How to Address an Envelope—Explained with Examples

How to Address an Envelope—Explained with Examples

How to Address and Envelope Step-by-Step

Your Quick Guide on How to Write the Address on an Envelope

 

Learn how to write an address on an envelope in 3 easy steps.

 

Knowing how to address an envelope is a valuable life skill that every person should learn how to do at some point.

Sending and receiving letters containing important information, financial documents, and notifications is a part of adult life and you will need to know how to write an address on an envelope correctly. Luckily, addressing an envelope is relatively easy to do and you can learn how very quickly.

This free Life Skills Guide on How to Write an Address on an Envelope will cover the following topics and examples:

Note that you do not have to follow this guide in order, and you can use the text links above to skip to any particular section that interests you.

Now, let’s start with a quick explanation of why letters and useful and why being able to properly address an envelope is an important life skill like knowing how to write a check.

 

How to Address an Envelope: Many couples still send physical thank you cards through the mail to individuals who attended their wedding.

 

What are Letters and Why are They Useful?

Communicating via letters sent in envelops has been done for hundreds of years and, even in today’s digital world, remains a useful and popular way of sending and exchanging information.

Today, letters have many uses such as sending someone a physical card to commemorate an event or to share condolences, important notifications and information, and legal and financial documents.

For example, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), relies primarily on sending letters through the mail to communicate with and notify individuals. In fact, the IRS’ first point of contact with a customer will always be through the mail, since sending letters is a secure and traceable form of communication.

Since sending and receiving letters continues to be prevalent, learning how to address an envelope is an important life skill because you will certainly want to know that anything that you send—whether it be a birthday card with a check enclosed or your tax return documents—will reach its intended recipient.

How to Address and Envelope: Step-by-Step

 

How to Address and Envelope in 3 Easy Steps

 

Now you are ready to learn how to write an address on an envelope.

Note that there are three key steps to correctly addressing an envelope:

  • Return Address (Top-Left Corner)

  • Recipient’s Address (Center)

  • Stamp (Top-Right Corner)

Next, we will walk through each step of how to put the address on an envelope so it reaches its intended destination.

While it is not a requirement, we highly recommend that you use black or blue ink whenever you are addressing an envelope and always write clearly and legibly so that postal workers are not confused or unable to deliver your envelope.

Start with a Blank Envelope

Before you do anything, make sure that you are starting with a blank envelope that is appropriately sized to fit your letter or card.

Note that the standard white envelope for letters is 4.125 x 9.5 inches, but envelopes come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Greeting cards typically come with an envelope to hold the card as well. No matter what type of envelope you are using, the process below will apply.

However, make sure that you are writing the address on the front side of the letter. The front side is totally blank and empty, while the back side has a flap/opening (see Figure 01 below for a visual reference).

Figure 01: How to Address an Envelope: Start with a blank envelope that is large enough to hold your letter, card, or documents.

 

Step One: Write the Return Address in the Top-Left Corner

The first step is to write the return address in the top-left corner of the envelope.

The return address is your address (i.e. you, the sender). Putting a return address on a letter serves two purposes:

  1. It lets the recipient know who the letter is from before they open it

  2. If the letter can’t be delivered for any reason, it will be returned to this address

For example, let’s say that our sample letter is being sent by Alexander Johnson who lives at the following address:

  • 135 Pine Street, Denver, CO 80203

In the top left-hand corner of our blank envelope, we will write the following as our return address:

  • Alexander Johnson

  • 135 Pine Street

  • Denver, CO 80203

Individuals who send letters often will sometimes have custom envelopes with the return address already printed on them while others will purchase stickers/labels with their return address printed on them. Either of these are exceptional alternatives to handwriting the return address.

Figure 02 below shows what our envelope will look like after writing the return address in the top left-hand corner.

Figure 02: How to Write the Address on an Envelope: Start by writing the return address at the top left-hand corner.

 

Step Two: Write the Address of the Recipient in the Center

The next step is to write the name and address of the recipient in the center of the envelope.

The recipient is the person or organization you are sending the envelope to.

Make sure that you write the name and address clearly and correctly and make sure that any numbers are legible and obvious to understand. If you make a mistake or if your handwriting is not readable, the letter will not make it to its intended destination.

In this example, we will be sending our letter to our friend Amanda Lee who lives at the following address:

  • 4917 River Avenue, Aspen, CO 81611

In the center of our envelope, in large font, we will write our recipient’s address as follows:

  • Amanda Lee

  • 4917 River Avenue

  • Aspen, CO 81611

Our letter after completing this second step is illustrated in Figure 03 below.

Figure 03: How to Address an Envelope: Clearly and legibly write the address of the recipient in the center of the envelope.

 

Step Three: Stamp and Seal Your Envelope

Now, all that you have to do is place a valid stamp in the top right-hand corner of the envelope and seal the flap on the backside.

Once you have completed this third and final step, your envelope is ready to be mailed.

There are several ways to mail a letter inside of a stamped envelope including:

  • Dropping the letter off at the post office

  • Placing the letter in an official USPS postal box

  • Leaving the letter in your mailbox for your mail carrier to receive

Figure 04 below shows what our envelope will look like after the final step has been completed.

Figure 04: How to Properly Address an Envelope

 

That’s all there is to it! You have just learned how to write the address in an envelope in a way that ensures that your letter or card will be delivered to the intended recipient. And, because you included a return address, your letter will be sent back to you in the event that it can not be delivered for any reason.

Figure 05 below shows what our completed envelope should look like. Once you have completed all three steps (return address, recipient’s address, and stamp), you are ready to send!

Figure 05: How to Address an Envelope: When your envelope looks like this, it is ready to send!

 

Example: How to Address an Envelope to a Family

Now that you know how to address an envelope to an individual, let’s take a look at a case where you want to address an envelope to an entire family.

For example, let’s say that Alexander Johnson who lives at 135 Pine Street, Denver, CO 80203 is sending invitations to a New Year’s Eve Party at his house and he wants to invite all six members of the Miller family.

Rather than sending each member their own invitation, he can send one invitation that is addressed to the entire family.

To address an envelope to a family, you will follow the same steps for addressing an envelope that we covered in the previous section, except that the name of the recipient will not be an individual or organization, but the name of the family (i.e. The Miller Family).

Let’s start by writing our return address in the top left-hand corner so that the family knows who the letter is from before opening it, as shown in Figure 06 below.

Figure 06: How to address a letter to a family: always include a return address.

 

Now, we are ready to write the address of the recipients, The Miller Family, at the center of the envelope.

Let’s say that the Miller family lives at 5242 Olive Tree Way, Evergreen, CO 80439. We would write the recipient’s address as:

  • The Miller Family

  • 5242 Olive Tree Way

  • Evergreen, CO 80439

By addressing the envelope this way, it implies that the card/invite inside of the envelope is meant for the entire family and that the message inside can be shared by all family members.

Finally, we just have to stamp our letter and we are all finished.

Figure 07 below shows how to address an envelope to a family as a completed letter ready to be sent!

Figure 07: How to Address an Envelope to a Family

 

That’s all there is to it. Once your envelope has been stamped and sealed, it is ready to send.

Example: How to Address an Envelope to a PO Box

This next example will teach you how to address an envelope to a PO Box.

A PO Box (or a Post Office Box) is a secure mailbox located at a post office or postal facility that can only be accessed by authorized individuals with a key. PO boxes are often used by individuals or businesses who want a private and secure location to receive mail.

The process for addressing an envelope to a PO Box is exactly the same as step-by-step process for addressing an envelope described in the first section of this guide, except that the address of the recipient will be a P.O. Box address instead of a street address.

For this example, let’s say that Alexander Johnson who lives at 135 Pine Street, Denver, CO 80203 is sending a letter with important financial documents to Gary Smith who works at Green Stripe Bank Headquarters.

Rather than having a traditional address, Green Stripe Bank has a PO Box Address.

To properly address an envelope to a PO Box, we first have to write our return address in the top left-hand corner as shown in Figure 08 below.

Figure 11: How to Address an Envelope to a PO Box: Start by writing the return address in the top left-hand corner.

 

Next, we are ready to write the PO Box address of the recipient, Gary Smith at Green Stripe Bank, at the center of the envelope.

Let’s say that the PO Box address of Green Stripe Bank is PO Box 247, Dallas, TX 75201:

  • Gary Smith

  • Green Stripe Bank

  • PO Box 247

  • Dallas, TX 75201

Notice that the address in this example has four lines, including the name of an individual (Gary Smith) and the business he is associated with (Green Stripe Bank). Note that some PO Box address will only include the name of the individual, while others will only include the name of the organization.

All that we have to do now is write this address on the center of our envelope and stamp our letter, as shown in Figure 09 below.

Figure 09: How to Address an Envelope to a PO Box Example.

 

Now we have successfully addressed an envelope to a PO box and we are ready to send.

 

How to Address an Envelope

 

Conclusion: How to Put the Address on an Envelope

There are many reasons why you may have to send a letter, documents, or a card inside of an envelope through the mail and knowing how to address an envelope is an important life skill that you can easily learn.

This free guide taught you how to address an envelope in three easy steps:

  • Step One: Write the return address in the top left-hand corner

  • Step Two: Write the address of the recipient in the center of the envelope

  • Step Three: Place a valid stamp in the top right-hand corner

In addition to our broad explanation of how to write the address on an envelope, we also walked through two specific examples—how to address an envelope to a family and how to address an envelope to a PO box. Both of these examples have useful and practical applications, which is why we gave them a special focus.

In conclusion, by learning how to properly address and envelope, you are able to communicate through the mail in any way that you need to, and you can ensure that whatever you are sending—whether it be cards, letters, or important documents—reaches its intended destination as planned.

Keep Learning:

How to Write a Check in 6 Easy Steps

Knowing how to write a check is an important life skill that every person should know how to do. This free step-by-step guide will teach you everything you need to know about writing checks.

How to Write a Check—Explained with Examples

How to Write a Check—Explained with Examples

How to Write a Check Step-by-Step

Your Quick Guide on How to Write a Check for Any Reason

 

Learn how to Write a Check in 6 Simple Steps

 

Knowing how to write a check is an important life skill that every person should know how to do.

While learning how to write a check can seem complicated, it’s actually a relatively simple process that you can learn in just a few minutes.

This short step-by-step guide on how to write a check will cover the following topics:

You can click on any of the text links above to jump to any topic or section of this guide, or you can read through each section order.

Are you ready to get started?

Why are Checks Useful?

We live in a digital world where online banking and money transfer apps are prevalent, yet knowing how to write a check is still a useful skill and physical checks are still useful for a variety of reasons.

 

Learn How to Write a Check

 

Since certain payment transactions can not be made using a credit/debit card or online, paying by check is often your safest option.

For example, if a landlord does not accept credit card or online payments for your monthly rent, then submitting a check payment would be your best option. If you pay with cash, you have no proof that you actually made the payment. However, if you pay with check, your bank can verify that the check was cashed and that you indeed made your payment.

In addition to proof of payment, paying by check offers additional security benefits that cash does not provide. Cash can be lost or stolen and, once cash is submitted, the payment can not be cancelled. Checks, on the other hand, can be cancelled.

Additionally, checks are extremely useful anytime you have to send a payment by mail. If your payment gets lost, you can always send a new check with no harm done. However, if you mail cash and the payment is lost, you are out of luck (and money!).

Also, many formal transactions require payment by check. Such transactions include making a down payment on a house, submitting a tax payment by mail, or paying rent to a landlord.

Finally, many older individuals are not comfortable with digital or online banking transactions and they rely on using checks to transfer and receive money or payments. Since checks are a familiar and trusted payment option for such individuals, it is highly beneficial that you are familiar with how to write a check.

So, whenever you can’t make a financial transaction digitally, it is usually safer to pay with a check than it is to use cash.

How to Write a Check: Step-by-Step

How to Write a Check: Start with a blank check that is linked to your personal checking account.

 

Now that you know why checks are a safe and useful payment option, especially whenever digital payment options are not available or when you have to submit a payment by mail, it’s time to learn how to write a check.

Note that there are six different sections on a check that you must fill out:

  • Date

  • Recipient

  • Amount as a Number

  • Amount in Words

  • Memo

  • Signature

Below, we will show you how to complete all six sections and how to properly write a check. Note that these steps can be followed whenever you have to write a check for any reason!

For each step below, make sure you use blue or black ink and that you write using clear and legible handwriting.

Step One: Fill Out the Date

The first step to writing a check is to fill in the date section in the upper-right corner of your blank check. Make sure that you include the month, day, and year when you write the date.

In Figure 01 below, the check has been dated for July 4th, 2024.

Figure 01: How to Write Out a Check: Start by filling in the date at the upper-right corner.

 

Step Two: Write the Name of the Recipient

Next, you will see a blank line next to text that says PAY TO THE ORDER OF.

On this line is where you write the name of the recipient (i.e. the name of the person, business, or organization you are sending money to).

If you are sending money to another person, write their full first and last on this line.

If you are writing a check to a business or organization, write the name of the business or organization on this line. For example, if you are sending a check as a tax payment, you would write your check out to the Internal Revenue Service.

Note that only the person, business, or organization to whom the check is written out to can cash your check. If the check is lost or stolen, another person would not be able to cash the check.

In Figure 02 below, our check is being made out to a landlord named Alexander Johnson.

Figure 02: How to Write a Check The second step is to fill in the name of the person, business, or organization you are writing the check to.

 

Step Three: Write the Payment Amount as a Number

The third step is to fill in the box directly below the date, where you have to write in the numerical dollar amount that the check is for.

This amount should always include a decimal and the total number of cents. If the dollar amount is a whole number, you can use .00 to indicate that there are no cents (later on, we will show you how to write cents on a check).

In this example, we are writing a check for $900.00, as shown on our check in Figure 03 below.

Figure 03: How to Write a Check: Fill in the numerical dollar amount that the check is for in the box just below the date.

 

Step Four: Write the Payment Amount in Words

Next, directly below the line where you wrote the name of the recipient, you will see another blank line.

On this line, you will write the numerical payment amount in words.

In this example, our payment amount was $900.00. So, the payment amount in words would be:

  • $900.00 → Nine Hundred Dollars and Zero Cents

Figure 04 below shows how this fourth step was completed on our sample check.

Figure 04: How to Write Numbers in Words on a Check

 

Step Five: Write the Payment Amount in Words

Next, in the bottom left-hand corner of our check, you will see a blank line that that serves as the memo section of the check.

The memo section is where you can write a short description for what the check is for. Some examples of memos include:

  • Rent Payment for July

  • Happy Birthday or Congratulations! (for a Gift)

  • First Quarter Tax Payment

  • Landscaping

  • Babysitting

While this section is optional, we highly recommend writing something down as a reference for what your check was for the sake of keeping good financial records.

Since our sample check is being made out to our landlord for July’s rent payment, we will write July 2024 Rent in the memo section as shown in Figure 05 below.

Figure 05: How to Write Out a Check: Complete the memo section in the bottom-left corner.

 

Step Six: Sign the Check

The last thing that we need to do is sign the check on the signature line at the bottom-right corner.

In order for the check to be valid, you must sign your name on this line (the check can not be cashed without a valid signature).

Figure 06 below shows our example check with an authorized signature.

Figure 06: Your check is not valid until you sign it.

 

Once you have completed these six steps, your check is valid and ready to be used as a payment method.

Note that you must have the dollar amount that your check is written for available in whatever checking account the check is linked to, otherwise the check will bounce when the recipient tries to cash it and you will incur a penalty fee.

Figure 07 shows what our completed sample check to Alexander Johnson for $900.00 or July’s rent payment would look like.

Figure 07: How to Properly Write a Check

 

Example: How to Write a Check for 1000 Dollars

Now that you know how to properly write a check, let’s go through another example where we have to write 1000.00 on a check for a particular payment .

In this case, we will say that the check is for a quarterly estimated tax payment to the Internal Revenue Service for the first quarter of 2024.

Just as we did in the step-by-step guide to writing a check above, we will have to complete six sections of the check:

  • Step One: Write the Date

  • Step Two: Write the Name of the Recipient

  • Step Three: Write the Payment Amount as a Number

  • Step Four: Write the Payment Amount in Words

  • Step Five: Write the Memo

  • Step Six: Sign the Check

Let’s start off by completing the first two steps: the date and the recipient. For this example, the date will be April 1st, 2024 and the recipient will be the Internal Revenue Service.

Our check after completing steps one and two is shown in Figure 08 below:

Figure 08: How to Write a Check for 1000: The first step is to write the date and the name of the recipient.

 

Writing any check, whether it’s for 1000 or 100,000, starts with writing the date in the top-right corner and the name of the recipient on the Pay to the Order Of line.

Next, we are ready to add a dollar amount to our check, which means that we are ready to complete steps three and four.

Start by writing 1,000.00 as a number in the box next to the $ sign on the right side of the check. Then, on the line below where you wrote the name of the recipient, write out $1000.00 in words as one thousand dollars and zero cents, as shown in Figure 09 below.

Figure 09: To write 1000.00 on a check, you have to write the dollar amount both as a number and in words.

 

Finally, the last two steps are to fill in the memo section and then to make the check valid by signing it in the bottom-right corner.

Since we said that this check was for making an estimated quarterly tax payment, we will put that as our memo and then sign the check, as shown in Figure 10 below.

Figure 10: How to Write 1000.00 on a Check Explained

 

Example: How to Write with Cents

In this next section, we will take a look at an example of writing a check with cents involved.

In the case of writing a check in cents, the six step process for writing a check described above is exactly the same:

  • Step One: Write the Date

  • Step Two: Write the Name of the Recipient

  • Step Three: Write the Payment Amount as a Number

  • Step Four: Write the Payment Amount in Words

  • Step Five: Write the Memo

  • Step Six: Sign the Check

For this example, we want to pay our dog groomer, Amanda Lee, using a personal check for a total of $78.26.

Notice that, unlike the last two examples, our payment amount does not end in .00. Rather, the payment amount includes cents.

Now, we will learn how to write a check with cents starting with the first two steps: writing the date and the name of the recipient on our check as shown in Figure 11 below.

Figure 11: How to Write Cents on a Check: Start by filling in the date and the name of the recipient.

 

Now you are ready to write the amount as a number and in words.

When it comes to writing a check in cents, you have to first write the payment amount (with cents included) in the box next to the $ sign. In this example, our numerical payment amount is $78.26.

Once we have written the payment amount as a number on the check, we have to write it in words on the line directly below where you wrote the name of the recipient as follows:

  • $78.26 → Seventy-Eighty Dollars and Twenty-Six Cents

Figure 12 below illustrates how we wrote the payment amount in cents both as a number and in words on our check.

Figure 12: How to Write a Check with Cents

 

Finally, to finish writing a check with cents, you just have to complete the memo (this check is for dog grooming services) and validate the check by signing it.

These final steps are shown in Figure 13 below, which completes this tutorial on how to write a check in cents.

Figure 13: How to Write a Check in Cents Completed

 

How to Write a Void Check

The last section of this guide on writing checks is about void checks.

A void check is similar to a normal check, except that is has the word “VOID” printed or written boldly across the front of the check. By clearly marking a check as void, it prevents the check from being valid as banks will not allow it to be accepted as a payment or to withdraw money from your account for any reason.

Why would you ever want to write a void check?

Figure 14: How to Write a Void Check

 

While having to write a void check is uncommon, there are some useful reasons that for writing a void check that include:

  • Setting up Direct Deposit for Paychecks: Many employers will require you to submit a voided check to set up direct deposit of your paychecks (i.e. your paychecks deposit directly into your desired bank account on pay day). The voided check gives your employer your bank accounts routing information that is needed to set up direct deposit.

  • Auto-Pay for Recurring Bills: Sometimes recurring service providers (e.g. internet or cell phone contracts) require users to submit a void check in order to set up automatic payments where the amount owed is drawn from directly from your checking account each month.

  • Account Security and Verification: You may need to provide a void check as a security measure to verify your banking information when you are attempting to complete certain types of financial transactions such as loans.

 

How to Write a Void Check Explained

 

How to Write a Void Check (Step-by-Step):

  1. Get a Blank Check: Start with a blank check that is linked to the checking account that you are dealing with. For example, if you are using a void check to set up direct deposit, make sure that the check is linked to the account that you want your paychecks to direct deposit to.

  2. Write “VOID” Across the Check: In blue or black ink, write out the word “VOID” in large capital letters across the front of the check. The word “VOID” should cover most of the surface of the check and it should be extremely obvious to any observer. Note that you do not need to fill out any sections of a void check.

  3. Identify Important Information: Make sure that the word void is not obscuring any important information that one would need from a void check—namely your name that is printed at the top-left corner of the check and the account numbers and routing information numbers at the very bottom of the check. If these numbers are unreadable, then you will likely have to submit another void check.

Writing the word "VOID" across the front of a blank check is an easy and effective way to give someone a check as a way of sharing important banking details such as your account number and routing number without worrying about any fraudulent or unauthorized access to your checking account.

 

How to Properly Write a Check

 

Conclusion: How to Write a Check

While digital online payments and money transfers are extremely commonplace, checks remain a useful and secure option for making payments, especially through the mail or when digital payment options are not available.

In fact, knowing how to write a check remains a necessary life skill that everyone should learn. This guide shared a simple step-by-step process for how to write out a check to a person, company, or organization. We also covered specific examples of writing a check for $1,000.00 and writing a check with cents. Finally, we covered the uses of a void check and how to write a void check if necessary.

By learning how to write a check and how and when you should submit payments using a check, you are building skills that will allow you to make financial transactions that are secure and traceable, thus minimizing risk and giving you peace of mind.

Keep Learning:

How to Address an Envelope in 3 Easy Steps

Whether you are mailing invitations, letters, or important financial documents knowing how to properly address an envelope is an important life skill that everyone should learn.

How to Find Slope on a Graph in 3 Easy Steps

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How to Find Slope on a Graph in 3 Easy Steps

How to Find Slope on a Graph

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Find a Slope on a Graph by Following 3 Simple Steps

 

Step-by-Step Guide: How to find slope on a graph explained.

 

In algebra, you will often be working with linear functions of the form y=mx+b where m represents the slope and b represents the y-intercept.

When it comes to dealing with these types of linear functions on the coordinate plane, you can find figure out the slope of the line simply by analyzing its graph. This particular skill will be the focus of the free step-by-step guide, where we will learn how to find slope on a graph using a simple 3 step strategy.

This free guide on How to Find a Slope on a Graph will teach you everything you need to know about finding the slope of a line on a graph and this skill can be used to solve any problem that requires you to find the slope of a linear function graphed on the coordinate plane.

This guide will cover the following topics/sections:

You can use the hyper-links above to jump to a particular section of this guide, or you can work through each section in order (this approach is highly recommended if you are learning this skill for the first time).

Are you ready to get started? Let’s begin with a quick review of slope.

 

Preview: In this guide, we will learn to use “rise over run” to find slope on a graph.

 

Quick Review—What is Slope?

Before we get into any examples of how to find a slope on a graph, it’s important that you understand the concept of slope and what it means.

Definition: The slope of a line refers to the direction and steepness of the line.

Slope is often expressed as a fraction where the numerator represents the vertical change (the change in y-position) and the denominator represents the horizontal change (the change in x-position). When a slope is a whole number, you can think of it as having a denominator of 1 (for example, a line with a slope of 4 actually has a slope of 4/1).

There are four types of slope:

  • Positive Slope ↗️: Lines that increase from left to right have a positive slope.

  • Negative Slope ↘️: Lines that decrease from left to right have a negative slope.

  • Zero Slope ↔️: Horizontal lines have a slope of zero.

  • Undefined Slope ↕️: Vertical lines have an undefined slope.

Since we will be dealing with finding slope on a graph in this guide, it is important that you are familiar with what these four kinds of slope look like. Before moving forward, take a close look Figure 01 below, which illustrates examples of these four kinds of slope.

 

Figure 01: There are four types of slope on a graph: positive, negative, zero, and undefined.

 

We often refer to slope in terms of “rise over run” where rise refers to the line’s vertical behavior and run refers to the line’s horizontal behavior.

In this guide, we will use “rise over run” to help us to find a slope on a graph.

So, how does “rise over run” work?

Let’s consider the graph in Figure 02 below.

 

Figure 02: How can we find the slope of the line y=2/3x+1 on the graph using rise over run?

 

First, we are given the graph of the line that represents the equation y=2/3x+1.

By looking at this graph, you can see that the line is increasing from left to right, so we know that the slope will be positive.

Also, notice that, in this case, we are given the equation of the line in y=mx+b form: y=2/3x+1, so we should already know that the slope will equal 2/3.

But, what if we just given the graph of the line without the equation? How then could we find the slope of the graph?

This is where rise over run comes into play. When you have a graph with at least two known points on the graph, you can use rise over run to “build a staircase” from one point to another to determine the slope of the line (i.e. find the fraction that represents the change in y-position over the change in x-position for the given line).

Figure 03 below illustrates how to use rise over run to build a staircase from point to point to find the slope of the line.

 

Figure 04: How to find slope of a line on a graph using rise over run.

 

Notice that our staircase consistently rises upwards two units and then runs 3 units to the right from point to point.

This tells us that the line has a slope of 2/3. And, since 2/3 can’t be simplified or reduced, we can conclude that the line on the graph has a slope of 2/3 (which is positive).

Note that not all slopes will be positive and it won’t always be the case that your resulting rise over run fraction can’t be simplified or reduced (we will see both occurrences in the examples ahead).

The key takeaways here are that:

  • There are four types of slope: positive, negative, zero, and undefined

  • Slope can be expressed as a fraction that represents “change in y” over “change in x”

  • We can rise over run to find the slope of a graph as long as we know at least two points on the graph

Now, let’s go ahead and work through some examples of how to find a slope on a graph using an easy 3 step strategy that utilizes rise over run.

 

Figure 05: Understanding the difference between positive slopes and negative slopes in reference to rise over run.

 

How to Find Slope on a Graph

Example #1: Find the Slope of the Graph

For the first example and all of the examples that follow, we will use the following 3-step strategy for how to find a slope on a graph:

  • Step #1: Select two coordinate points on the graph that have integer coordinates and plot them on the line clearly.

  • Step #2: Using rise over run, build a step that connects the two points to find the change in y and the change in x (i.e. the slope of the line).

  • Step #3: Express your answer as a fraction and simplify if possible.

Now, let’s go ahead and dive into this first practice problem where we are given a line and we are tasked with finding its slope.

 

Figure 06: Find the domain and range of the graph of y=x^2.

 

All that we are given is a line on the coordinate plane without any points or an equation. However, we can still determine the slope of the graph by applying our 3-steps as follows:

Step #1: Select two coordinate points on the graph that have integer coordinates and plot them on the line clearly.

To complete the first step, look for points where the graph intersects perfectly at a coordinate with integer coordinates (i.e. it crosses a point where four boxes meet). You can several options for this first example, but for this demonstration, we will choose the following points and plot them on the graph:

  • (-5,7) and (0,6)

In Figure 07 below, you can see how we plotted these two points on the line to complete Step #1.

 

Figure 07: How to Find Slope on a Graph: The first step is to find and plot two points on the line with integer coordinates.

 

Step #2: Using rise over run, build a step that connects the two points to find the change in y and the change in x (i.e. the slope of the line).

Now we are ready to apply rise over run to find the slope. Starting with the leftmost point, we have to build a step that will connect the two points.

Notice that this line is decreasing from left to right, which means that the line has a negative slope.

Whenever we have a negative slope like the one in this example, we will have to “rise down” when performing rise over run (i.e. move downwards vertically instead of upwards).

The process for completing Step #2 is shown in Figure 08 below.

 

Figure 08: Since this line has a negative slope (it decreases from left to right), our rise action was in a downwards vertical direction).

 

Using rise over run, we can see that this negative slope rises downwards 1 unit and to the right 5 units, so we can conclude that the slope is -1/5.

Step #3: Express your answer as a fraction and simplify if possible.

We now have a fraction that represents the slope of this line: m = -1/5.

Since this slope was negative, it needs to include the negative sign. Now, the last step is to check if the fraction -1/5 can be simplified or reduced. Since it can not be, we can conclude that:

Final Answer: The line has a slope of -1/5.

If we were to use this result to “continue the staircase,” we will see that rising down 1 unit and running to the right 5 units from any point on the line will land you on another point on the line (as shown in Figure 09 below).

 

Figure 09: The line has a slope of -1/5.

 

You can use the 3-step strategy that we used for Example #1 to solve any problem where you have to find slope on a graph without a given equation. Let’s gain more experience with the 3-steps by working through another practice problem.

Example #2: Find the Slope of the Graph

For our next example, we have to find the slope of a graph of a pretty steep line. Notice that this line is increasing from left to right, so the slope will be positive.

 

Figure 10: How to Find the Slope of a Line on a Graph

 

Step #1: Select two coordinate points on the graph that have integer coordinates and plot them on the line clearly.

For the first step, let’s go ahead and find two points with integer coordinates that the line passes through. For this practice problem, we will choose the following points on the line:

  • (0,-5) and (2,7)

Then go ahead and plot these points on the graph as shown in Figure 12 below:

 

Figure 12: To find the slope on a graph, start by plotting two points on the line that have integer coordinates.

 

Now that we have plotted our two points on the graph, we are ready for the next step.

Step #2: Using rise over run, build a step that connects the two points to find the change in y and the change in x (i.e. the slope of the line).

Next, we have to use rise over run and build a step that connects the two points so we can determine the slope.

Again, since this line is increasing from left to right, we know that the slope will be positive and that, unlike the last example where the slope was negative, we will have to “rise up” when performing rise over run.

Figure 13 below shows how we can use rise over run to get from (0,-5) to (2,7). You can see that the slope, in this case, is 12/2.

 

Figure 13: In this case, rise over run gives us a slope of 12/2, but can it be simplified?

 

After completing Step #2, we can see that the rise was 12 and the run was 2, so we conclude that our slope is: m = 12/2.

Is this our final answer? Let’s perform the third and final step to find out.

Step #3: Express your answer as a fraction and simplify if possible.

Although we have an answer in the form of a fraction, m=12/2, we should know that the fraction 12/2 can be simplified as 6/1 (or just 6).

To say that this line has a slope of 12/2 is not incorrect, but slopes of lines are typically expressed in reduced form.

If we apply our new slope of 6/1 to the point (0,-5) and build our staircase, we will see that the point (1,1) is also on the graph. And, if we continue from that point, we will end up at (2,7), which we know is also a point on the line.

The equivalent relationship between m=12/2 and m=6 is shown in Figure 14 below:

 

Figure 14: The slope 12/2 can be simplified as 6/1 or just 6.

 

Final Answer: The line has a slope of 6.

Are you starting to get the hang of it?

Let’s go ahead and take a look at another example.

Example #3: Find the Slope of the Graph

In this third example, let’s take a look at a horizontal line.

 

Figure 15: How to Find Slope on a Graph: Horizontal Lines

 

In our review of slope at the start of this guide, we shared that there are four kinds of slope: positive, negative, zero, and undefined.

In the case of horizontal lines, like the line shown on the graph in Figure 15 above, the slope will always be zero.

While we already know that the slope of this line is 0, let’s apply our 3-step method to see if this is actually true.

Step #1: Select two coordinate points on the graph that have integer coordinates and plot them on the line clearly.

You can pick any two points on the line. We will go with:

  • (-4,6) and (5,6)

These points have been plotted on the graph in Figure 16 below:

 

Figure 16: How to find a slope on a graph: zero slope

 

Step #2: Using rise over run, build a step that connects the two points to find the change in y and the change in x (i.e. the slope of the line).

Notice that we can not rise or nor rise down since the slope of this line is neither negative nor positive.

Figure 17 below shows how we can use rise over run to get from (-4,6) to (5,6). Since the rise is 0 and the run is 6, we can say that the line has a slope of 0/6.

 

Figure 17: Horizontal lines have a slope of zero.

 

Step #3: Express your answer as a fraction and simplify if possible.

After completing Step #2, we know that the rise over run is 0/9, and we also know that 0 divided by 9 is just equal to 0 and we can conclude that:

Final Answer: The line has a slope of 0.

Conclusion: How to Find a Slope on a Graph

The slope of a line refers to the direction and steepness of that line and there are four types of slopes:

  • Positive Slope ↗️

  • Negative Slope ↘️

  • Zero Slope ↔️

  • Undefined Slope ↕️

You can find the slope on a graph of a line by using the rise over run approach and by following the following 3-step strategy:

  • Step #1: Select two coordinate points on the graph that have integer coordinates and plot them on the line clearly.

  • Step #2: Using rise over run, build a step that connects the two points to find the change in y and the change in x (i.e. the slope of the line).

  • Step #3: Express your answer as a fraction and simplify if possible.

You can use these 3 steps to find the slope of any line on a graph, so make sure that you are comfortable using them before moving on. If you feel like you need more help, we recommend going back and working through the practice problems again!

Keep Learning:

How to Find Slope Using the Slope Formula

Your simple step-by-step guide to the formula for slope and how to use it to solve problems.

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How to Find Scale Factor in 3 Easy Steps

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How to Find Scale Factor in 3 Easy Steps

How to Find Scale Factor in 3 Easy Steps

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Find the Scale Factor of a Dilation

 

Step-by-Step Guide: How to find scale factor of a dilation in 3 easy steps.

 

When learning about geometry transformations on the coordinate plane, dilations can be tricky since they are the only transformation that involves changing the shape of the original figure. In the case of dilating a figure, we use something called scale factor to determine whether to stretch a figure (make it larger) or shrink a figure (make it smaller) as well as by what factor.

This free step-by-step guide on How to Find Scale Factor in 3 Easy Steps will teach you how to determine the scale factor of a given dilation by looking at its graph and/or a given set of coordinate points.

This guide will cover the following topics:

You can use the quick-links above to skip to any section of this guide. However, if are new to finding the scale factor a dilation, we recommend working through each section in order.

Now, let’s start off with a quick review of dilations and the definition of scale factor.

 

Figure 01: This guide will teach you how to find the scale factor of a dilation.

 

What is a Dilation?

Before we learn how to find the scale factor of a dilation, it’s important that we understand what a dilation is in the first place.

There are four types of transformations in geometry:

  • Rotations: When you turn the object clockwise or counter-clockwise about a given point

  • Reflections: When you create a mirror image of the original shape across a line of symmetry

  • Translations: When you slide a figure from one location on the coordinate plan to another

  • Dilations: When you stretch or shrink the image of a figure based on a given scale factor

This guide will focus on the fourth type of transformation—dilations.

Definition: Dilation

In math, a dilation refers to a transformation that results in a figure changing in size, but not shape. This means that the new figure will be made larger or smaller to the original figure, but it will remain proportional.

 

Figure 02: ▵A’B’C’ is formed after dilating ▵ABC by a scale factor greater than one.

 

Figure 02 above illustrates an example of a dilation where the image of ▵ABC is being stretched to form the new larger ▵A’B’C’.

Notice, however, that both triangles have the same shape and are proportional to each other. ▵A’B’C’ is just a scaled up version of ▵ABC.

What is Scale Factor?

Definition: Scale Factor

Every dilation is based on a scale factor, which we will denote using the letter k in this guide.

In math, a scale factor refers to the ratio between the side lengths and coordinate points of two similar figures. In the case of dilations, scale factor is used to describe by what factor the original image has been stretched (enlarged) or shrunk (reduced) in size.

When the scale factor, k, is greater than one, the result is an enlargement. When the scale factor, k, is less than one, the result is a reduction.

Figure 03 illustrates the relationship between an image and its scale factor in terms of the new image being larger or smaller.

 

Figure 03: When the scale factor is greater than one, the image will be stretched. When the scale factor is less than one, the image will be shrunk.

 

Note that the scale factor of a dilation must always be positive (i.e. the scale factor can never be zero or a negative number). Scale factors, however, can be equal to fractions (which we will see more of later on).

The key takeaway here is that the scale factor of a dilation is what tells you if an image is being made larger (stretched) or smaller (shrunk) and by what factor.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the dilation shown in Figure 01 above to see if we can figure out the scale factor in our first example below:

How to Find Scale Factor in 3 Easy Steps

Now that you are familiar with the key concepts and definitions associated with dilations and scale factor, you are ready to learn how to find the scale factor of a dilation using the following simple steps:

  • Step 01: Determine the coordinates of a point on the original figure and the coordinates of the coordinates of the corresponding point on the new dilated figure.

  • Step 02: Divide the x-value of the new figure coordinate by the x-value of the original figure coordinate to find the scale factor.

  • Step 03: Repeat Step 02 using the y-values to confirm your answer.

Are you ready to try out our 3-step method for finding the scale factor of a dilation? Let’s go ahead and apply these steps to solving our first problem.

Example #1: How to Find the Scale Factor

For our first example, we have to find the scale factor that was used to dilated ▵ABC onto ▵A’B’C.

 

Figure 04: How to Find the Scale Factor of a Dilation.

 

For starters, we know than the original image is ▵ABC and the new image is ▵A’B’C’. Notice that the new image is larger than the original image, so we should expect our resulting scale factor to be greater than one.

Let’s go ahead and apply our three steps to see if this is the case:

Step 01: Determine the coordinates of a point on the original figure and the coordinates of the coordinates of the corresponding point on the new dilated figure.

For the first step, we can select any point on the original image, ▵ABC. In this case, let’s select point B with coordinates (2,3). The corresponding point on ▵A’B’C’ is point B’ with coordinates at (6,9).

  • Original Image Point: B (2,3)

  • Corresponding Point on New Image: B’ (6,9)

Note that you could have chosen points A and A’ or points C and C’. As long as you are consistent, you will be able to find the scale factor.

Step 02: Divide the x-value of the new figure coordinate by the x-value of the original figure coordinate to find the scale factor.

Next, we have to take the x-value of the point from the new figure (point B’) and divide it by the x-value of the corresponding point on the original figure (point B), as follows:

  • The x-value of Point B’ at (6,9) is 6

  • The x-value of Point B at (2,3) is 2

  • 6 ➗ 2 = 3

Now we can conclude that our result is the value of our scale factor, so we can say that:

  • The scale factor is 3.

 

Figure 05: The scale factor is 3, which means that ▵A’B’C’ is three times as large as ▵ABC.

 

When we concluded that the scale factor is 3, we are saying that ▵A’B’C’ is three times as large as ▵ABC.

This should make sense by looking at the graph and by remembering that we were expecting to have a scale factor greater than one in the first place. However, to ensure that we are correct, let’s go ahead and complete the third and final step.

Step 03: Repeat Step 02 using the y-values to confirm your answer.

Finally, we have to take the y-value of the point from the new figure (point B’) and divide it by the y-value of the corresponding point on the original figure (point B), as follows:

  • The y-value of Point B’ at (6,9) is 9

  • The y-value of Point B at (2,3) is 3

  • 9 ➗ 3 = 3

We got the same answer! Now, we can conclude that:

Final Answer: The scale factor is 3.

It’s okay if you are still a little confused. Let’s go ahead and work through another example where we will find the scale factor of a dilation using our 3-steps.

Example #2: How to Find the Scale Factor

For this second example, we are again tasked with finding the scale factor of a dilation.

 

Figure 04: How to Find the Scale Factor of a dilation where the original image has been shrunk.

 

In this example, we can see that the new image of ▵S’U’V’ is the result of shrinking ▵SUV (since ▵S’U’V’ is smaller than ▵SUV). So, we know that our scale factor should be less than one.

We can now use of 3-steps to find the exact scale factor as follows:

Step 01: Determine the coordinates of a point on the original figure and the coordinates of the coordinates of the corresponding point on the new dilated figure.

Again, you can choose any point that you like as long as you are consistent. In this case, let’s choose point S on ▵SUV with coordinates at (-8,8). The corresponding point on ▵S’U’V’ is point S’ with coordinates at (-4,4).

  • Original Image Point: S (-8,8)

  • Corresponding Point on New Image: S’ (-4,4)

Step 02: Divide the x-value of the new figure coordinate by the x-value of the original figure coordinate to find the scale factor.

For the next step, let’s take the x-value of the point from the new figure (point S’) and divide it by the x-value of the corresponding point on the original figure (point S), as follows:

  • The x-value of Point S’ at (-4,4) is -4

  • The x-value of Point S at (-8,8) is -8

  • -4 ➗ -8 = 1/2

Now we can conclude that our result is the value of our scale factor, so we can say that:

  • The scale factor is 1/2.

 

Figure 05: How to find the scale factor that ▵SUV onto ▵S’U’V’.

 

A scale factor of 1/2 means that the original figure, ▵SUV, was shrunk down to half of its size to create the image of ▵S’U’V’.

Before we can confirm that our answer is correct, however, let’s complete the third and final step.

Step 03: Repeat Step 02 using the y-values to confirm your answer.

For step number three, we must take the y-value of the point from the new figure (point S’) and divide it by the y-value of the corresponding point on the original figure (point S), as follows:

  • The y-value of Point S’ at (-4,4) is 4

  • The y-value of Point S at (-8,8) is 8

  • 4 ➗ 8 = 1/2

Notice that our result, again, is 1/2, so we can say that:

Final Answer: The scale factor is 1/2.

Are you starting to get the hang of it? Let’s go ahead to work through another example.

Example #3: How to Find the Scale Factor

Let’s go ahead and use our 3-step method to solve this final example.

 

Figure 06: How to Find the Scale Factor of a Dilation in 3 Easy Steps.

 

We can use the same 3-step method that we did on the previous two examples to solve this problem.

Notice that the new image of ▵Q’R’S’ is the result of shrinking the original image of ▵QRS, so our scale factor should be less than one.

Step 01: Determine the coordinates of a point on the original figure and the coordinates of the coordinates of the corresponding point on the new dilated figure.

Just like the last two examples, you can choose any point that you like as long as you are consistent. However, for this problem, we will intentionally avoid points Q and Q’ since they both have zero as coordinate points, which could cause problems since we can’t have zero in a denominator.

Instead, let’s choose point R on ▵QRS with coordinates at (9,3). The corresponding point on ▵Q’R’S’ is point R’ with coordinates at (3,1).

  • Original Image Point: R (9,3)

  • Corresponding Point on New Image: R’ (3,1)

Step 02: Divide the x-value of the new figure coordinate by the x-value of the original figure coordinate to find the scale factor.

Moving on, we have to take the x-value of the point from the new figure (point R’) and divide it by the x-value of the corresponding point on the original figure (point R), as follows:

  • The x-value of Point R’ at (3,1) is 3

  • The x-value of Point R at (9,3) is 9

  • 9 ➗ 3 = 1/3

So, we have just figured out the ▵QRS was shrunk by a scaled factor of 1/3 to get the image of ▵Q’R’S’.

  • The scale factor is 1/3.

In other words, ▵Q’R’S’ is one-third the size of ▵QRS.

 

Figure 07: How to Find Scale Factor: The scale factor is 1/3.

 

All that we have to do now is confirm that our answer is correcting by completing the third step.

Step 03: Repeat Step 02 using the y-values to confirm your answer.

To confirm that the scale factor was 1/3 is correct, we have to take the y-value of the point from the new figure (point R’) and divide it by the y-value of the corresponding point on the original figure (point R), as follows:

  • The y-value of Point R’ at (3,1) is 1

  • The y-value of Point R at (9,3) is 3

  • 1 ➗ 3 = 1/3

Now that our answer has been confirmed, we can make the following conclusion:

Final Answer: The scale factor is 1/3.

Conclusion: How to Find Scale Factor

Understanding how to determine the scale factor of a dilation is an important geometry and algebra skill that every student must master when they are learning about transformations on the coordinate plane.

This step-by-step guide of finding scale factor reviewed the definition of a dilation on the coordinate plane and the meaning of scale factor in regards to dilations. When a scale factor, k, is greater than one, the resulting image is larger than the original image. And, when the scale factor, k, is less than one, the resulting images is smaller than the original image.

To solve problems where you are tasked with finding the scale factor of a dilation, we applied the following three step strategy:

  • Step 01: Determine the coordinates of a point on the original figure and the coordinates of the coordinates of the corresponding point on the new dilated figure.

  • Step 02: Divide the x-value of the new figure coordinate by the x-value of the original figure coordinate to find the scale factor.

  • Step 03: Repeat Step 02 using the y-values to confirm your answer.

You can use these three steps to solve any problem where you are tasked with finding the scale factor of a dilation between two figures on the coordinate plane.

Keep Learning:

How to Perform Dilations on the Coordinate Plane

Learn how to perform dilations on the coordinate plane.

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What is an Isosceles Triangle? (Instant Answer)

What is an Isosceles Triangle? (Instant Answer)

What is an Isosceles Triangle?

Everything You Need to Know About Isosceles Triangles

 
 

When it comes to learning about triangles, there are a handful of different types of triangles with very specific characteristics that you will need to be familiar with—and one of the most important and most common are isosceles triangles.

In this short guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about isosceles triangles, including the isosceles triangle definition, so that you can easily an isosceles triangle and solve problems involving isosceles triangles.

So, if you need an answer to the question “what is an isosceles triangle?”, then you are in the right place! You can click here to see an instant answer or you can continue reading through this short guide for a more in-depth explanation of the features and characteristics of isosceles triangles.

You can also use the quick links below to jump to a particular section of this guide:

Let’s start with a super quick review of triangles and definitions.

What is a Triangle?

By definition, a triangle is a polygon with three sides, three corners, and three interior angles. While any three-sided polygon that satisfies this definition can be called a triangle, there are several types of triangles with specific characteristics.

Examples of different types of triangles include equilateral triangles, right triangles, and, of course, isosceles triangles.

All of the different types of triangles are shown in Figure 01 for your reference.

 

Figure 01: Types of Triangles

 

What is an Isosceles Triangle?

Isosceles Triangle Definition: An Isosceles Triangle is a triangle that has two sides of equal length.

Pretty simple, right?

By definition, an isosceles triangle is a triangle that has two sides of equal length.

Any triangle that has at least two sides of equal length can be considered an isosceles triangle.

In Figure 02 below, you can see three different examples of isosceles triangles. The notches on the sides indicate that they are equal in length to each other.

 

Figure 02: The isosceles triangle definition states that a triangle is isosceles when it has two equal sides.

 

What are the Properties of Isosceles Triangles?

Now that you know the basic definition of an isosceles triangle, let’s dive deeper into the properties of isosceles triangles and their sides and angles.

Key Properties of Isosceles Triangles

  • In addition to having two equal sides, the angles opposite of those two equal sides are also equal.

  • An altitude drawn from the base of an isosceles triangle to its vertex will always be perpendicular to that base and will dive the base into two congruent segments.

These key features are illustrated in Figure 03 below.

 

Figure 03: Properties of Right Triangles

 

Figure 03 above shows isosceles triangle △EFG. Notice that sides EF and EF are congruent (which makes this triangle isosceles by definition) and that ∠EFG and ∠EGF are also congruent.

Additionally, the altitude EH is perpendicular to the base segment FG, dividing FG into two congruent halves: segments FH and GH.

These properties apply to any isosceles triangle. If you understand these properties, you can apply them to any math problem involving an isosceles triangle!

Now that you know what is an isosceles triangle and the isosceles triangle definition, you are ready to learn about a special types of isosceles triangle—namely an isosceles right triangle (i.e. an isosceles triangle with one 90-degree angle).

What is an Isosceles Right Triangle?

An isosceles right triangle is a special type of isosceles triangle where the vertex angle is a right angle (i.e. it is equal to 90 degrees), and the two congruent angles are both equal to 45 degrees.

The isosceles right triangle is often referred to as a 45-45-90 right triangle in reference to the three angle measures being 45 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees.

These key characteristics of the isosceles right triangle are shown in Figure 04 below.

 

Figure 04: The properties of an isosceles right triangle.

 

We decided to conclude this guide by featuring the isosceles right triangle since its properties are so unique and the fact that the isosceles right triangle commonly shows up on math problems, so math students should be familiar with them.

Notice in Figure 04 above that the isosceles right triangle meets the definition of an isosceles triangle since it has two equal sides (sides AB and CB are congruent) and the angles opposite those sides are also congruent (∠BAC and ∠BCA are congruent).

However, in addition to meeting the criteria for being an isosceles triangle, an isosceles right triangle has a vertex angle that is equal to 90 degrees (i.e. it has one right angle) and the two congruent angles are both equal to 45 degrees, which is why the isosceles right triangle is often referred to as a 45-45-90 right triangle.

 
 

Conclusion: What is an Isosceles Triangle?

If you came to this guide wondering “what is an isosceles triangle?”, you now know the isosceles triangle definition as well as the key characteristics and properties of isosceles triangles.

Key Takeaway: A triangle is isosceles if it has two equal sides.

Beyond this basic isosceles triangle definition, we explored the properties and relationships between the sides and angles of isosceles triangles, namely that:

  • Every isosceles triangle has at least two equal sides.

  • The angles opposite the equal sides are also congruent to each other.

  • The altitude drawn from the base of an isosceles triangle to its vertex will always be perpendicular to that base and will dive the base into two congruent segments.

There are also a few special types of isosceles triangles, especially the isosceles right triangle (also known as the 45-45-90 triangle). The isosceles right triangle is a special case where the vertex of the triangle is a 90 degree angle and the two congruent angles are both equal to 45 degrees.

In conclusion, isosceles triangles are polygons with interesting symmetrical properties that give math students incredible opportunities to explore and learn two-dimensional figures and how they relate to real life.

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