Browse · MATH
Printjmc
geometry junior
Problem
An equilateral triangle shares a common side with a square as shown. What is the number of degrees in ? 
Solution
Since the square and the equilateral triangle share a side, all sides of the square are the same length as all sides of the equilateral triangle. Specifically, we have , and so is isosceles with equal angles at and . Let denote the number of degrees in the measure of each of these two angles (that is, ).
Angle is equal to (since a square and an equilateral triangle have interior angles of and , respectively). Since the sum of angles in a triangle is , we have giving .
Angle is equal to (since a square and an equilateral triangle have interior angles of and , respectively). Since the sum of angles in a triangle is , we have giving .
Final answer
15