Grade 5 Geometry: Shape Properties

Worked examples

Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.

1. Example 1

   How many right angles does a right triangle have?

   1. A right triangle is named for its one right angle — a square corner.
   2. Its other two corners are narrower than a square corner, so they are not right angles.
   3. A right triangle has 1 right angle.

   Answer: 1

2. Example 2

   I have 4 right angles, but my sides are not all the same length. What is my most specific name?

   1. It has 4 right angles (square corners), so it is a rectangle.
   2. Its sides are not all the same length (2 are long and 2 are short), so it is not a square.
   3. Its most specific name is rectangle.

   Answer: rectangle

3. Example 3

   How many pairs of parallel sides does a regular octagon have?

   1. A regular octagon has 8 equal sides, and each side is parallel to the side directly across from it.
   2. 8 sides make 8 ÷ 2 = 4 pairs of parallel sides.

   Answer: 4