Introduction

Angles are angular measurements used to describe the position of two lines in a plane. There are different types of angles that can be classified according to their measurement. In this article, we will talk about the difference between two types of angles: complementary angles and supplementary angles.

What are complementary angles?

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Complementary angles are those that add up 90 degrees. That is, two angles are complementary if the sum of their measurements is equal to 90 degrees. For example, if an angle measures 30 degrees, its complement will measure 60 degrees.

Example:

If two angles are complementary and one of them measures 40 degrees, what is the measure of the other?

To resolve this problem, we can use the property of complementary angles. Let us remember that the sum of the complementary angles is equal to 90 degrees. So, if one of the angles measures 40 degrees, the other will measure 90 – 40 = 50 degrees.

What are supplementary angles?

Supplementary angles are those that add up to 180 degrees. That is, two angles are supplementary if the sum of their measurements is equal to 180 degrees. For example, if an angle measures 60 degrees, its supplementary angle will measure 120 degrees.

Example:

If two angles are supplementary and one of them measures 100 degrees, what is the measure of the other?

As in the case of complementary angles, we can use the property of supplementary angles. If one of the angles measures 100 degrees, the other will measure 180 – 100 = 80 degrees.

Differences between complementary angles and supplementary angles

• The main difference between complementary angles and supplementary angles is their measure.
• Complementary angles add up to 90 degrees while supplementary angles add up to 180 degrees.
• Complementary angles are those that add together to form a right angle (90 degrees).
• Supplementary angles are those that add up to form a straight angle (180 degrees).
• Complementary angles can be two acute angles (less than 90 degrees) while supplementary angles can be two obtuse angles (greater than 90 degrees).

Conclusion

Complementary angles and supplementary angles are two very important concepts in geometry. It is important to know the difference between them in order to solve problems that involve angles. Complementary angles add up to 90 degrees while supplementary angles add up to 180 degrees. In addition, they have different properties that make them unique.

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