Equilateral Triangle Facts For Kids That Adore Geometry Class

Tanya Parkhi
Feb 16, 2023 By Tanya Parkhi
Originally Published on Feb 21, 2022
Edited by Katherine Cook
Fact-checked by Amatullah Gulbargawala
Open empty wooden triangular frame

An equilateral triangle is one of the most recognisable shapes in geometry.

This triangle, as you might have guessed from the name, is known for the equal measures of its sides and equal angles! This makes this triangle quite easy to draw, and it is commonly used in designs, patterns, and building activities.

An equilateral triangle has many interesting properties which you will discover in this article! Read on to learn more about the exciting equilateral triangle!

Meaning Of Equilateral Triangle

An equilateral triangle is a type of triangle with three sides of equal length. This shape has special properties that other triangles do not have and can be used in a variety of different ways. Some interesting facts about equilateral triangles include:

  • They are the only type of triangle that has equal angles that are all 60 degrees each.
  • The triangle's sides are all of the same lengths, and always have a proportion of 1:1:1.
  • This triangle has three lines of symmetry, meaning lines that divide it into perfect halves. Each point of symmetry is located at the midpoint of each side. The line stretches from a vertex of the triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side.
  • Like every other triangle, it has three vertices.
  • The perimeter is given by 3a, where a is the length of the sides.
  • You can draw a circle inside an equilateral triangle with the sides of the circle touching all sides of the triangle. This is known as an inscribed circle! The geometric center of the inscribed circle and the triangle will be the same.
  • A straight line from the center to the vertices of an equilateral triangle will be the same radius of the circle.
  • Similarly, you can draw a circumscribed circle. The vertices of the triangle will touch the circle, with the triangle being inside the circle!
  • Though it can be difficult to find examples of equilateral triangles in nature, you can try to find examples of them in daily life! Look for special tortilla chips, pizza slices, or stop signs. Try to visualize and see if the length of the sides matches up. If yes- then you've got yourself an equilateral triangle!
  • Equilateral triangles can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be used in geometric designs, in logo designs or symbols, in art projects such as paintings or sculptures, and in math problems and puzzles. These triangles are also used to build things like bridges and buildings because they have strong.
  • The word 'equi' means 'equal'. If a triangle is called an equilateral triangle, the three sides of the triangle are identical. This also works for other shapes too!
  • For example, an equilateral pentagon has five equal sides. And a square? It has four equal sides, meaning it is an equilateral quadrilateral!
  • An equilateral triangle is a shape that has the least possible number of sides, as no shape can be made with only two sides! So, triangles are quite special!

What are the different types of triangles?

There are currently about six different types of triangles: isosceles, equilateral, scalene, right, acute, and obtuse. Each type of triangle has its own special set of characteristics.

  • The most symmetrical of all the triangle shapes is the equilateral triangle. It has three sides that are all the same length and angles that are all 60 degrees.
  • The isosceles triangle is also quite symmetrical. It has two equal sides and angles.
  • The scalene triangle is the least symmetrical type of triangle. It has three unequal sides and angles that range from 0-180 degrees.
  • The right triangle is called this because one of its angles (the right angle) measures 90 degrees. This form of a triangle has a special place in mathematics because it can be used to calculate the ratios between two quantities that are related.
  • An acute triangle is one whose angles measure less than 90 degrees. These triangles are often used for construction projects like building houses and bridges.
  • An obtuse triangle is one whose angle measures more than 90 degrees but less than 180, which makes this shape very asymmetrical.

Properties Of An Equilateral Triangle

An equilateral triangle has three equal sides and three angles that are each 60 degrees.

  • The length of each side of an equilateral triangle is the same, and the perimeter (the distance around the triangle) is also the same.
  • The area of an equilateral triangle is always one-third the size of a square with the same perimeter. If you want to find the area of an equilateral triangle, you can simply multiply the length of one side by itself and then divide it by three.
  • Equilateral triangles have several interesting mathematical properties, including being able to be broken down into smaller equilateral triangles.
  • In fact, any polygon (a shape made up of straight lines) can be broken down into smaller and smaller polygons, as long as each new polygon is made up of straight lines.
  • Equilateral triangles are also very useful in geometry because they can solve problems.
  • For example, if you are given a problem that asks you to find the length of one side of a triangle, it is much easier to figure out if the length of another side is already given.
  • This is because an equilateral triangle has three sides of equal length, making it easy to calculate the length of any one side.
  • Calculating the area and other specifics also becomes much easier using this triangle. An equilateral triangle is also much easier to visualize due to its simple shape. This makes it a good choice for many people to use when building and designing.

What is the area of an equilateral triangle?

There are different ways to calculate the area of a triangle. Using these base formulas, you can easily calculate the area of an equilateral triangle as well.

  • The best way to do calculate this is to use the area formula 1/2*base*height, where its height and base are known.
  • Another way is to use Heron's formula, which is A = s(s - a)(s - b)(s - c)
  • S is the semi perimeter, and a, b, and c are the lengths of the three sides of the triangle.
  • Since our triangle is an equilateral one, all three sides (a, b, and c) will have equal altitudes.
  • The area can also be found using the Pythagorean theorem, by which we get A= the root of 3/4(a^2).
  • No matter how you calculate the area, it's important to make sure that all of your measurements are in the same units (e.g. in, ft, or m). Otherwise, your calculations will be incorrect.
  • So, if you're working with a triangle that has an area given in meters, make sure all of your measurements are in meters!

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Sources

https://kids.kiddle.co/Equilateral_triangle

https://www.cuemath.com/measurement/area-of-equilateral-triangle/

https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Equilateral_triangle

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Written by Tanya Parkhi

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Economics

Tanya Parkhi picture

Tanya ParkhiBachelor of Arts specializing in Economics

Tanya is a skilled content creator with a passion for writing and a love for exploring new cultures. With a degree in Economics from Fergusson College, Pune, India, Tanya worked on her writing skills by contributing to various editorials and publications. She has experience writing blogs, articles, and essays, covering a range of topics. Tanya's writing reflects her interest in travel and exploring local traditions. Her articles showcase her ability to engage readers and keep them interested.

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Fact-checked by Amatullah Gulbargawala

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in the Language Arts

Amatullah Gulbargawala picture

Amatullah GulbargawalaBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in the Language Arts

Amatullah is a passionate student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Ashoka College of Education. With a keen interest in literature, she has excelled in elocution competitions and is an accomplished writer. She has completed courses like "History of English Language and Literature", "Introduction to Western Political Thought and Theory", and "Development of Soft Skills and Personality". In her free time, Amatullah enjoys reading books and writing poetry.

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