4.1 Types of Triangles You can classify a triangle by its sides and its angles. There are THREE different classifications for triangles based on their sides. There are FOUR different classifications for triangles based on their angles.
EQUILATERAL – 3 congruent sides ISOSCELES – at least two sides congruent SCALENE – no sides congruent Triangles By Sides
Triangles by Angles EQUIANGULAR – all angles are congruent ACUTE – all angles are acute RIGHT – one right angle OBTUSE – one obtuse angle
Scalene Triangles No sides are the same length
Isosceles Triangles At least two sides are the same length
Acute Triangles Acute triangles have three acute angles
Right Triangles Right triangles have one right angle
Obtuse Triangles Obtuse triangles have one obtuse angle
Classify this triangle. Right Scalene
Classify this triangle. Obtuse Isosceles
Classify this triangle. Acute Scalene
Classify this triangle. Acute Isosceles
Classify this triangle. Obtuse Scalene
Classify this triangle. Right Isosceles
GUIDED PRACTICE for Examples 1 and 2 2. Triangle ABC has the vertices A(0, 0), B(3, 3), and C(–3, 3). Classify it by its sides. Then determine if it is a right triangle. ABC is a right Isosceles triangle. ANSWER
EXAMPLE 2 Classify a triangle in a coordinate plane SOLUTION STEP 1 Use the distance formula to find the side lengths. Classify PQO by its sides. Then determine if the triangle is a right triangle. OP= y 2 –y 1 ( ) 2 x 2 –x 1 ( ) 2 + = 2–0 ( ) 2 (– 1 ) 0 ( ) 2 + – = OQ= y 2 –y 1 ( ) 2 x 2 –x 1 ( ) = –0 ( )6 0 ( ) 2 + – 3 =
EXAMPLE 2 Classify a triangle in a coordinate plane PQ= y 2 –y 1 ( ) 2 x 2 –x 1 ( ) 2 + 3– 2( ) 2 6 ( ) 2 + – = (– 1 ) = STEP 2 Check for right angles. The slope of OP is 2 – 0 – 2 – 0 = – 2. The slope of OQ is 3 – 0 6 – 0 = The product of the slopes is – 2 2 = – 1, so OP OQ and POQ is a right angle. Therefore, PQO is a right scalene triangle. ANSWER
Classifying Triangles 4.2 Triangles