The right triangle:

The right triangle has one 90 degree angle and two

acute (< 90 degree) angles. Since the sum of the
angles of a triangle is always 180 degrees...

y + z = 90 degrees
The two sides of the triangle that are by the right
angle are called the legs... and the side opposite of
the right angle is called the hypotenuse.

The equilateral triangle:

In the equilateral triangle, all the sides are the same
length (congruent) and all the angles are the same
size (congruent). Since the sum of the angles of a
triangle is always 180 degrees, we can figure out the
measure of the angles of an equilateral triangle:

The isosceles triangle:

The isosceles triangle (I can NEVER remember how to

spell isosceles) has two sides that are the same
length (congruent) and two angles that are the same
size (congruent).

The obtuse triangle:

Obtuse triangles aren't very smart. (Look up
"obtuse" in the dictionary!)

Obtuse triangles have one angle that is greater than

90 degrees. (Obtuse triangles have one obtuse
angle.)

The acute triangle:

 Acute triangles are better looking than all the other
triangles. (Pathetic attempt at a math joke.)

Acute triangles have NO angles greater than or equal

to 90 degrees -- all their angles are less than 90
degrees. (Acute triangles have all acute angles.)

Types of triangles
Types of triangles may be classified by their sides, by their angles or by a combination of both
sides and angles.

Triangles classified by their sides:

Scalene triangle: A scalene triangle is a triangle that has no equal sides. The following is a
scalene triangle.

Isosceles triangle: An isosceles triangle is a triangle that has two equal sides. The following is
an isosceles triangle.

Equilateral triangle: An equilateral triangle is a triangle that has three equal sides. The following
is an equilateral triangle.
Triangles classify by their angles:

Right triangle: A right triangle has a 90 degrees angle.The following is a right triangle.

Obtuse triangle: An obtuse triangle has one angle that is bigger than 90 degrees (Obtuse
angle). The following is an obtuse triangle.

Acute triangle: In an acute triangle, all angle are less than 90 degrees, so all angles are acute
angles.The following is an acute triangle.

We can also name triangles using angles and sides at the same time.

If a triangle has one right angle and two equal sides, we can call that triangle right isosceles
triangle.

If a triangle has only acute angles and no equal sides, we can call that triangle acute scalene
triangle.

If a triangle has two equal sides and one obtuse angle, we can call that triangle obtuse isosceles
triangle.

Notice that an angle cannot be obtuse and equilateral at the same time. An equilateral triangle
cannot have an obtuse angle because all 3 angles in an equilateral triangle measure 60 degrees.
Equilateral, Isosceles and Scalene

There are three special names given to triangles that tell how many sides (or
angles) are equal.

There can be 3, 2 or no equal sides/angles:

Equilateral Triangle

Three equal sides

Three equal angles, always
60

Isosceles Triangle

Two equal sides

Two equal angles

Scalene Triangle

No equal sides
No equal angles

A Triangle can have 3, or 1 or no lines of symmetry:

Equilateral Triangle Isosceles Triangle Scalene Triangle

(all sides equal, (two sides equal, (no sides equal,
all angles equal) two angles equal) no angles equal)
3 Lines of Symmetry 1 Line of Symmetry No Lines of Symmetry