Complementary angles add up to 90 degrees. To find the complement of an angle, simply subtract the angle's measure from 90 degrees.
Finding the Complement of an Angle
The concept of complementary angles is fundamental in geometry. Two angles are considered complementary if their sum equals 90 degrees. Each angle is then the complement of the other.
To calculate the complement of a given angle:
- Identify the angle: Determine the measure of the angle you want to find the complement of. Let's call this angle 'x'.
- Subtract from 90°: Subtract the angle's measure (x) from 90 degrees (90° - x). The result is the complement of the angle.
Example:
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What is the complement of a 30° angle?
90° - 30° = 60°
Therefore, the complement of a 30° angle is 60°.
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What is the complement of a 45° angle?
90° - 45° = 45°
The complement of a 45° angle is 45°. This shows that an angle can be its own complement.
As stated in the provided reference, "The complement of an angle is found by subtracting it from 90 degrees". The complement of x° is 90-x°.
