A Tale of Three Intersecting Lines | FIO

Question 19

Through construction, explore if it is possible to construct an equilateral triangle that is: (i) right-angled (ii) obtuse-angled.

Also construct an isosceles triangle that is: (i) right-angled (ii) obtuse-angled.

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Solution
Understand the Question
  • The sum of all interior angles in any triangle is always 180180^\circ.
  • An equilateral triangle has all three sides equal and all three angles equal (6060^\circ each).
  • An isosceles triangle has at least two equal sides and two equal opposite angles.
  • A right-angled triangle contains one 9090^\circ angle, while an obtuse-angled triangle contains one angle greater than 9090^\circ.

Equilateral (i) Explore if it is possible to construct an equilateral triangle that is right-angled.

Step 1 · Check if an Equilateral Triangle Can Be Right-Angled

In an equilateral triangle, all three angles are equal. Let each angle be xx.Diagram 1

By the angle sum property of a triangle:

x+x+x=1803x=180x=1803=60\begin{aligned} x + x + x &= 180^\circ \\ 3x &= 180^\circ \\[0.6em] x &= \dfrac{180^\circ}{3} = 60^\circ \end{aligned}

A right-angled triangle must have one angle equal to 9090^\circ. Since every angle in an equilateral triangle is fixed at 609060^\circ \neq 90^\circ, an equilateral triangle cannot be right-angled.

Answer

Equilateral (i) Not possible (an equilateral triangle cannot be right-angled).

Equilateral (ii) Explore if it is possible to construct an equilateral triangle that is obtuse-angled.

Step 1 · Check if an Equilateral Triangle Can Be Obtuse-Angled

An obtuse-angled triangle requires one angle to be strictly greater than 9090^\circ.

Since every angle of an equilateral triangle is always 6060^\circ (60<9060^\circ < 90^\circ), no angle can be obtuse. Therefore, an equilateral triangle cannot be obtuse-angled.

Answer

Equilateral (ii) Not possible (an equilateral triangle cannot be obtuse-angled).

Isosceles (i) Construct an isosceles triangle that is right-angled.

Step 1 · Determine Angles and Construct Isosceles Right Triangle

Let the right angle be 9090^\circ and the other two equal angles be yy.

y+y+90=1802y=180902y=90y=902=45\begin{aligned} y + y + 90^\circ &= 180^\circ \\ 2y &= 180^\circ - 90^\circ \\ 2y &= 90^\circ \\[0.6em] y &= \dfrac{90^\circ}{2} = 45^\circ \end{aligned}

Thus, a triangle with angles 90,45,4590^\circ, 45^\circ, 45^\circ is possible.Steps of Construction:

  1. Draw a line segment ABAB.
  2. At point AA, construct a ray perpendicular to ABAB (forming a 9090^\circ angle).
  3. Measure equal lengths along ABAB and the perpendicular ray from point AA to get point CC (AC=ABAC = AB).
  4. Join points BB and CC. Triangle ABCABC is the required isosceles right-angled triangle.
Answer

Isosceles (i) Possible; an isosceles right triangle has angles 90,45,4590^\circ, 45^\circ, 45^\circ.

Isosceles (ii) Construct an isosceles triangle that is obtuse-angled.

Step 1 · Determine Angles and Construct Isosceles Obtuse Triangle

An obtuse angle is greater than 9090^\circ.

  • Case 1: If the two equal angles were obtuse (y>90y > 90^\circ), their sum 2y>1802y > 180^\circ, exceeding the triangle sum limit.
  • Case 2: If the unique angle is obtuse (e.g., z=100z = 100^\circ) and the two equal angles are yy:
y+y+z=1802y=180z2y=1801002y=80y=802=40\begin{aligned} y + y + z &= 180^\circ \\ 2y &= 180^\circ - z \\ 2y &= 180^\circ - 100^\circ \\ 2y &= 80^\circ \\[0.6em] y &= \dfrac{80^\circ}{2} = 40^\circ \end{aligned}

Thus, an isosceles triangle with angles 100,40,40100^\circ, 40^\circ, 40^\circ is possible.Steps of Construction:

  1. Draw a line segment PQPQ.
  2. At point PP, draw a ray PRPR such that QPR\angle QPR is obtuse (e.g., 100100^\circ).
  3. Mark point RR such that PR=PQPR = PQ.
  4. Join points QQ and RR. Triangle PQRPQR is the required isosceles obtuse-angled triangle.
Answer

Isosceles (ii) Possible; an isosceles obtuse triangle can have angles such as 100,40,40100^\circ, 40^\circ, 40^\circ.

Common Mistakes
  • Fixed Equilateral Angles: Forgetting that all equilateral triangles strictly have angles of 60,60,6060^\circ, 60^\circ, 60^\circ, so they can never be right-angled or obtuse-angled.
  • Two Obtuse Angles in Isosceles: Attempting to make the two equal base angles obtuse; having two angles >90> 90^\circ makes their sum alone >180> 180^\circ, which violates the angle sum property.
  • Unequal Legs in Construction: Forgetting to measure equal lengths along the two arms forming the 9090^\circ or obtuse angle to ensure the triangle is isosceles.

More questions in FIO

Q1

Use the points on the circle and/or the centre to form isosceles triangles.

Q2

Use the points on the circles and/or their centres to form isosceles and equilateral triangles. The circles are of the same size.

Q3

We checked by construction that there are no triangles having sidelengths 3 cm3\text{ cm}, 4 cm4\text{ cm} and 8 cm8\text{ cm}; and 2 cm2\text{ cm}, 3 cm3\text{ cm} and 6 cm6\text{ cm}. Check if you could have found this without trying to construct the triangle.

Q4

Can we say anything about the existence of a triangle for each of the following sets of lengths?

(a) 10 km10\text{ km}, 10 km10\text{ km} and 25 km25\text{ km}

(b) 5 mm5\text{ mm}, 10 mm10\text{ mm} and 20 mm20\text{ mm}

(c) 12 cm12\text{ cm}, 20 cm20\text{ cm} and 40 cm40\text{ cm}

Q5

Which of the following lengths can be the sidelengths of a triangle? Explain your answers. Note that for each set, the three lengths have the same unit of measure.

(a) 2,2,52, 2, 5 (b) 3,4,63, 4, 6 (c) 2,4,82, 4, 8 (d) 5,5,85, 5, 8 (e) 10,20,2510, 20, 25 (f) 10,20,3510, 20, 35 (g) 24,26,2824, 26, 28

Q6

Check if a triangle exists for each of the following set of lengths:

(a) 1, 100, 100

(b) 3, 6, 9

(c) 1, 1, 5

(d) 5, 10, 12

Q7

Does there exist an equilateral triangle with sides 50, 50, 50? In general, does there exist an equilateral triangle of any sidelength? Justify your answer.

Q8

For each of the following, give at least 5 possible values for the third length so there exists a triangle having these as sidelengths (decimal values could also be chosen):

(a) 11, 100100

(b) 55, 55

(c) 33, 77

See if you can describe all possible lengths of the third side in each case, so that a triangle exists with those sidelengths. For example, in case (a), all numbers strictly between 9999 and 101101 would be possible.

Q9

Construct triangles for the following measurements where the angle is included between the sides:

(a) 3 cm3\text{ cm}, 7575^\circ, 7 cm7\text{ cm}

(b) 6 cm6\text{ cm}, 2525^\circ, 3 cm3\text{ cm}

(c) 3 cm3\text{ cm}, 120120^\circ, 8 cm8\text{ cm}

Q10

Construct triangles for the following measurements:

(a) 7575^\circ, 5 cm5\text{ cm}, 7575^\circ

(b) 2525^\circ, 3 cm3\text{ cm}, 6060^\circ

(c) 120120^\circ, 6 cm6\text{ cm}, 3030^\circ

Q11

For each of the following angles, find another angle for which a triangle is (a) possible, (b) not possible. Find at least two different angles for each category:

(a) 3030^\circ

(b) 7070^\circ

(c) 5454^\circ

(d) 144144^\circ

Q12

Determine which of the following pairs can be the angles of a triangle and which cannot:

(a) 3535^\circ, 150150^\circ

(b) 7070^\circ, 3030^\circ

(c) 9090^\circ, 8585^\circ

(d) 5050^\circ, 150150^\circ

Q13

Find the third angle of a triangle (using a parallel line) when two of the angles are:

(a) 36,7236^\circ, 72^\circ

(b) 150,15150^\circ, 15^\circ

(c) 90,3090^\circ, 30^\circ

(d) 75,4575^\circ, 45^\circ

Q14

Can you construct a triangle all of whose angles are equal to 7070^\circ? If two of the angles are 7070^\circ what would the third angle be? If all the angles in a triangle have to be equal, then what must its measure be? Explore and find out.

Q15

Here is a triangle in which we know B=C\angle B = \angle C and A=50\angle A = 50^\circ. Can you find B\angle B and C\angle C?

Q16

Construct a triangle ABCABC with BC=5 cmBC = 5\text{ cm}, AB=6 cmAB = 6\text{ cm}, CA=5 cmCA = 5\text{ cm}. Construct an altitude from AA to BCBC.

Q17

Construct a triangle TRYTRY with RY=4 cmRY = 4\text{ cm}, TR=7 cmTR = 7\text{ cm}, R=140\angle R = 140^\circ. Construct an altitude from TT to RYRY.

Q18

Construct a right-angled triangle ΔABC\Delta \text{ABC} with B=90\angle B = 90^\circ, AC=5 cm\text{AC} = 5 \text{ cm}. How many different triangles exist with these measurements?

[Hint: Note that the other measurements can take any values. Take AC\text{AC} as the base. What values can A\angle A and C\angle C take so that the other angle is 9090^\circ?]

Q19

Through construction, explore if it is possible to construct an equilateral triangle that is: (i) right-angled (ii) obtuse-angled.

Also construct an isosceles triangle that is: (i) right-angled (ii) obtuse-angled.

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