Question

One angle in a triangle has a measure that is three times as large as the smallest angle. The measure of the third angle is 20 degrees more than that of the smallest angle. Find the measure of the LARGEST angle.

Answer: The LARGEST angle has a measure of

Answer 1

Well the angles in a triangle add up to 180 degrees total, for starters.

Answer 2

Yeah so what would the formula to solve it look like?
would it be x+x+20=180 ?

Answer 3

Not quite

Answer 4

alright so, the equation is 3x+20+x=180 , do you know why?

Answer 5

Because the one angle is 3 times the other?

Answer 6

yes, and one also 20 more than the smallest.

Answer 7

so x=4

Answer 8

I mean 40

Answer 9

Wait, i may have messed up , let me check again

Answer 10

Actually i think i may be right XD, sorry it's a bit late

Answer 11

so is the largest angle 60

Answer 12

no

Answer 13

no no, the largest would be 3x wouldnt it? so it'd be 3(40) so 120, whereas the whole equation would be 120+40+20 = 180 right?

Answer 14

it can't be 60. think about it: with an equilateral triangle, each angle is 60 degrees. any other triangle will have angles larger than 60.

Answer 15

Okay I think I get it now

Answer 16

Does anyone think this is correct?
Work courtesy of @Ms_Worth

Let the smallest angle = x
Then the third angle is ( x + 20 )
The second angle is 3x

Together they add up to 180
x + 3x + ( x + 20 ) = 180
5x + 20 = 180
5x = 160
x = 32 <-- x was already defined as the smallest angle

The other angles are
( x + 20 ) = 32 + 20 = 52
3x = 3 ( 32 ) = 96 <-- largest angle

Answer: the largest angle is 96 degrees

CHECK
32 + 52 + 96 = 180