Geometry

Types of Triangles
 A Scalene Triangle has 3 sides of different lengths. Because the sides are of different lengths, the
angles must also be of different measures.
 An Isosceles Triangle has 2 sides with the same length (i.e., congruent). Because two sides are
congruent, two angles must also be congruent.
 An Equilateral Triangle has 3 equal sides (i.e., congruent). Because all 3 sides are congruent, all 3 angles
must also be congruent. This requires each angle to be 60⁰.
 A Right Triangle is one that contains a 90⁰ angle. It may be scalene or isosceles, but cannot be
equilateral. Right triangles have sides that meet the requirements of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Polygons ‐ Basics
Basic Definitions
Polygon: a closed path of three or more line segments, where:
- no two sides with a common endpoint are collinear, and
- each segment is connected at its endpoints to exactly two other segments.
Side: a segment that is connected to other segments (which are also sides) to form a polygon.
Vertex: a point at the intersection of two sides of the polygon. (plural form: vertices)
Diagonal: a segment, from one vertex to another, which is not a side.

Concave: A polygon in which it is possible to draw a diagonal “outside” the polygon. (Notice the orange
diagonal drawn outside the polygon atright.) Concave polygons actually look like they have a “cave” in them.
Convex: A polygon in which it is not possible to draw a diagonal “outside” the polygon. (Notice that all of the
orange diagonals are inside the polygon at right.) Convex polygons appear more “rounded” and do not contain
“caves.”
Definitions of Quadrilaterals
 Quadrilateral A polygon with 4 sides.
 Kite A quadrilateral with two consecutive pairs of congruent sides, but with opposite sides not
congruent.
 Trapezoid A quadrilateral with exactly one pair of parallel sides.
 Isosceles Trapezoid A trapezoid with congruent legs.
 Parallelogram A quadrilateral with both pairs of opposite sides parallel.
 Rectangle A parallelogram with all angles congruent (i.e., right angles).
 Rhombus A parallelogram with all sides congruent.
 Square A quadrilateral with all sides congruent and all angles congruent.