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Angle Pair Relationships

Angle relationships are very important in solving many geometry problems.

In your notebook, be sure to write the definitions as well as have drawings of examples of the terms listed.

Vocabulary:

  • vertical angles
  • linear pair
  • complementary
  • supplementary

Vertical Angles

Verticle angles are angles formed when two lines intersect. The vertical angles are those angles opposite each other having the same vertex, but no common side.

In this drawing m∠1 = m∠2 and m∠3 = m∠4.

Lines A B and C D cross each other forming four angles. The angles diagonal from each other have equivalent values

Reason: 
When 2 lines intersect, the vertical angles are congruent.

For an interactive review visit Math Open Reference: Vertical Angles

Important Note

Vertical angles are formed by two complete intersecting lines. In this diagram, there are no vertical angles because the angles are not formed by two complete intersecting lines.

3 rays come out of a single point in different directions

Linear Pair

In the drawing below we can say m∠1 + m∠2 = 180° because the measurement of a straight angle is 180°.

These two adjacent angles are called a linear pair because the two non-common sides form a straight line or opposite rays.

Angle B C A is a straight angle with ray C to D coming out of it. The two angles formed by the ray are angle 1 and angle 2

Go to Explore Linear Pairs to learn more

Review

Math Open Reference: Linear Pairs provides a wonderful interactive that illustrates linear pairs

Angle B C A is a straight angle with ray C to D coming out of it. The two angles formed by the ray are angle 1 and angle 2

1. Are angles 1 and 2 a linear pair? Answer: no

2. Are angles 4 and 5 a linear pair? Answer: yes

3. Are angles 1 and 4 a linear pair? Answer: no

4. Are angles 3 and 5 a linear pair? Answer: no

Open Apply the Linear Pair Postulate and the Vertical Angles Theorem to Find Unknown Angle Measures in a new tab

Open Apply the Linear Pair Postulate and the Vertical Angles Theorem to Find Unknown Angle Measures in a new tab

Open Apply the Linear Pair Postulate and Vertical Angles Theorem to Find Unknown Values in a new tab

Open Apply the Linear Pair Postulate to Find Unknown Values in a new tab

Open Apply the Linear Pair Postulate and Vertical Angles Theorem to Find Unknown Values in a new tab

Complementary Angles

Complementary angles are two angles whose measures add up to 90°. They could either be adjacent or non-adjacent.

Each angle is the complement of the other angle.

an adjacent pair of complementary angles

a non-adjacent pair of complementary angles

Open Apply Definitions of Complementary and Supplementary Angles to Find Angle Measures in a new tab