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Angle Relationships

Complementary, supplementary, and vertical angles

Written and reviewed by the Study Mondo Education TeamLast updated
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Angle Relationships

Basic Angle Types

Acute angle: 0°<θ<90°0° < \theta < 90°

Right angle: θ=90°\theta = 90°

Obtuse angle: 90°<θ<180°90° < \theta < 180°

Straight angle: θ=180°\theta = 180°

Complementary Angles

Two angles are complementary if their sum is 90°90°.

Example: 35°35° and 55°55° are complementary because 35°+55°=90°35° + 55° = 90°

Supplementary Angles

Two angles are supplementary if their sum is 180°180°.

Example: 120°120° and 60°60° are supplementary because 120°+60°=180°120° + 60° = 180°

Vertical Angles

When two lines intersect, vertical angles are opposite each other.

Key Property: Vertical angles are always congruent (equal).

Linear Pair

Two adjacent angles that form a straight line.

Property: Linear pairs are supplementary (sum to 180°180°).

Angle Addition Postulate

If point BB is in the interior of ∠AOC\angle AOC, then: m∠AOB+m∠BOC=m∠AOCm\angle AOB + m\angle BOC = m\angle AOC

📚 Practice Problems

1Problem 1easy

❓ Question:

Two angles are complementary. One angle measures 35°. What is the measure of the other angle?

💡 Show Solution

Step 1: Recall the definition of complementary angles: Complementary angles are two angles whose measures add up to 90°

Step 2: Set up the equation: Let x = measure of the unknown angle 35° + x = 90°

Step 3: Solve for x: x = 90° - 35° x = 55°

Step 4: Verify: 35° + 55° = 90° ✓

Answer: The other angle measures 55°

2Problem 2easy

❓ Question:

Two angles are supplementary. One angle is 3 times the measure of the other. Find both angles.

💡 Show Solution

Step 1: Recall supplementary angles: Supplementary angles add up to 180°

Step 2: Define variables: Let x = measure of the smaller angle Then 3x = measure of the larger angle

Step 3: Set up the equation: x + 3x = 180°

Step 4: Solve: 4x = 180° x = 45°

Step 5: Find both angles: Smaller angle: x = 45° Larger angle: 3x = 3(45°) = 135°

Step 6: Verify: 45° + 135° = 180° ✓ 135° = 3(45°) ✓

Answer: The angles are 45° and 135°

3Problem 3easy

❓ Question:

Find the complement of a 42°42° angle.

💡 Show Solution

Complementary angles sum to 90°90°.

90°−42°=48°90° - 42° = 48°

Answer: 48°48°

4Problem 4easy

❓ Question:

Find the complement of a 42°42° angle.

💡 Show Solution

Complementary angles sum to 90°90°.

90°−42°=48°90° - 42° = 48°

Answer: 48°48°

5Problem 5medium

❓ Question:

Two angles are supplementary. One angle measures 3x3x and the other measures 2x+152x + 15. Find the value of xx.

💡 Show Solution

Supplementary angles sum to 180°180°.

3x+(2x+15)=1803x + (2x + 15) = 180

5x+15=1805x + 15 = 180

5x=1655x = 165

x=33x = 33

Answer: x=33°x = 33°

6Problem 6medium

❓ Question:

Two angles are vertical angles. If one angle measures (2x + 10)° and the other measures (3x - 20)°, find the value of x and the measure of each angle.

💡 Show Solution

Step 1: Recall vertical angles: Vertical angles are congruent (equal in measure)

Step 2: Set up the equation: 2x + 10 = 3x - 20

Step 3: Solve for x: 10 + 20 = 3x - 2x 30 = x x = 30

Step 4: Find the angle measures: First angle: 2x + 10 = 2(30) + 10 = 60 + 10 = 70° Second angle: 3x - 20 = 3(30) - 20 = 90 - 20 = 70°

Step 5: Verify: Both angles equal 70° ✓ (vertical angles are congruent)

Answer: x = 30, both angles measure 70°

7Problem 7medium

❓ Question:

Two angles are supplementary. One angle measures 3x3x and the other measures 2x+152x + 15. Find the value of xx.

💡 Show Solution

Supplementary angles sum to 180°180°.

3x+(2x+15)=1803x + (2x + 15) = 180

5x+15=1805x + 15 = 180

5x=1655x = 165

x=33x = 33

Answer: x=33°x = 33°

8Problem 8hard

❓ Question:

Two lines intersect. One angle measures (4x−10)°(4x - 10)° and its vertical angle measures (3x+15)°(3x + 15)°. Find xx and the measure of both angles.

💡 Show Solution

Vertical angles are congruent, so:

4x−10=3x+154x - 10 = 3x + 15

x=25x = 25

Angle measure: 4(25)−10=100−10=90°4(25) - 10 = 100 - 10 = 90°

Check: 3(25)+15=75+15=90°3(25) + 15 = 75 + 15 = 90° ✓

Answer: x=25x = 25, both angles measure 90°90°

9Problem 9hard

❓ Question:

Two lines intersect. One angle measures (4x−10)°(4x - 10)° and its vertical angle measures (3x+15)°(3x + 15)°. Find xx and the measure of both angles.

💡 Show Solution

Vertical angles are congruent, so:

4x−10=3x+154x - 10 = 3x + 15

x=25x = 25

Angle measure: 4(25)−10=100−10=90°4(25) - 10 = 100 - 10 = 90°

Check: 3(25)+15=75+15=90°3(25) + 15 = 75 + 15 = 90° ✓

Answer: x=25x = 25, both angles measure 90°90°

10Problem 10medium

❓ Question:

Angles A and B are complementary. Angles B and C are supplementary. If angle A measures 28°, find the measures of angles B and C.

💡 Show Solution

Step 1: Use the complementary relationship: A + B = 90° 28° + B = 90° B = 90° - 28° B = 62°

Step 2: Use the supplementary relationship: B + C = 180° 62° + C = 180° C = 180° - 62° C = 118°

Step 3: Verify both relationships: A + B = 28° + 62° = 90° ✓ (complementary) B + C = 62° + 118° = 180° ✓ (supplementary)

Step 4: Visual understanding:

  • A and B are complementary (make a right angle together)
  • B and C are supplementary (make a straight line together)
  • B is shared between both relationships

Answer: Angle B = 62°, Angle C = 118°

11Problem 11hard

❓ Question:

Four angles are formed when two lines intersect. The angles can be labeled as angles 1, 2, 3, and 4 going clockwise. If angle 1 = (4x + 15)° and angle 3 = (6x - 25)°, find the measures of all four angles.

💡 Show Solution

Step 1: Identify the angle relationships: When two lines intersect, they form two pairs of vertical angles Angles 1 and 3 are vertical angles (opposite each other) Angles 2 and 4 are vertical angles (opposite each other)

Step 2: Use vertical angles property: Angle 1 = Angle 3 4x + 15 = 6x - 25

Step 3: Solve for x: 15 + 25 = 6x - 4x 40 = 2x x = 20

Step 4: Find angles 1 and 3: Angle 1 = 4x + 15 = 4(20) + 15 = 80 + 15 = 95° Angle 3 = 6x - 25 = 6(20) - 25 = 120 - 25 = 95°

Step 5: Find angles 2 and 4 using supplementary angles: Adjacent angles at intersection are supplementary Angle 1 + Angle 2 = 180° 95° + Angle 2 = 180° Angle 2 = 85°

Angle 4 = Angle 2 = 85° (vertical angles)

Step 6: Verify all relationships: Angles 1 and 3: 95° = 95° ✓ (vertical) Angles 2 and 4: 85° = 85° ✓ (vertical) Angles 1 and 2: 95° + 85° = 180° ✓ (supplementary) All four angles: 95° + 85° + 95° + 85° = 360° ✓

Answer: Angle 1 = 95°, Angle 2 = 85°, Angle 3 = 95°, Angle 4 = 85°

Explain using:

📌 Related Topics in Points, Lines, and Angles

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is Angle Relationships?▾
Complementary, supplementary, and vertical angles
How can I study Angle Relationships effectively?▾
Start by reading the study notes and working through the examples on this page. Then use the flashcards to test your recall. Practice with the 11 problems provided, checking solutions as you go. Regular review and active practice are key to retention.
Is this Angle Relationships study guide free?▾
Yes — all study notes, flashcards, and practice problems for Angle Relationships on Study Mondo are free to access. No account is needed.
What course covers Angle Relationships?▾
Angle Relationships is part of the Geometry course on Study Mondo, specifically in the Points, Lines, and Angles section. You can explore the full course for more related topics and practice resources.
Are there practice problems for Angle Relationships?▾
Yes, this page includes 11 practice problems with detailed solutions. Each problem includes a step-by-step explanation to help you understand the approach.