Supplementary Angles
The definition of supplementary is two angles whose sum is 180° are supplementary. The angles can be either adjacent (share a common side and a common vertex and are side-by-side) or non-adjacent.
Example 1. Given m 1 = 45° and m 2=135° determine if the two angles are supplementary.
45° + 135° = 180° therefore the angles are supplementary.
We will use the following facts to help us determine if two angles are supplementary.
Example 2: the angles form a line (linear pair) therefore they are supplementary
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_2.png)
Example 3: the angles can be non-adjacent as long as their sum is 180°
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_3.png)
110°+ 70° = 180° The sum is 180° therefore they are supplementary.
Example 4:
1 and
2 form a linear pair so m
1 + m
2 = 180° therefore the angles are supplementary.
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_4.png)
How many other linear pairs can you see in the diagram?
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_7.png)
m
2 + m
3 = 180°
m
3 + m
4 = 180°
m
1 + m
4 = 180°
Remember that linear pairs are supplementary and that 2 intersecting lines will form 4 pairs of supplementary angles.
Geometry & Algebra: find the value of x the find the m
ABD and m
DBC.
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_8.gif)
Write an equation (4x +6) ° + (11x - 6)°= 180°
Identify like terms (4x +6) ° + (11x - 6)°= 180°
Combine like terms 4x + 11x +6 - 6 = 180°
15x + 0 = 180°
The zero is unnecessary
=![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_10.png)
Divide both sides by 15
x = 12
m
ABD = 4x + 6 = 4(12)+6 = 54°
m
DBC = 11x - 6 = 11(12) -6 = 126°
check your answer 54° + 126° = 180°
Sum it up: Supplementary angles are two angles whose sum is 180°. A linear pair (two angles that form a line) will always be supplementary. The two angles can be adjacent or non-adjacent.
Example 1. Given m 1 = 45° and m 2=135° determine if the two angles are supplementary.
45° + 135° = 180° therefore the angles are supplementary.
We will use the following facts to help us determine if two angles are supplementary.
- A linear pair is two angles that are adjacent and form a line.
- The angle measure of a line is 180°
- If two angles form a linear pair then they are supplementary.
Example 2: the angles form a line (linear pair) therefore they are supplementary
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_2.png)
Example 3: the angles can be non-adjacent as long as their sum is 180°
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_3.png)
110°+ 70° = 180° The sum is 180° therefore they are supplementary.
Example 4:
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_4.png)
How many other linear pairs can you see in the diagram?
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_5.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_6.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_7.png)
m
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
Remember that linear pairs are supplementary and that 2 intersecting lines will form 4 pairs of supplementary angles.
Geometry & Algebra: find the value of x the find the m
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_8.gif)
Write an equation (4x +6) ° + (11x - 6)°= 180°
Identify like terms (4x +6) ° + (11x - 6)°= 180°
Combine like terms 4x + 11x +6 - 6 = 180°
15x + 0 = 180°
The zero is unnecessary
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_9.png)
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_10.png)
Divide both sides by 15
x = 12
m
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
m
![](/math/geometry/topics/images/supplementary_angles_1.png)
check your answer 54° + 126° = 180°
Sum it up: Supplementary angles are two angles whose sum is 180°. A linear pair (two angles that form a line) will always be supplementary. The two angles can be adjacent or non-adjacent.
Related Links: Math Geometry Topics Complementary Angles Complementary or Supplementary |
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