Angles and Their Relationships

Aug 22, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers complementary and supplementary angles, their definitions, and methods for finding missing angles, using example problems for each concept.

Complementary Angles

  • Complementary angles are two angles that add up to exactly 90 degrees.
  • To find a missing complementary angle, subtract the known angle from 90 degrees.
  • Example 1: Given 70°, missing angle x = 90° - 70° = 20°.
  • Example 2: Given 48°, missing angle y = 90° - 48° = 42°.

Supplementary Angles

  • Supplementary angles are two angles that add up to exactly 180 degrees.
  • To find a missing supplementary angle, subtract the known angle from 180 degrees.
  • Example 3: Given 65°, missing angle a = 180° - 65° = 115°.
  • Example 4: Given 128°, missing angle z = 180° - 128° = 52°.

Memory Tip

  • Remember: "C" in complementary comes before "S" in supplementary; 90° (complementary) is less than 180° (supplementary).

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Complementary angles — Two angles whose measures add up to exactly 90 degrees.
  • Supplementary angles — Two angles whose measures add up to exactly 180 degrees.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Practice finding missing complementary and supplementary angles using subtraction.
  • Memorize the definitions and differences between complementary and supplementary angles.