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Triangle

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A green 3D model of a tetrahedron, one of the five Platonic solids.

What is a Triangle?

A triangle is a simple shape with three sides and three corners. The corners are called vertices, and the sides are called edges. All three corners join together to make the triangle.

Triangles are very important in math and science. They help us understand shapes and spaces. You can see triangles in many places, like in pyramids, road signs, and even in buildings.

Fun Facts About Triangles

Triangles come in different types. An equilateral triangle has all three sides the same length. An isosceles triangle has two sides that are the same length. A right triangle has one corner that is exactly a square corner, called a right angle.

Triangles are strong shapes. This is why they are used in buildings, bridges, and roofs. Their strong shape helps keep things standing tall.

Why Triangles are Special

One special thing about triangles is that the three angles inside always add up to 180 degrees. This helps people in math and building to measure and plan things.

You can find triangles in nature too! Look closely at leaves, shells, or even mountains, and you might spot triangle shapes. They are everywhere!

Images

The four famous pyramids of Giza in Egypt, built thousands of years ago.
A triangular yield sign used to indicate drivers should give way at an intersection.
Geometric diagram showing how triangles with the same base and area have their top point along a line parallel to the base.
Historical architectural detail of the south transept portal of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Diagram showing a trirectangular triangle in spherical geometry, useful for learning about shapes and angles.

Related articles

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Triangle, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.