Question: in triangle abc, angle a is four times as large as angle b, angle c measures 20 degrees less than angle b. find the measure of each angle.

Hi Bev,

I am going to let A be the measure of angle a, B be the measure of angle b and C be the measure of angle c, all in degrees. The statement

angle a is four times as large as angle b

then becomes

A = 4 B

and the statement

angle c measures 20 degrees less than angle b

becomes

C = B - 20

In any triangle the sum of the measures of the angles is 180 degrees and hence

A + B + C = (4 B) + B + (B - 20) = 180

Solve for B.

Once you know B you can find A and C.

Penny