Elements of a triangle

Elements of a triangle are the angles that are formed when three lines intersect and the segments that mark the triangle are sides.

Objectives

• To understand the elements of a triangle

Estimated Time

40 minutes

Prerequisites/ Instructions, prior preparations, if any

Prior knowledge of point, lines, angles, parallel lines

Materials/ Resources needed

• Digital : Computer, Geogebra application, projector.
• Non digital : Worksheet and pencil,6-8 strings (preferably in different colours)
• Geogebra files : “Elements of a triangle.ggb”

Process (How to do the activity)

• Student groups can be formed, students in their group do the following activity individually.
• Take the strings and place them in such a way as to make a closed figure.
• What is the smallest number of strings with which you can form a closed figure?
• What is this figure called?
• Can you just draw the lines along the strings and see what you get?
• When you drew, what did you draw?  (Was it a line or was it an angle or was it a line segment?). It is a lime segment – how many line segments are there?
• When two line segments joined, what is it called?  (A vertex). How many vertices are there?
• Is there any angle formed when you made this figure? How many angles were formed? How many angles lie within the closed figure?
• Show a simple Geogebra file with triangles – Use this file to demonstrate that every triangle has the elements - vertices, sides and angles
• How many triangles were formed?  Were there any strings left over?
• For each of the triangles trace the shape on the book and write down the elements of the triangle in the following format

Vertices	Sides	Angles
.
.
.

• For each of the triangles observe (inspect visually) which is the longest side and which is the shortest side

Triangle name	Largest angle	Largest side	Smallest angle	Smallest side
.
.
.

• Allow the students to explore if there is any connection between the two?
• After the students see the Geogebra file, they can attempt an alternative worksheet like below

Side 1	Angle 1 (opposite angle)	! Side 2	Angle 2 (opposite angle)	! Side 3	Angle 3 (opposite angle)	! Largest side and angle ex-side1,angle1	! Smallest side and angle ex-side3,angle3
.
.
.

Evaluation at the end of the activity

• Have the students been able to identify the elements in a triangle?
• Have they been able to extrapolate any connection between the angle and side in a triangle?