Classifying Triangles quick check
Triangles can be classified by their sides or angles.
If classified by sides, triangles can be classified as equilateral, isosceles, or scalene.
If classified by angles, triangles can be classified as acute, right, or obtuse.
To classify triangles, you need to consider two main attributes: side lengths and angle measurements. Based on these attributes, triangles can be classified into different types. Here is a step-by-step process to classify triangles:
1. Determine the side lengths of the triangle:
- If all three sides have the same length, it is an equilateral triangle.
- If exactly two sides have the same length, it is an isosceles triangle.
- If all three sides have different lengths, it is a scalene triangle.
2. Determine the angle measurements of the triangle:
- If one angle measures exactly 90 degrees, it is a right triangle.
- If all three angles are less than 90 degrees, it is an acute triangle.
- If one angle measures more than 90 degrees, it is an obtuse triangle.
Combining both sides and angle classifications, you can describe a triangle more precisely. For example, a triangle that has two sides of equal length and one angle measuring exactly 90 degrees is classified as an isosceles right triangle.
Note that these classifications are not mutually exclusive, meaning that a triangle can belong to multiple categories based on its properties.