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Exterior Angle Theorem

For a triangle:

The exterior angle d equals the angles a plus b.


The exterior angle d is greater than angle a, or angle b.

Example:

The exterior angle is 35° + 62° = 97°

And 97° > 35°

And 97° > 62°

Why?
Because the interior angles of a triangle add to 180° , and angles c+d also add to 180°:

The interior angles of a triangle add to 180°: a + b + c = 180°

Angles c and d make a straight angle, which is 180°: d + c = 180°

So d + c equals a + b + c: d + c = a + b + c

Subtract c from both sides: d = a + b

Works For Any Triangle's Exterior Angle


Example:

The exterior angle is 40° + 27° = 67°

And 67° > 40°

And 67° > 27°

Example: How big is angle d?

We can't calculate exactly, but we can say:

d° > 61°

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