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How Do You Read Complementary Angles?

Published in Geometry 2 mins read

You "read" complementary angles by understanding they are a pair of angles that add up to 90 degrees. You don't visually read them in a special way, but rather you determine their relationship through measurement or given information.

Here's a breakdown:

  • Definition: Two angles are complementary if their measures sum to 90 degrees.

  • Representation: If angle A and angle B are complementary, then: angle A + angle B = 90°

  • Example: If one angle measures 30 degrees, its complement measures 60 degrees (because 30° + 60° = 90°).

  • Reading a Diagram: When presented with a diagram, look for the right angle symbol (a small square in the corner). If two angles form a right angle, they are complementary. You can then use the given measure of one angle to calculate the measure of the other.

  • Reading a Problem Statement: The problem will explicitly state that two angles are complementary, or it will give you information that allows you to deduce that their measures add up to 90 degrees.

  • Calculation: To find the complement of a given angle, subtract its measure from 90 degrees.

In essence, "reading" complementary angles involves identifying them (either visually or through information provided) and understanding their defining relationship: that their sum equals 90 degrees.

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