If you measure the angle of a triangle should it always add up to 180 degrees?

Answer 1

Improved Answer:

Technically speaking, this is what kids typically use in their level of math, HOWEVER not always true. If the triangle is on a single plane, and a single plane only then yes, it only can add up to 180 degrees. If it is not on the same plane, then the angles can add up to either more or less than 180 degrees. This may sound impossible and you may disagree right off the bat, so let me give you an example to consider... If you have a sphere, a globe of the world works perfect for a visual... I'll use it as my example. Let the North Pole be angle A. Make a 90 degree angle from the north pole down to the equator. Theres the first angle: 90 degrees. We'll call that angle B. Now, if you bring another segment down from the north pole to the equator and call it angle C, and connect all the sides, you have a triangle that measures MORE than 180 degrees. There's your proof that a triangle can have more than a total of 180 degrees. On the other hand, a triangle can also have less than 180 degrees. Again with the globe example, if you simply invert it, and deal with the INSIDE of the sphere, it is possible to have a triangle with total angle measures less than 180 degrees. Theres your proof of that. Feel free to test it out for yourself. Having an object visual helps alot. If you're asking this question for younger people like grade school for example, I would just stick to using 180 degrees for the triangle assuming it's on one and only one plane. More advanced things like dealing with different planes, frame of referance, and other theories will be learned later in highschool and college. The main point though, to answer this question, is IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A TRIANGLE'S ANGLES SUM UP TO MORE OR LESS THAN 180 DEGREES.