠2 Given △ABC, exterior ∠BCD

31. ∠3 32. ∠4 Prove m∠A + m∠B = m∠BCD

B
33. ∠5 34. ∠6

35. ∠7 36. ∠8
A C D

Section 5.1 Angles of Triangles 237

43. CRITICAL THINKING Is it possible to draw an obtuse 48. MAKING AN ARGUMENT Your friend claims
isosceles triangle? obtuse equilateral triangle? the measure of an exterior angle will always be
If so, provide examples. If not, explain why it is greater than the sum of the nonadjacent interior
not possible. angle measures. Is your friend correct? Explain
your reasoning.
44. CRITICAL THINKING Is it possible to draw a right
isosceles triangle? right equilateral triangle? MATHEMATICAL CONNECTIONS In Exercises 49–52, find
If so, provide an example. If not, explain why it the values of x and y.
is not possible.
49.
43° y°
45. MATHEMATICAL CONNECTIONS △ABC is isosceles,
AB = x, and BC = 2x − 4. 75°
a. Find two possible values for x when the perimeter x°
of △ABC is 32.
b. How many possible values are there for x when the 50.
perimeter of △ABC is 12? 118°
x°
22°
46. HOW DO YOU SEE IT? Classify the triangles, in y°
as many ways as possible, without finding any
measurements.
51. 52.
a. b. 25°
y° x° 64°
x°

y°
20°
c. d.
53. PROVING A THEOREM Use the diagram to write a
proof of the Triangle Sum Theorem (Theorem 5.1).
Your proof should be different from the proof of the
Triangle Sum Theorem shown in this lesson.

B
47. ANALYZING RELATIONSHIPS Which of the following
could represent the measures of an exterior angle and 2 D
two interior angles of a triangle? Select all that apply.
A 100°, 62°, 38° B 81°, 57°, 24° 4
1 3 5
C 119°, 68°, 49° D 95°, 85°, 28° A C E
E 92°, 78°, 68° F 149°, 101°, 48°

Maintaining Mathematical Proficiency Reviewing what you learned in previous grades and lessons

Use the diagram to find the measure of the segment or angle. (Section 1.2 and Section 1.5)
54. m∠KHL
A L
55. m∠ABC G
5y − 8 K
3y
8z − 9
56. GH (6x + 2)°
(5x − 27)° (3x + 1)°
B
57. BC 3z + 6 C H

238 Chapter 5 Congruent Triangles