Remember that longer sides in a triangle are opposite to larger angles, and vice versa. But what if two (or more) sides have the same length?

As you might have guessed, if two sides have the same length, then the opposite angles have the same measure. And vice-versa: if two angles have the same measure, then the opposite sides have the same length.

So, we obtain the following important properties of isosceles and equilateral triangles:

  • A triangle is equilateral if and only if all of its angles are of 60^\circ.
  • A triangle is isosceles if and only if it has two congruent angles.

Note: The statement above encompasses two theorems:

  • The isosceles triangle theorem:

    If a triangle is isosceles, then the base angles are congruent.

  • The converse isosceles triangle theorem:

    If two angles in a triangle have the same measure, then the triangle must be isosceles.

FLAG

What is the measure of \angle{A} in the triangle \triangle{ABC} below?

EXPLANATION

Since two sides are congruent, \overline{BC} \cong \overline{AB}, we conclude that \triangle ABC is isosceles. Consequently, the base angles must have the same measure:

m\angle C = m\angle A = x -10^\circ

Now, since the internal angles of any triangle sum to 180^\circ, we have \begin{align*} m\angle{A} + m\angle{B} + m\angle{C} &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] (x-10^{\circ}) + (x+20^{\circ}) + (x-10^{\circ}) &= 180^{\circ}\\[3pt] 3x &=180^{\circ}\\[3pt] x &= 60^{\circ}\,. \end{align*}

Finally, substituting x=60^\circ into the equation for the measure of \angle A gives \begin{align*} m\angle{A} &= x-10^{\circ} \\[3pt] &= 60^{\circ} -10^\circ \\[3pt] &= 50^{\circ}\,. \end{align*}

So m\angle A = 50^\circ.

FLAG

What is the measure of $\angle{B}$ in the triangle $\triangle{ABC}$ above?

a
$71^{\circ}$
b
$69^{\circ}$
c
$70^{\circ}$
d
$68^{\circ}$
e
$72^{\circ}$

What is the measure of $\angle{C}$ in the triangle $\triangle{ABC}$ above?

a
$44^{\circ}$
b
$42^{\circ}$
c
$43^{\circ}$
d
$47^{\circ}$
e
$45^{\circ}$

What is the measure of \angle{H} in the triangle \triangle{FGH} below?



EXPLANATION

First, from the diagram, notice that \angle{HFG} and \angle{EFH} are supplementary. Therefore, \begin{align*} m\angle{HFG} + m\angle{EFH} &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] m\angle{HFG} + 105^\circ &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] m\angle{HFG} &= 75^\circ . \end{align*}

Since \triangle{FGH} is an isosceles triangle where \overline{GH} \cong \overline{FH} , the base angles must be equal:

m\angle{G} = m\angle{HFG}=75^\circ.

Finally, since the interior angles of any triangle sum to 180^\circ, we have \begin{align*} m\angle{G} + m\angle{HFG} + m\angle{H} &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] 75^\circ + 75^\circ + m\angle{H} &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] 150^\circ +m\angle{H} &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] m\angle{H} &= 30^\circ. \end{align*}

FLAG

Find the value of $y$ in the triangle shown above.

a
$135^{\circ}$
b
$141^{\circ}$
c
$140^{\circ}$
d
$138^{\circ}$
e
$137^{\circ}$

What is the measure of $\angle{C}$ in the triangle $\triangle{ABC}$ above?

a
$43^{\circ}$
b
$42^{\circ}$
c
$37^{\circ}$
d
$40^{\circ}$
e
$39^{\circ}$

What is the measure of \overline{AB} in the isosceles triangle ABC above?

EXPLANATION

Since \triangle ABC is an isosceles triangle with base \overline{AB} , we have that \overline{BC} \cong \overline{AC}. Hence, \begin{align*} {BC}&={AC}\\ 4x-3 &= 2x+1\\ 2x &= 4\\ x &= 2\,. \end{align*}

Substituting this value into the expression for the measure of \overline{AB} gives \begin{align*} {AB} &= x+4 \\ &= (2)+4 \\ &= 6\,. \end{align*} We conclude that AB=6.

FLAG

The triangle $\triangle ABC$ shown above is isosceles with base $\overline{BC}.$ What is the measure of $\overline{BC}?$

a
$12$
b
$15$
c
$18$
d
$16$
e
$10$

What is the measure of $\overline{AC}$ in the isosceles triangle $ABC$ above?

a
$6$
b
$8$
c
$9$
d
$10$
e
$7$

In the figure below, m\angle{CAD}=100^\circ. What is the measure of \angle{D}?



EXPLANATION

First, notice that \triangle{ABC} is an equilateral triangle. Consequently, all of the interior angles must be equal to 60^\circ\mathbin{:}

m\angle{BAC}=m\angle{ABC}=m\angle{C}=60^\circ

Also, since \triangle{ADB} is an isosceles triangle, the base angles must have equal measure:

m\angle{BAD}=m\angle{ABD}



Now, since we're told that m\angle{CAD}=100^\circ, we have \begin{align*} m\angle{BAD} &= m\angle{CAD} - m\angle{BAC} \\[3pt] &= 100^\circ - 60^\circ \\[3pt] &= 40^\circ. \end{align*}

Finally, in \triangle{BAD} , we have \begin{align*} m\angle{BAD} + m\angle{D} + m\angle{ABD} &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] 2m\angle{BAD} + m\angle{D} &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] 2 \cdot 40^\circ + m\angle{D} &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] 80^\circ + m\angle{D} &= 180^\circ \\[3pt] m\angle{D} &= 100^\circ. \end{align*}

FLAG

What is the measure of $\angle {D}?$

a
$33^{\circ}$
b
$37^{\circ}$
c
$35^{\circ}$
d
$32^{\circ}$
e
$34^{\circ}$

In the figure above $\overline{AB} \cong \overline{CD}.$ What is the measure of the angle $\angle A ?$

a
$52^\circ$
b
$53^\circ$
c
$58^\circ$
d
$57^\circ$
e
$55^\circ$
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