A triangle, the simplest polygon, has three sides, three angles, and three vertices. Always remember, the sum of the angles inside any triangle equals 180 degrees. Let's dive into the different types of triangles classified based on the lengths of their sides.
Typically, we categorize triangles into three types:
(i) Equilateral Triangle
(ii) Isosceles Triangle
(iii) Scalene Triangle
Defining an Equilateral Triangle
An equilateral triangle, as the name suggests, has three sides of equal length. It's a special type of isosceles triangle where all three sides are equal. For instance, in the triangle DEF, DE = EF = FD. Here are some key attributes of an equilateral triangle:
All three sides are equal.
All three angles are equal.
Each angle measures 60 degrees as the sum of the interior angles is 180 degrees.
It is a regular polygon with three sides.
The altitude and median from a vertex coincide.
The orthocenter and centroid of the triangle overlap.
Defining an Isosceles Triangle
An isosceles triangle has two sides of equal length, no matter the direction of the peak. They are often used to determine angles. For example, in the isosceles triangle GHI, GH = HI. Here are a few unique properties of isosceles triangles:
Two sides are equal.
The base angles are equal.
If the third angle is 90 degrees, it is known as a right isosceles triangle.
The altitude from the peak to the base bisects the peak angle.
Defining a Scalene Triangle
A scalene triangle has all three sides of different lengths. For instance, triangle JKL is a scalene triangle. Here are some of its properties:
No sides are equal, i.e., all sides are of different lengths.
All three angles are different, but their sum is 180 degrees.
To delve deeper into the fascinating world of triangles , explore more about special triangles and their properties.
An equilateral triangle is the one in which all the three sides are equal. It has 3 equal sides and angles, every angle is 60 degrees, and it is a regular polygon with 3 sides.
What is an Isosceles triangle?
An isosceles triangle is a triangle which comprises 2 equal sides. It has two equal sides and base angles. When the third angle is 90 degrees, it is called a right isosceles triangle.
What is a Scalene triangle?
A Scalene Triangle is a one in which all the three sides of a triangle are of different length (unequal length). It has no equal sides, i.e. all the sides are unequal and all the three angles are unequal, but the sum of all the angles is 180 degrees.