By That Math Lady




www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   A triangle is a two-dimensional (flat) 3-sided
    shape.




                           www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   You can classify triangles by the
    measurement of their interior angles.
   If a triangle has one 90° angle, it is called a
    right triangle.
   If a triangle has one obtuse angle, it is called
    an obtuse triangle.
   If a triangle has three acute angles, it is called
    an acute triangle.

        Let’s look at some examples of these
                       triangles…

                            www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   A right triangle must have one angle that
     measures 90° exactly.

                                                                          90°
How do you know if an
angle is 90°? Place the corner
of a piece of paper in the angle.
If the border of the triangle aligns with
the sides of the paper, you know it is a
right angle!




                                            www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   An obtuse triangle must have one angle that
    is greater than 90°.




                         www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   An acute triangle has 3 acute angles. Each
    angle must measure less than 90°.




                          What kind of sign
                          is this? What kind
                              of triangle?

                          www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   You can classify triangles by the side lengths
    and angle measurements.
   If a triangle has 3 equal side lengths, it is
    called an equilateral triangle.
   If a triangle has 2 equal side lengths, it is
    called an isosceles triangle.
   If a triangle has no equal side lengths, it is
    called a scalene triangle.

       Let’s look at some examples of these
                      triangles…

                           www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   Equilateral triangles are made up of three
    equal side lengths and three 60° angles. It
    has three lines of symmetry.

                          60°




                    60°                60°

                          3 ft



                                 www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   Isosceles triangles are made up of two equal side
    lengths and two equal angles. It has one line of
    symmetry.




                            www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   Scalene triangles are made up of 3 side
    lengths and 3 angles that are all different
    sizes and measurements. It does not have
    any lines of symmetry.




                           www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   It has a right angle…
   All the sides are different lengths...



                            www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
Yes! This is a right scalene triangle!




                   www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   It has an obtuse angle…
   Two sides have identical lengths...



                           www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
Yes! This is an obtuse isosceles triangle!




                     www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
   It has three acute angles…
   All the sides have different lengths...



                            www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
Yes! This is an acute scalene triangle!




                   www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
Now You Know…
   how to classify triangles based on their
    angles.
   how to classify triangles based on their side
    lengths.
   words such as isosceles, scalene, and
    equilateral.




                           www.thatmathlady.com © 2012

Classifying Triangles

  • 1.
    By That MathLady www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 2.
    A triangle is a two-dimensional (flat) 3-sided shape. www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 3.
    You can classify triangles by the measurement of their interior angles.  If a triangle has one 90° angle, it is called a right triangle.  If a triangle has one obtuse angle, it is called an obtuse triangle.  If a triangle has three acute angles, it is called an acute triangle. Let’s look at some examples of these triangles… www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 4.
    A right triangle must have one angle that measures 90° exactly. 90° How do you know if an angle is 90°? Place the corner of a piece of paper in the angle. If the border of the triangle aligns with the sides of the paper, you know it is a right angle! www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 5.
    An obtuse triangle must have one angle that is greater than 90°. www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 6.
    An acute triangle has 3 acute angles. Each angle must measure less than 90°. What kind of sign is this? What kind of triangle? www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 7.
    You can classify triangles by the side lengths and angle measurements.  If a triangle has 3 equal side lengths, it is called an equilateral triangle.  If a triangle has 2 equal side lengths, it is called an isosceles triangle.  If a triangle has no equal side lengths, it is called a scalene triangle. Let’s look at some examples of these triangles… www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 8.
    Equilateral triangles are made up of three equal side lengths and three 60° angles. It has three lines of symmetry. 60° 60° 60° 3 ft www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 9.
    Isosceles triangles are made up of two equal side lengths and two equal angles. It has one line of symmetry. www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 10.
    Scalene triangles are made up of 3 side lengths and 3 angles that are all different sizes and measurements. It does not have any lines of symmetry. www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 11.
    It has a right angle…  All the sides are different lengths... www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 12.
    Yes! This isa right scalene triangle! www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 13.
    It has an obtuse angle…  Two sides have identical lengths... www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 14.
    Yes! This isan obtuse isosceles triangle! www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 15.
    It has three acute angles…  All the sides have different lengths... www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 16.
    Yes! This isan acute scalene triangle! www.thatmathlady.com © 2012
  • 17.
    Now You Know…  how to classify triangles based on their angles.  how to classify triangles based on their side lengths.  words such as isosceles, scalene, and equilateral. www.thatmathlady.com © 2012