Skip to main content
K12 LibreTexts

4.17: Triangle Angle Sum Theorem

  • Page ID
    4814
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    The interior angles of a triangle add to 180 degrees Use equations to find missing angle measures given the sum of 180 degrees.

    Triangle Sum Theorem

    The Triangle Sum Theorem says that the three interior angles of any triangle add up to \(180^{\circ}\).

    f-d_35daa1eeb534667d486815c372805963ad3d556e00bf05b424da4240+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    \(m\angle 1+m\angle 2+m\angle 3=180^{\circ}\).

    Here is one proof of the Triangle Sum Theorem.

    f-d_53c1711c28376afeb3901226345f0d73193630ab1c9d0b81a4076eb2+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Given: \(\Delta ABC\) with \(\overleftrightarrow{AD} \parallel \overline{BC}\)

    Prove: \(m\angle 1+m\angle 2+m\angle 3=180^{\circ}\)

    Statement Reason
    1. \(\Delta ABC with \overleftrightarrow{AD} \parallel \overline{BC}\) Given
    2. \\(angle 1\cong \angle 4,\: \angle 2\cong \angle 5\) Alternate Interior Angles Theorem
    3. \(m\angle 1=m\angle 4,\: m\angle 2=m\angle 5\) \cong angles have = measures
    4. \(m\angle 4+m\angle CAD=180^{\circ}\) Linear Pair Postulate
    5. \(m\angle 3+m\angle 5=m\angle CAD\) Angle Addition Postulate
    6. \(m\angle 4+m\angle 3+m\angle 5=180^{\circ}\) Substitution PoE
    7. \(m\angle 1+m\angle 3+m\angle 2=180^{\circ}\) Substitution PoE

    You can use the Triangle Sum Theorem to find missing angles in triangles.

    What if you knew that two of the angles in a triangle measured \(55^{\circ}\)? How could you find the measure of the third angle?

    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Two interior angles of a triangle measure \(50^{\circ}\) and \(70^{\circ}\). What is the third interior angle of the triangle?

    Solution

    \(50^{\circ}+70^{\circ}+x=180^{\circ}\).

    Solve this equation and you find that the third angle is \(60^{\circ}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Find the value of \(x\) and the measure of each angle.

    f-d_7b8e66f430ffc76bb5534fa671b83a5f2e3fe8ba71eee3ca327e6f8b+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Solution

    All the angles add up to \(180^{\circ}\).

    \(\begin{align*} (8x−1)^{\circ}+(3x+9)^{\circ}+(3x+4)^{\circ}&=180^{\circ} \\ (14x+12)^{\circ}&=180^{\circ} \\ 14x&=168 \\ x&=12\end{align*} \)

    Substitute in 12 for \(x\) to find each angle.

    \([3(12)+9]^{\circ}=45^{\circ} \qquad [3(12)+4]^{\circ}=40^{\circ} \qquad [8(12)−1]^{\circ}=95^{\circ}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    What is m\angle T?

    f-d_bf8a6c18ed5d3f46907e05a48d9e0f134099b1d364de4bc48b4bd236+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Solution

    We know that the three angles in the triangle must add up to \(180^{\circ}\). To solve this problem, set up an equation and substitute in the information you know.

    \(\begin{align*} m\angle M+m\angle A+m\angle T&=180^{\circ} \\ 82^{\circ}+27^{\circ}+m\angle T&=180^{\circ} \\ 109^{\circ}+m\angle T&=180^{\circ} \\ m\angle T &=71^{\circ}\end{align*}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    What is the measure of each angle in an equiangular triangle?

    f-d_cac589bd0ddeabd70da27b6ce7d52157880551006d5bdcbbe28bc805+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Solution

    To solve, remember that \(\Delta ABC\) is an equiangular triangle, so all three angles are equal. Write an equation.

    \(\begin{align*} m\angle A+m\angle B+m\angle C &=180^{\circ} \\ m\angle A+m\angle A+m\angle A&=180^{\circ} \qquad &Substitute,\: all\: angles\: are \: equal. \\ 3m\angle A&=180^{\circ} \qquad &Combine\:like \:terms. \\ m\angle A&=60^{\circ}\end{align*}\)

    If \(m\angle A=60^{\circ}\), then \(m\angle B=60^{\circ}\) and \(m\angle C=60^{\circ}\).

    Each angle in an equiangular triangle is \(60^{\circ}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Find the measure of the missing angle.

    f-d_c8010a492200ade7e2428f420db7dc2f06bcc408239725f233f05ffb+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    Solution

    We know that \(m\angle O=41^{\circ}\) and \(m\angle G=90^{\circ}\) because it is a right angle. Set up an equation like in Example 3.

    \(\begin{align*} m\angle D+m\angle O+m\angle G&=180^{\circ} \\ m\angle D+41^{\circ}+90^{\circ}&=180^{\circ} \\ m\angle D+41^{\circ}&=90^{\circ}\\ m\angle D=49^{\circ}\end{align*}\)

    Review

    Determine \(m\angle 1\) in each triangle.

    1.

    f-d_0296a21a50edde4acc9e45c33aa3cea7e968b6753ac5de4243dc8330+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)

    2.

    f-d_20a99a851820078b550ee5a460f96fdcbb8ad57c82fb9c89031fff48+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\)

    3.

    f-d_66bb32804169ab7306a83891c975f06a0d4b488fce5de3ac0a2370dd+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\)

    4.

    f-d_66bb32804169ab7306a83891c975f06a0d4b488fce5de3ac0a2370dd+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{10}\)

    5.

    f-d_a5ece8c8cc1829ef0a5c9ae93a71e96b573ed34fbb36aa9991a4e07f+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\)

    6.

    f-d_75bd2abcf85e8184ff656f62a670b474996067a3ef444d21874d1924+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{12}\)

    7.

    f-d_fc3b9f506d2ae48983721555ab17e27f05f01805333aa21bd0c3bb9c+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{13}\)

    8. Two interior angles of a triangle measure \(32^{\circ}\) and \(64^{\circ}\). What is the third interior angle of the triangle?

    9. Two interior angles of a triangle measure \(111^{\circ}\) and \(12^{\circ}\). What is the third interior angle of the triangle?

    10. Two interior angles of a triangle measure \(2^{\circ}\) and \(157^{\circ}\). What is the third interior angle of the triangle?

    Find the value of \(x\) and the measure of each angle.

    11.

    f-d_45c767b4c3783a9919fb5476adcc9e4d03b522ba375c76a823030daf+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{14}\)

    12.

    f-d_89d27293478497a5b50678a7e4ef397006463533f5ba716b52c12ece+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{15}\)

    13.

    f-d_7a788a2cb589b9d5aba5161f9e6cb988fc0baffb3034a3f57ab02cac+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{16}\)

    14.

    f-d_26133abb51781b9bea42271ee4b80e896e6fc56fe0f71758fd7f447e+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{17}\)

    15.

    f-d_00aad463ceee48d56386865c34392be2ef4f321765eed953d6238d53+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{18}\)

    Review (Answers)

    To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 4.1.

    Resources

    Vocabulary

    Term Definition
    Triangle Sum Theorem The Triangle Sum Theorem states that the three interior angles of any triangle add up to 180 degrees.

    Additional Resources

    Interactive Element

    Video: Triangle Sum Theorem Principles - Basic

    Activities: Triangle Sum Theorem Discussion Questions

    Study Aids: Triangle Relationships Study Guide

    Practice: Triangle Angle Sum Theorem

    Real World: Triangle Sum Theorem


    This page titled 4.17: Triangle Angle Sum Theorem is shared under a CK-12 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by CK-12 Foundation via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

    CK-12 Foundation
    LICENSED UNDER
    CK-12 Foundation is licensed under CK-12 Curriculum Materials License
    • Was this article helpful?