Diagrams showing triangles with interior and exterior angles, using the exterior angle theorem to find unknown angles.
Six diagrams of triangles with given angles and variables representing unknown angles, illustrating the exterior angle theorem.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Find the value of the unknown exterior angle x in the following ...
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Find the value of the unknown exterior angle x in the following ...
Let’s solve each triangle problem one by one. We’ll use two key rules:
1. The angles inside a triangle always add up to 180°.
2. An exterior angle (like x in these problems) is equal to the sum of the two opposite interior angles.
OR — you can find the third interior angle first, then subtract from 180° to get the exterior angle (since they form a straight line).
We’ll go step by step for each figure.
---
(I)
Interior angles: 50° and 70°
Third interior angle = 180° - (50° + 70°) = 180° - 120° = 60°
Exterior angle x is next to this 60° angle → so x = 180° - 60° = 120°
*(Or directly: x = 50° + 70° = 120° — same answer!)*
✔ x = 120°
---
(II)
Interior angles: 65° and 45°
Third interior angle = 180° - (65° + 45°) = 180° - 110° = 70°
Exterior angle x is next to this 70° angle → x = 180° - 70° = 110°
*(Or: x = 65° + 45° = 110°)*
✔ x = 110°
---
(III)
This one looks different — it’s not a full triangle with an exterior angle on the base. Let’s look carefully.
We have a triangle with angles 30° and 40°. The third angle inside the triangle is:
180° - (30° + 40°) = 110°
Now, angle x is shown as the angle between the extended side and the other side — actually, looking at the diagram, x is the *exterior* angle at the top vertex? Wait — no.
Actually, in diagram (iii), the angle marked x is formed by extending one side, and it's adjacent to the 110° angle we just found? No — let me re-express.
Wait — better way: In any triangle, if you extend one side, the exterior angle equals the sum of the two non-adjacent interior angles.
In (iii), the two given interior angles are 30° and 40°, and x is the exterior angle at the third vertex — so yes, x = 30° + 40° = 70°
But wait — that doesn’t match the drawing? Let me double-check.
Actually, looking again: In diagram (iii), the angle labeled x is NOT the exterior angle of the triangle — it’s the angle between the extension and the side — but actually, it IS the exterior angle corresponding to the vertex where the 30° and 40° are NOT located.
Standard rule: Exterior angle = sum of two remote interior angles.
So if the triangle has angles A=30°, B=40°, C=?, then exterior at C = A + B = 70°.
Yes — so x = 70°.
But wait — in the diagram, the angle x appears to be obtuse? Hmm — maybe I misread.
Alternative approach: Maybe the 30° and 40° are not both interior? Let me think differently.
Actually, upon closer inspection of typical textbook diagrams like this, in (iii), the angle x is the exterior angle at the top, and the two given angles (30° and 40°) are the two remote interior angles — so x = 30° + 40° = 70°.
But visually, if you draw it, extending the left side, the exterior angle should be large... unless...
Wait — perhaps the 30° and 40° are on the bottom, and x is at the top right? Actually, standard interpretation: in such diagrams, when two angles are given inside the triangle and x is outside at the third vertex, x = sum of the two given.
But let’s calculate the third interior angle: 180 - 30 - 40 = 110°. Then the exterior angle adjacent to it would be 180 - 110 = 70°. So yes, x = 70°.
Even though it might look small in the sketch, mathematically it’s correct.
✔ x = 70°
---
(IV)
Triangle with two 60° angles → equilateral? Third angle = 180 - 60 - 60 = 60°
Exterior angle x is next to one of the 60° angles → x = 180 - 60 = 120°
*(Or: x = 60° + 60° = 120° — since the two remote interior angles are both 60°)*
✔ x = 120°
---
(V)
Interior angles: 50° and 50°
Third interior angle = 180 - 50 - 50 = 80°
Exterior angle x is next to this 80° angle → x = 180 - 80 = 100°
*(Or: x = 50° + 50° = 100°)*
✔ x = 100°
---
(VI)
This one is tricky. It shows a triangle with angles 30° and 60°, and x is an exterior angle — but which one?
Looking at the diagram: there’s a vertical line, and the triangle is attached. The angle marked x is outside, adjacent to the 60° angle? Or is it related to the 30°?
Actually, let’s identify the triangle: it has angles 30° and 60°, so third angle = 180 - 30 - 60 = 90°.
Now, angle x is shown as the exterior angle at the vertex with the 60° angle? But in the diagram, it seems x is formed by extending the side opposite the 30° angle.
Better: Use the exterior angle theorem. If x is the exterior angle at the vertex where the 60° is, then x = 30° + 90° = 120°? But we don’t know the 90° yet.
Wait — let’s label:
Assume the triangle has:
- Bottom-left angle: 30°
- Bottom-right angle: 60°
- Top angle: 90° (since 30+60+90=180)
Now, angle x is drawn at the bottom-right vertex, outside the triangle, formed by extending the bottom side to the right. So x is adjacent to the 60° angle → so x = 180° - 60° = 120°.
Alternatively, using exterior angle theorem: x = sum of the two remote interior angles = 30° + 90° = 120°.
Same answer.
✔ x = 120°
---
Final check for all:
(I) 50+70=120 → x=120
(II) 65+45=110 → x=110
(III) 30+40=70 → x=70
(IV) 60+60=120 → x=120
(V) 50+50=100 → x=100
(VI) 30+90=120 or 180-60=120 → x=120
All consistent.
Final Answer:
(I) 120°
(II) 110°
(III) 70°
(IV) 120°
(V) 100°
(VI) 120°
1. The angles inside a triangle always add up to 180°.
2. An exterior angle (like x in these problems) is equal to the sum of the two opposite interior angles.
OR — you can find the third interior angle first, then subtract from 180° to get the exterior angle (since they form a straight line).
We’ll go step by step for each figure.
---
(I)
Interior angles: 50° and 70°
Third interior angle = 180° - (50° + 70°) = 180° - 120° = 60°
Exterior angle x is next to this 60° angle → so x = 180° - 60° = 120°
*(Or directly: x = 50° + 70° = 120° — same answer!)*
✔ x = 120°
---
(II)
Interior angles: 65° and 45°
Third interior angle = 180° - (65° + 45°) = 180° - 110° = 70°
Exterior angle x is next to this 70° angle → x = 180° - 70° = 110°
*(Or: x = 65° + 45° = 110°)*
✔ x = 110°
---
(III)
This one looks different — it’s not a full triangle with an exterior angle on the base. Let’s look carefully.
We have a triangle with angles 30° and 40°. The third angle inside the triangle is:
180° - (30° + 40°) = 110°
Now, angle x is shown as the angle between the extended side and the other side — actually, looking at the diagram, x is the *exterior* angle at the top vertex? Wait — no.
Actually, in diagram (iii), the angle marked x is formed by extending one side, and it's adjacent to the 110° angle we just found? No — let me re-express.
Wait — better way: In any triangle, if you extend one side, the exterior angle equals the sum of the two non-adjacent interior angles.
In (iii), the two given interior angles are 30° and 40°, and x is the exterior angle at the third vertex — so yes, x = 30° + 40° = 70°
But wait — that doesn’t match the drawing? Let me double-check.
Actually, looking again: In diagram (iii), the angle labeled x is NOT the exterior angle of the triangle — it’s the angle between the extension and the side — but actually, it IS the exterior angle corresponding to the vertex where the 30° and 40° are NOT located.
Standard rule: Exterior angle = sum of two remote interior angles.
So if the triangle has angles A=30°, B=40°, C=?, then exterior at C = A + B = 70°.
Yes — so x = 70°.
But wait — in the diagram, the angle x appears to be obtuse? Hmm — maybe I misread.
Alternative approach: Maybe the 30° and 40° are not both interior? Let me think differently.
Actually, upon closer inspection of typical textbook diagrams like this, in (iii), the angle x is the exterior angle at the top, and the two given angles (30° and 40°) are the two remote interior angles — so x = 30° + 40° = 70°.
But visually, if you draw it, extending the left side, the exterior angle should be large... unless...
Wait — perhaps the 30° and 40° are on the bottom, and x is at the top right? Actually, standard interpretation: in such diagrams, when two angles are given inside the triangle and x is outside at the third vertex, x = sum of the two given.
But let’s calculate the third interior angle: 180 - 30 - 40 = 110°. Then the exterior angle adjacent to it would be 180 - 110 = 70°. So yes, x = 70°.
Even though it might look small in the sketch, mathematically it’s correct.
✔ x = 70°
---
(IV)
Triangle with two 60° angles → equilateral? Third angle = 180 - 60 - 60 = 60°
Exterior angle x is next to one of the 60° angles → x = 180 - 60 = 120°
*(Or: x = 60° + 60° = 120° — since the two remote interior angles are both 60°)*
✔ x = 120°
---
(V)
Interior angles: 50° and 50°
Third interior angle = 180 - 50 - 50 = 80°
Exterior angle x is next to this 80° angle → x = 180 - 80 = 100°
*(Or: x = 50° + 50° = 100°)*
✔ x = 100°
---
(VI)
This one is tricky. It shows a triangle with angles 30° and 60°, and x is an exterior angle — but which one?
Looking at the diagram: there’s a vertical line, and the triangle is attached. The angle marked x is outside, adjacent to the 60° angle? Or is it related to the 30°?
Actually, let’s identify the triangle: it has angles 30° and 60°, so third angle = 180 - 30 - 60 = 90°.
Now, angle x is shown as the exterior angle at the vertex with the 60° angle? But in the diagram, it seems x is formed by extending the side opposite the 30° angle.
Better: Use the exterior angle theorem. If x is the exterior angle at the vertex where the 60° is, then x = 30° + 90° = 120°? But we don’t know the 90° yet.
Wait — let’s label:
Assume the triangle has:
- Bottom-left angle: 30°
- Bottom-right angle: 60°
- Top angle: 90° (since 30+60+90=180)
Now, angle x is drawn at the bottom-right vertex, outside the triangle, formed by extending the bottom side to the right. So x is adjacent to the 60° angle → so x = 180° - 60° = 120°.
Alternatively, using exterior angle theorem: x = sum of the two remote interior angles = 30° + 90° = 120°.
Same answer.
✔ x = 120°
---
Final check for all:
(I) 50+70=120 → x=120
(II) 65+45=110 → x=110
(III) 30+40=70 → x=70
(IV) 60+60=120 → x=120
(V) 50+50=100 → x=100
(VI) 30+90=120 or 180-60=120 → x=120
All consistent.
Final Answer:
(I) 120°
(II) 110°
(III) 70°
(IV) 120°
(V) 100°
(VI) 120°
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of interior angles of triangles worksheet.