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Isosceles at Work

Part of the Angles section of Coddy's Geometry journey. Lesson 51 of 62.

In an isosceles triangle, the base angles are equal and all three interior angles add to 180°. Use the side marks to identify the equal angles, then write an equation using their measures and the apex label.

An isosceles triangle with apex y plus 15 degrees and base angles of 65 degrees

Both base angles are 65°, so (y + 15) + (65 + 65) = 180. Combining the constants gives y + 145 = 180, hence y = 35. Substituting back gives an apex angle of 50°, and 50 + 65 + 65 = 180.

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Challenge

Medium

The ticked triangle has apex (x + 20)° and base angles of 50° each.

An isosceles triangle with apex x plus 20 degrees and base angles of 50 degrees

Find x.

Try it yourself

(x + 20) + (50 + 50) = 180

Solve for x

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