Final answer:
The vertex angle of an isosceles triangle is the angle opposite the base of the triangle and is typically the largest angle in the triangle, represented by option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vertex angle of an isosceles triangle is the angle formed by the two equal sides of the triangle. This angle is opposite the base of the triangle. According to the properties of an isosceles triangle, the two sides that are the same length are called the legs, and the angle they form is the vertex angle. In an isosceles triangle:
- The sum of the angles is 180 degrees, just like any other triangle.
- The vertex angle is typically the largest angle in the triangle.
- It is not the sum of the two equal angles, although the two base angles are equal to each other.
So, the vertex angle of an isosceles triangle is represented by option C: The angle opposite the base of the triangle.