Geometry and TrigonometryEasy–MediumAcute angles of a right triangle as expressions
Geometry and Trigonometry practice question
In a right triangle, the two acute angles measure (3x)° and (2x)°. What is the value of x?
Answer: 18
The acute angles of a right triangle add to 90: 3x + 2x = 5x = 90, so x = 18.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 30
- 30 is 90/3, dividing by the coefficient of one angle instead of by 5.
- If you answered 36
- 36 comes from 5x = 180, forgetting that the right angle already uses 90 of the 180.
- If you answered 54
- 54 is the larger acute angle (3 × 18), not x.
More Geometry and Trigonometry questions
- Easy–Medium
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A right triangle has legs of length 6 and 8. What is the length of the hypotenuse? - Easy–Medium
A circle has a radius of 5. What is its circumference? (Use C = 2πr.) - Easy–Medium
What is the midpoint of the segment joining the points (2, 3) and (8, 11)? - Easy–Medium
What is the measure, in degrees, of angle B? - Easy–Medium
What is the area, in square centimeters, of the trapezoid?
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