16Hit1600
Geometry and TrigonometryVery hardAngle split by the altitude of an isosceles triangle

Geometry and Trigonometry practice question

In triangle PQR, PQ = PR and the measure of angle P is 40°. Point S lies on QR so that PS is perpendicular to QR. What is the measure, in degrees, of angle QPS?

Answer: 20

In an isosceles triangle the altitude from the apex bisects the apex angle: angle QPS = 40 ÷ 2 = 20.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 40
40 is the whole apex angle.
If you answered 50
50 is 90 − 40.
If you answered 70
70 is a base angle (angle Q or R).

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