Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/jax.js
Skip to main content
Library homepage
 

Text Color

Text Size

 

Margin Size

 

Font Type

Enable Dyslexic Font
Mathematics LibreTexts

1.3: Angle Classifications

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

Angles are classified according to their measures as follow:

  • An acute angle is an angle whose measure is between 0 and 90.
  • A right angle is an angle whose measure is 90. We often use a little square to indicate a right angle.
  • An obtuse angle is an angle whose measure is between 90 and 180.
  • A straight angle is an angle whose measure is 180. A straight angle is just a straight line with one of its points designated as the vertex.
  • A reflex angle is an angle whose measure is greater than 180.
屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午3.27.25.png
Figure 1.3.1: Angles classified according to their measures.

Notice that an angle can be measured in two ways. In Figure 1.3.2, ABC is a reflex of 240 or an obtuse angle of 120 depending on how it is measured. Unless otherwise indicated, we will always assume the angle has measure less than 180.

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午3.29.31.png
Figure 1.3.2: ABC can be measured in two different ways.

The lines are perpendicular if they meet to form right angles. In Figure 1.3.3, AB is perpendicular to CD. The symbol for perpendicular is and we write ABCD.

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午3.32.37.png
Figure 1.3.3: AB is perpendicular to CD.

The perpendicular bisector of a line segment is a line perpendicular to the line segment at its midpoint, In Figure 1.3.4, CD is a perpendicular bisector of AB.

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午3.35.35.png
Figure 1.3.4: CD is a perpendicular bisector of AB.

Two angles are called complementary if the sum of their measures is 90. Each angle is called the complement of the other. For example, angles of 60 and 30 are complementary.

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午3.37.56.png
Figure 1.3.5: Complementary angles.
Example 1.3.1

Find the complement of a 40 angle.

Solution

9040=50.

Answer: 50.

Example 1.3.2

Find x and the complementary angles:

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午3.41.56.png

Solution

Since BAD=90,

x2+x90x2+x900(x9)(x+10)0

x9=0x=9                x+10=0x=10

CAD=x=90. CAD=x=10.

BAC=x2=92=81.

BAC=CAD=81+9=90.

We reject the answer x=10 because the measure of an angle is always positive.(In trigonometry, when directed angles are introduced, angles can have negative measure. In this book, however, all angles will be thought of as having positive measure,)

Check, x=9:

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午3.49.37.png

Answer: x=9, CAD=9, BAC=81.

Two angles are called supplementary if the sum of their measures is 180. Each angle is called the supplement of the other. For example, angle of 150 and 30 are supplementary.

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午3.52.31.png
Figure 1.3.6: Supplementary angles.
Example 1.3.3

Find the supplement of an angle of 40.

Solution

18040=140.

Answer: 140.

Example 1.3.4

Find x and the supplementary angles:

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午3.56.00.png

Solution

Since ADB=180,

4x20+x=1805x=180+205x=200x=40

ADC=4x20=4(40)20=16020=140

BDC=x=40,

ADC+BDC=140+40=180.

Check:

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.00.45.png

Answer

x=40,ADC=140,BDC=40.

Example 1.3.5

Find x,y,z:

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.02.03.png

Solution

x=18080=100 because x and 80 are the measures of supplementary angles.

y=180x=180100=80.z=18080=100.

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.06.02.png

Answer: x=100, y=80, z=100.

When two lines intersect as in EXAMPLE E, they form two pairs of angles that are opposite to each other called vertical angles, In Figure 1.3.7, x and x are one pair of vertical angles. y and y a.re the other pair of vertical angles, As suggested by Example 1.3.5, x=x and y=y. To see this in general, we can reason as follows: x is the supplement of y so x=180y. x is also the supplement of y so x=180y. Therefore x=x. Similarly, we can show y=y. Therefore vertical angles are always equal.

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.11.02.png
Figure 1.3.7: x, x and y, y are pairs of vertical angles.

We can now use "vertical angles are equal" in solving problems:

Example 1.3.5 (repeated)

Find x,y, and z:

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.14.23.png

Solution

x=18080=100 because x is the supplement of 80.

y=80 because vertical angles are equal.

z=x=100 because vertical angles are equal.

Answer: x=100, y=80, z=100.

Example 1.3.6

Find x:

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.22.11.png

Solution

Since vertical angles are equal, 10x2=40.

Method 1:      10x2=40         Method 2:      10x2=4010x240=0         10x210=4010(10)(x24)=0         x2=4x24=0         x=±2(x+2)(x2)=0         

x+2=0x=2 x2=0x=2

If x=2 then AEC=10x2=10(2)2=10(4)=40.

If x=2 then AEC=10x2=10(2)2=10(4)=40.

We accept the solution x=2 even though x is negative because the value of the angle 10x2 is still positive.

Check:

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.29.31.png

Answer: x=2 or x=2.

Example 1.3.7

In the diagram, AB represents a mirror, CD represents a ray of light approaching the mirror from C, and E represents the eye of a person observing the ray as it is reflected from the mirror at D. According to a law of physics, CDA, called the angle of incidence, equals EDB, called the angle of reflection. If CDE=60, how much is the angle of incidence?

屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.34.08.png

Solution

Let \x=CDA=EDB.

x+x+60=1802x+60=1802x=120x=60

Answer: 60

Note on Theorems and Postulates

The statement "vertical angles are always equal" is an example of a theorem. A theorem is a statement which we can prove to be true, A proof is a process of reasoning which uses statements already known to be true to show the truth of a new statement, A example of a proof is the discussion preceding the statement "vertical angles are always equal." We used facts about supplementary angles that were already known to establish the new statement, that "vertical angles are always equal."

Ideally we would like to prove all statements in mathematics which we think are true. However before we can begin proving anything we need some true statements with which to start. Such statements should be so self-evident as not to require proofs themselves, A statement of this kind, which we assume to be true without proof, is called a postulate or an axiom. An example of a postulate is the assumption that all angles can be measured in degrees. This was used without actually being stated in our proof that "vertical angles are always equal,"

Theorems, proofs, and postulates constitute the heart of mathematics and we will encounter many more of them as we continue our study of geometry.

Problems

1. Find the complement of an angle of

  1. 37
  2. 45
  3. 53
  4. 60

2. Find the complement of an angle of

  1. 30
  2. 40
  3. 50
  4. 81

3 - 6. Find x and the complementary angles:

3. 屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.43.04.png4. 屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.49.06.png

5. 屏幕快照 2020-10-28 下午4.50.08.png 6. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.52.27 PM.png

7. Find the supplement of an angle of

  1. 30
  2. 37
  3. 90
  4. 120

8. Find the supplement of an angle of

  1. 45
  2. 52
  3. 85
  4. 135

9 - 14. Find x and the supplementary angles:

9. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.52.48 PM.png 10. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.53.06 PM.png

11. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.53.24 PM.png 12. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.54.15 PM.png

13. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.54.40 PM.png 14. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.54.57 PM.png

15 - 22. Find x,y, and z:

15. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.55.26 PM.png 16. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.55.44 PM.png

17. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.56.14 PM.png 18. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.56.36 PM.png

19. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.57.03 PM.png 20. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.57.18 PM.png

21. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.57.43 PM.png 22. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.57.58 PM.png

23 - 26. Find x:

23. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.58.20 PM.png 24. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.58.51 PM.png

25. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.59.11 PM.png26. Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.59.33 PM.png

27. Find the angle of incidence, CDA:

Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 4.59.53 PM.png

28. Find x if the angle of incidence is 40:

Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 5.00.05 PM.png


This page titled 1.3: Angle Classifications is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Henry Africk (New York City College of Technology at CUNY Academic Works) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

Support Center

How can we help?