Triangle Formulas & Classifications for NET
1. Universal Rules (Apply to ALL Triangles)
Angle Sum Rule
The sum of all interior angles in a triangle is always:
𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶 = 180∘
Area Formula (Base × Height)
The area of any triangle is:
1
Area = × base × height
2
Important: The height must always be perpendicular (90°) to the chosen base.
Perimeter Formula
Perimeter means adding all three sides:
𝑃 =𝑎+𝑏+𝑐
2. Right-Angled Triangles
A right triangle has one angle equal to 90°.
The two sides making the right angle automatically become the base and height.
Pythagorean Theorem
Used to find the missing side:
𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2
Where:
• c = hypotenuse (longest side, opposite the 90° angle)
Area of a Right Triangle
1
Area = × side1 × side2
2
Important NET Pythagorean Triples (Memorize These)
• 3–4–5
Scales to: 6 – 8 – 10, 9 – 12 – 15, 12 – 16 – 20
• 5 – 12 – 13
Scales to: 10 – 24 – 26
• 8 – 15 – 17
These save time because you won’t need to calculate squares during the exam.
3. Equilateral Triangles
All three sides are equal (s) and all angles are 60°.
Perimeter
𝑃 = 3𝑠
Area Shortcut (Very Important for NET)
√3 2
Area = 𝑠
4
Height / Altitude Shortcut
√3
ℎ= 𝑠
2
4. Isosceles Triangles
Two sides are equal.
Also, the angles opposite those equal sides are equal.
The NET Trick (Super Important)
Draw a line from the top vertex straight down to the middle of the base.
This:
• Splits the base into two equal halves
• Creates two right triangles
• Lets you use the Pythagorean theorem or memorize triples to solve quickly
5. Scalene Triangles (No Equal Sides)
When you know all three sides (a, b, c) but don’t know height or angles, use Heron’s Formula.
Step 1: Semi-Perimeter
𝑎+𝑏+𝑐
𝑠=
2
Step 2: Area Formula
Area = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
Original Example: The Equilateral Area Trick
Problem:
The altitude (height) of an equilateral triangle is measured to be:
3√3 cm
Find its area.
Step 1 (Find Side Length s)
Use the height shortcut:
√3
3√3 = 𝑠
2
Divide both sides by √3:
𝑠
3=
2
Multiply both sides by 2:
𝑠 = 6 cm
Step 2 (Calculate Area)
Use the area shortcut:
√3
Area = (6)2
4
√3
= (36)
4
= 9√3 cm2
Essential Formula Sheet for Circles & 3D Shapes
1. Circles (The 2D Foundation)
NET questions often use circles to track revolutions (like a tire spinning) or to embed them inside
squares and triangles.
Radius (r)
The distance from the center to the edge.
Diameter (d)
𝑑 = 2𝑟
Circumference (C)
𝐶 = 2𝜋𝑟 = 𝜋𝑑
NET Concept: Distance Traveled
Distance Traveled = Number of Revolutions × Circumference
Area (A)
𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
2. Parallelograms
A parallelogram is just a slanted rectangle. The sides are slanted, but the height must always be
perfectly vertical (90° to the base).
Perimeter (P)
𝑃 = 2(𝑎 + 𝑏)
Where a and b are adjacent sides.
Area (A)
𝐴 = base × height
Warning: Never multiply the two side lengths to find area. You must use the vertical height.
3. Cylinders (The Extruded Circle)
Think of a cylinder as a stack of circular coins.
Volume (V)
𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
(Area of the base circle × height)
Curved Surface Area (CSA)
𝐶𝑆𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟ℎ
(The area of just the side tube, excluding top and bottom lids)
Total Surface Area (TSA)
𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟ℎ + 2𝜋𝑟 2
(Side tube area + top circle + bottom circle)
4. Cones (The 1/3 Cylinder)
A cone introduces a new variable: the slant height (l), which is the diagonal edge from the pointy top to
the circular rim.
The Hidden Right Triangle
𝑟 2 + ℎ2 = 𝑙 2
NET Strategy
The vertical height (h), radius (r), and slant height (l) form a right triangle.
The exam often makes you use Pythagorean Triples (like 3–4–5) to find a missing dimension before using
the formulas below.
Volume (V)
1 2
𝑉= 𝜋𝑟 ℎ
3
(Exactly one-third of a cylinder with the same dimensions)
Curved Surface Area (CSA)
𝐶𝑆𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟𝑙
Total Surface Area (TSA)
𝑇𝑆𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟𝑙 + 𝜋𝑟 2
5. Spheres (The 3D Ball)
Spheres only depend on one measurement: the radius (r).
Volume (V)
4 3
𝑉= 𝜋𝑟
3
Surface Area (A)
𝐴 = 4𝜋𝑟 2
Fun fact: The surface area of a sphere is exactly equal to 4 flat circles of the same radius.
Multi-Shape Practice Example
Problem:
A solid metal sphere with a radius of:
3 cm
is completely melted down and recast into a cylinder with a radius of:
3 cm
What is the height of the new cylinder?
Step 1 (Sphere Volume)
4
𝑉= 𝜋(3)3
3
4
= 𝜋(27)
3
= 36𝜋
Step 2 (Set Equal to Cylinder Volume)
36𝜋 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
Step 3 (Substitute Cylinder Radius)
36𝜋 = 𝜋(3)2 ℎ
36𝜋 = 9𝜋ℎ
Step 4 (Solve for h)
Cancel π on both sides:
36 = 9ℎ
ℎ = 4 cm
Master Sheet for Squares & Rectangles (NET Focus)
1. Squares (Perfect Symmetry)
Every side is equal (s), and all four corners are exactly 90°.
Perimeter (P)
𝑃 = 4𝑠
Area (A)
𝐴 = 𝑠2
Area Using Diagonal (A)
𝑑2
𝐴=
2
NET Shortcut
If you only know the diagonal, you don’t need to find the side length first.
Just:
1. Square the diagonal
2. Divide by 2
Diagonal (d)
𝑑 = 𝑠√2
2. Rectangles (Opposite Symmetry)
Opposite sides are equal (length = l, width = w) and all four corners are exactly 90°.
Perimeter (P)
𝑃 = 2(𝑙 + 𝑤)
Area (A)
𝐴 = 𝑙×𝑤
Diagonal (d)
𝑑 = √𝑙 2 + 𝑤 2
NET Strategy
The diagonal splits a rectangle into two right triangles.
The exam heavily pairs rectangle dimensions with Pythagorean Triples.
Example:
A 3 × 4 rectangle automatically has a diagonal of 5.
3. High-Yield NET Patterns to Watch For
The Path / Border Problem
The exam often describes a path of width x built around or inside a rectangular field.
Path Outside
New length:
𝑙 + 2𝑥
New width:
𝑤 + 2𝑥
Path Inside
New length:
𝑙 − 2𝑥
New width:
𝑤 − 2𝑥
Area of the Path
Area of Path = Total Large Area − Small Inner Area
The Percentage Scaling Rule
If the side of a square is increased by k%, the area changes exponentially.
Formula
𝑘 2
New Area Factor = (1+ 100)
Example
If a square’s sides increase by 20%:
( 1.2)2 = 1.44
So the area increases by 44%.
Original Example: The Diagonal-to-Area Jump
Problem:
The perimeter of a square is:
40 cm
What is the area of a second square whose side length is equal to the diagonal of the first square?
Step 1 (First Square Side)
𝑃 = 4𝑠 = 40
𝑠 = 10 cm
Step 2 (First Square Diagonal)
Use the shortcut:
𝑑 = 𝑠√2
𝑑 = 10√2 cm
Step 3 (Second Square Area)
The new side is:
10√2
Area:
Area = (10√2)2
= 100 × 2
= 200 cm2