CHAPTER 11

TRIANGLES
You know most of the triangle facts tested on the SAT, but you may still have
to relearn many of them. This chapter reviews all of the triangle facts tested
on the SAT. Begin with the mathematics review and then complete and cor-
rect the practice problems. There are 2 Solved SAT Problems and 26 Practice
SAT Questions with answer explanations.
A triangle is a three-sided polygon.
1
Area of triangle: A = b h.
2

Example:
What is the area of the figures below?

2 cm
5 cm
(height)
(height)

4 cm (base)
9 cm (base)

1 1
A= bh A= bh
2 2
1 1 1 45
= 4 2 = 8 = 4 cm2 . = 95= = 22.5 cm2
2 2 2 2

Example:
A triangle has a height of 15 in and an area 45 in2. What is the length of the
base of the triangle?
1 1
A= b h 45 = b 15 90 = b 15 4 in = b
2 2
The Triangle Inequality Theorem states that the sum of the length of any two
sides of a triangle is greater than the length of the third side.

Example:
What are the possible values of x?
x

10
15

122
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CHAPTER 11 / TRIANGLES 123

The third side of a triangle has these two characteristics.

It is less than the sum of the other two sides, x < 15 + 10, x < 25.
It is greater than the difference of the other two sides x > 15 10, x > 5.
That means 5 < x < 25

The largest angle in a triangle is across from the longest side.

The smallest angle in a triangle is across from the shortest side.

Example:
List the angles from smallest to largest.
mC < mA < mB

The sum of the interior angles of a triangle is 180.

C

20
15

A B
8

Example:

x
y

x + y + z = 180

What is the value of x?

Sum of the angle measures equals 180.
x + 2x + 60 = 180

60

x (2x)

Solve for x. 3x + 60 = 180

3 x = 120 x = 40.
The measure of the exterior angle of a triangle is equal to the sum of the two
124 CONQUERING SAT MATH

remote interior angles. The remote interior angles are the two angles most
distant from the exterior angle.

z=x+y
z
y

Example:
What is the value of x?

40

x
100

x = 100 + 40 = 140.

Example:
What is the value of x?

(2x)

150
x

x + 2 x = 150 3 x = 150 x = 50.

SIMILAR TRIANGLES

C F
A D

Similar Triangles have the same shape.

Each corresponding pair of angles has the same measure:
mA = mD mB = mE mC = mF
The ratios of corresponding sides are proportional.
AB BC CA
= =
DE EF FD
CHAPTER 11 / TRIANGLES 125

Example:
In the similar
____ triangle seen on page 124, AB = 5, BC = 3, EF = 9, what is the
length of DE ?
AB BC 5 3
= =
DE EF DE 9
3 ( DE ) = 45 DE = 15
Isosceles Trianglea triangle with at least two congruent sides and two
congruent angles, called base angles, which are opposite the congruent sides.
The dotted line in both figures is the height. The height of an isosceles tri-
angle bisects both the vertex and the base, and is perpendicular to the base.

Equilateral Trianglea triangle with three sides congruent, and all three
angles congruent. Each angle measures 60. The dotted line in the figure is
the height. In an equilateral triangle, the height bisects both the vertex and
the base and is perpendicular to the base.

Right Trianglea triangle with one right angle and two acute angles. The
sum of the acute angles is 90.

hypotenuse (c)
leg 1(a)

leg 2(b)
126 CONQUERING SAT MATH

Pythagorean Theorem states that in a right triangle, the sum of the square
of the legs is equal to the square of the hypotenuse.

( leg 1)2 + ( leg 2)2 = ( hypotenuse )

2

a2 + b2 = c2

Example:
What is the value of x?

10
x

x2 + 72 = 102 x2 + 49 = 100 x2 = 51 x= 51
A 3-4-5 Right Triangle is a right triangle where the ratio of leg 1: leg 2:
hypotenuse = 3 : 4 : 5.
This ratio meets the requirements of the Pythagorean Theorem 32 + 42 =
9 + 16 = 25 = 52.

Example:
What is the value of x?

x
9

12

3 : 4 : 5 = 9 : 12 : x = ( 3 i 3) : ( 3 i 4 ) : x x = 3 i 5 = 15
Or use the Pythagorean Theorem.
9 2 + 122 = x2 81 + 144 = 225 = x2 15 = x
A 5-12-13 Right Triangle is a right triangle where the ratio of leg 1: leg 2 :
hypotenuse = 5 : 12 : 13.
This ratio meets the requirements of the Pythagorean Theorem 52 + 122 =
25 + 144 = 169 = 132.
CHAPTER 11 / TRIANGLES 127

Example:
What is the value of x?

52
20

5 : 12 : 13 = 20 : x : 52 = ( 4 i 5) : x : ( 4 i 13) so x = 4 i 12 = 48
Or, use the Pythagorean Theorem.
x2 + 202 = 522 x2 + 400 = 2, 704 x2 = 2, 304 x = 48
A 45-45-90 right triangle has a special relationship among the sides. If
the sides across from the 45 angles are x, the side across from the 90 angle
is x 2.

45
x2
x

45
x

A 30-60-90 right triangle also has a special relationship among the sides.
If the side across from the 30 angle is x, the side across from the 60 angle is
x 3 and the side across from the 90 angle is 2x.

60

2x
x

30
x3

Trigonometry can be used to solve for missing pieces of a triangle. The

acronym SOH CAH TOA is often used to help remember the rules for each
trigonometric function. No problems on the SAT require you to use trigonom-
etry. It is simply another way to solve problems involving 45-45-90 and
30-60-90 right triangles.
Opposite O Adjacent A Opposite O
Sin = = Cos = = Tan = =
Hypotenuse H Hypottenuse H Adjacent A
128 CONQUERING SAT MATH

Certain angles are useful to memorize Sin, Cos, and Tan

30 45 60
Sine 1 1 2 3
=
2 2 2 2
Cosine 3 1 2 1
=
2 2 2 2
Tangent 1 3 1 3
=
3 3

Example:
What is the value of x and y?

45
y
x

Using 45-45-90, it is clear that x = 5, and y = 5 2 or

5 5
tan ( 45 ) = x= =5
x tan 45 )
(
5 5
sin ( 45 ) = y= = 5 2 7.0711 ( calc approx.) .
y sin 45 )
(

Example:
What is the value of x and y?

x
y

30
6

6
Using 30 -60 -90 y 3 =6 y=
3
6 3 6 3
y= = =2 3
3 3 3
Because y = 2 3 x = 2 i (2 3 ) = 4 3
CHAPTER 11 / TRIANGLES 129

or use trigonometry
y
tan (30 ) = tan (30 ) 6 = y y = 2 3. (Appears on a calculator
6
as approximately 3.464)
6 6
cos (30 ) = x= = 4 3. (Appears on a calculator as approxi-
x cos (30 )
mately 6.928)

Practice Questions
1. What is the area of the figure below?

12

20

2. A triangle has a base of 12 in and an area 72 in2. What is the height of the
triangle?

3. What are the possible values of x?

42
27

4. List the sides from longest to shortest.

S
60
R
40

5. What is the value of x?

(8x)

(6x) (4x)
130 CONQUERING SAT MATH

6. What is the value of x?

35

130
x

7. What is the value of x?

15
x

11

8. What is the value of x?

x
25

60

9. What are the values of x and y?

60
24
x

Practice Answers
1. 120
2. 12
3. 15 < x < 69
4. RS > RT > ST
5. x = 10
6. x = 95
7. x = 2 26
8. x = 65
9. x = 12 and y = 12 3
CHAPTER 11 / TRIANGLES 131

SOLVED SAT PROBLEMS

1. What is the area of the figure below?

65 5
4

A. 10
B. 20
C. 30
D. 40
E. 50
Answer: B

65 5
4

b1 b2

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the base of the triangle.

)
2
Find b1: b12 + 42 = ( 65 b12 + 16 = 65 b12 = 49 b1 = 7.

Find b2 : b22 + 42 = 52 b22 + 16 = 25 b22 = 9 b2 = 3.

1
Add to find b: b = b1 + b2 = 7 + 3 = 10 A= 10 4 = 20.
2
132 CONQUERING SAT MATH

2. What is the value of a2 + b2 ?

24

10

Answer: 26
Both triangles have the same hypotenuse.

a2 + b2 is equal to 102 + 242 .

102 + 242 = 100 + 576 = 676 = 26.

a2 + b2 = 26
CHAPTER 11 / TRIANGLES 133

TRIANGLES
PRACTICE SAT QUESTIONS
ANSWER SHEET
Choose the correct answer.
If no choices are given, grid the answers in the section at the bottom of the page.

1. A B C D E 11. A B C D E 21. GRID

2. A B C D E 12. A B C D E 22. A B C D E
3. A B C D E 13. GRID 23. A B C D E
4. A B C D E 14. A B C D E 24. A B C D E
5. A B C D E 15. A B C D E 25. A B C D E
6. GRID 16. A B C D E 26. A B C D E
7. GRID 17. A B C D E
8. A B C D E 18. A B C D E
9. A B C D E 19. A B C D E
10. A B C D E 20. A B C D E

Use the answer spaces in the grids below if the question requires a grid-in response.

ONLY ANSWERS ENTERED IN THE CIRCLES IN EACH GRID WILL BE SCORED. YOU WILL
Student-Produced Responses NOT RECEIVE CREDIT FOR ANYTHING WRITTEN IN THE BOXES ABOVE THE CIRCLES.

6. 7. 13. 21.

/ / / / / / / / / / / /
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
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CHAPTER 11 / TRIANGLES 135

PRACTICE SAT QUESTIONS

1. What is the value of x? 4. Which of the following statements is correct?

B
x
61

130 70

A. 60
B. 70 59
A C
C. 80
D. 90
A. AB < BC < AC
E. 100
B. BC < AB < AC
C. AB < AC < BC
2. mABC =
D. AC < BC < AB
E. BC < AC < AB
B
5. What is the area of the triangle below?
(5x)

(4x) (3x) 4 in
A C

A. 35
B. 45 45
C. 55
D. 65
E. 75 A. 4 in 2
B. 5 in 2
3. y x = C. 6 in 2
D. 7 in 2
E. 8 in 2
x
20

y 40

A. 60
B. 50
C. 40
D. 30
E. 20
136 CONQUERING SAT MATH

6. mBAC = x. What is the value of x? 10. y x =

A x
80

50

12 83

70
y
B C
43
A. 80
7. The area of the triangle below is 56 cm . What is the
2 B. 70
height of the triangle? C. 30
D. 20
E. 10

11. mCBA =

(3x)
7

8. Which of the following could be the lengths of the (5x) 50

sides of a triangle? C
A
I. 3,3,6
II. 3,4,8
III. 4,5,8 A. 125
B. 105
A. I
C. 75
B. II
D. 50
C. III
E. 25
D. I and II
E. II and III
12. What is the perimeter of an equilateral triangle with
a height of 6 feet?
9. If the angles of a triangle have a ratio of 1 : 2 : 3
which of the following statements are true? A. 2 3
I. The triangle is a right triangle.
B. 4 3
II. The ratio of the sides are 1: 3 :2.
C. 6 3
III. The angle measures are 30, 60, 90.
A. I D. 10 3
B. II E. 12 3
C. I and II
D. II and III
E. I, II, and III
CHAPTER 11 / TRIANGLES 137

13. x + y = 16. a + b + c + x + y =

10
a

30 c
y x
y

b
18 50
x

14. Two sides of a triangle are 7 and 16. Which of the

following is not the length of the third side? A. 360
A. 22 B. 310
B. 17 C. 270
C. 12 D. 180
D. 10 E. 90
E. 9
17. The area of an equilateral triangle is 36 3 cm 2 .
15. Which of the following is the longest side? What is the height of the triangle?
A. 6 cm
C B. 12 cm
50
B C. 6 3 cm
70
55 D. 12 3 cm
E. 36 cm

18. In the figure below, if BC = 5 then AB =

A
60 B
80 45 135
A D

____
A. BD
____
B. BC
____
C. AB 90
____
D. DC
____ C
E. AD

A. 5
B. 10
C. 25
D. 5 2
E. 10 2
138 CONQUERING SAT MATH

19. mBCA = 45, mBAC = 60 21. What is the length of the base of the right triangle
mCBA = 75, and mBDC = 90. If DC = 5 below if the area is 20 in2?
then AD =

C
x+6

D
x+3

A
22. What is the value of x?

A. 5 2
B. 5 3
5 3 15
C. x
3
5 2 11
D.
2
E. 10 2
6

20. What is the value of x?

A. 5
B. 10
140
60 C. 11
D. 91
E. 111

50
x

A. 40
B. 50
C. 60
D. 70
E. 80
CHAPTER 11 / TRIANGLES 139

23. If a > b, which of the following statements is true? 25. a + b + c + d =

60

b c
d
a

b 50
a
R T

I. RT > RS A. 360
II. ST > RS B. 230
III. RT > ST C. 180
D. 130
A. I
E. 90
B. II
C. III
26. ABC is an equilateral triangle and ADC is an
D. I and II
isosceles triangle. If AD = 12 what is the area of the
E. II and III
shaded region?
24. What is the value of a?
B

110

y x 30
y A C
x

A. 110 A. 108 23
B. 70 B. 72 3
C. 50
D. 40 C. 36 3
E. 30 D. 144
E. 72