Question one-an

4.1 Lines, Angles, and Triangles - Triangle sum theorem
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  • One angle is a right angle.
  • The measures of the other 2 angles are as follows:
    • a/li>
    • 13/li>
  • A note indies the figure is not drawn to scale.

In the right triangle shown, what is the value of a ?

A.

13

B.

77

C.

90

D.

103

One angle is a right angle. The measures of the other 2 angles are as follows:

Medium-difficulty · SAT Math · Lines, Angles, and Triangles — Triangle sum theorem. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

Choice B is correct. The triangle shown is a right triangle, where the interior angle shown with a right angle symbol has a measure of 90°. It's shown that the other two interior angles measure 13° and a°. The sum of the measures of the interior angles of a triangle is 180°; therefore, 90+13+a=180. Combining like terms on the left-hand side of this equation yields 103+a=180. Subtracting 103 from both sides of this equation yields a = 77 .

Choice A is incorrect. This is the measure, in degrees, of the other acute interior angle of the right triangle, not the value of a .

Choice C is incorrect. This is the measure, in degrees, of the right angle of the right triangle, not the value of a .

Choice D is incorrect. This is the sum of the measures, in degrees, of the other two interior angles of the right triangle, not the value of a .