Math Word Problems Demystified - A Self Teaching Guide

Geometric principle: The sum of the measures of the angles of a triangle is

1808.

SOLUTION:

GOAL: You are being asked to find the measures of the three angles of

a triangle.

STRATEGY: Letx¼the measure of the first angle

and 2x¼the measure of the second angle

and 2x¼the measure of the third angle

See Figure 20-1.

Since the sum of the measures of the angles of a triangle is 180 8 , the

equation is

xþ 2 xþ 2 x¼ 1808.

IMPLEMENTATION: Solve the equation:

xþ 2 xþ 2 x¼ 1808

5 x¼ 1808

51 x

51

¼

1808

5

Fig. 20-1.

LESSON 20 Word Problems in Geometry 241