Triangle
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other meanings, such as the musical instrument, see triangle (disambiguation).
A triangle is a shape. It has three straight sides and three points. The three angles of a triangle add to 180 degrees.
[edit] Types of triangles
Triangles can be grouped according to how long their sides are
- In an equilateral triangle all three sides have the same length
- In an isosceles triangle two sides have the same length
- In a scalene triangle all sides have different lengths
Triangles can also be grouped by their angles
- In an equilateral triangle all three angles are the same
- In an isosceles triangle two angles are the same and the third is different
- In a scalene triangle all three angle's are different
They can also be grouped according to their largest angles.
- A right triangle has one angle that is 90 degrees (a right angle)
- An obtuse triangle has one angle that is larger than 90 degrees (an obtuse angle)
- An acute triangle has angles that are all less than 90 degrees (acute angles)
[edit] Uses
Triangles are extremely useful, because the ratio of the length of sides to an angle is always the same. Measuring objects using triangles is called Trigonometry. Some people have spent their entire lives studying triangles for use in trigonometry.
Moder computers usually use triangles to make more complex graphic images or shapes.
