In a right triangle, how are the angles related?

Study for the Common Core Geometry Test. Engage with interactive quizzes and flashcards, complete with detailed explanations and hints. Prepare for success!

In a right triangle, one of the angles is always 90 degrees, which is the defining characteristic of a right triangle. The other two angles in the triangle must be acute angles, meaning they each measure less than 90 degrees. Because the sum of all angles in any triangle is always 180 degrees, the two remaining angles in a right triangle will always sum to 90 degrees. This is a direct consequence of the triangle angle sum theorem. Therefore, the relationship that one angle measures 90 degrees while the other two angles sum to 90 degrees is foundational to the properties of right triangles.

The other options do not reflect the properties of a right triangle. For instance, the idea that all angles can be equal to 60 degrees pertains to an equilateral triangle, and a triangle cannot have angles that sum to 360 degrees, as this would suggest a figure with more than three sides. Likewise, suggesting a configuration with two 45-degree angles specifically describes an isosceles right triangle but does not encompass the full range of possibilities for the other angles in a right triangle.

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