CAT concept: Triangles

In most of the CAT or any other MBA questions, geometry remains as significant portion. At same time, most of the question in CAT deals with variety of shapes and not to any particular shape. To deal with such question it is important to understand each shape differently. So we shall focus on different shapes and its characteristics. Failing to understand this is the major reason for not doing well at this section. 

Shape of the day : Triangle

Triangle is a closed figure having three side. We don't need very precise definition. In fact we don't need definition at all! There are three kinds of triangle:

• Acute : If all three angles are less than 90 degree, such triangle is called right triangle

• Obtuse : If any one angle is greater 90 degree, it is called obtuse triagle.

• Right: If any one angle is equal to 90 degree, it is called right triangle.

Sum of all the three angles is 180 degree.

Sum of length of two shorter side is always greater than the longest side.

Area  = 1/2 * base * height

If all the sides are equal then such triangle is called equilateral triangle. Each angle of equilateral triangle is 60 degree.


Angle opposite to the longer side is always greater and angle opposite to smaller site is always smaller.
So we can further conclude that angles opposite to equal sides are equal. A triangle is said to be isosceles if two of the three sides are equal.

If all the three side are different it is called scalene.