Certain angle pairs are given special names based on their relative position to one another or based on the sum of their respective measures.
Adjacent angles
Adjacent angles are any two angles that share a common side separating the two angles and that share a common vertex. In Figure 1, ∠1 and ∠2 are adjacent angles.
Figure 1 Adjacent angles.
Vertical angles
Vertical angles are formed when two lines intersect and form four angles. Any two of these angles that are not adjacent angles are called vertical angles. In Figure 2, line l and line m intersect at point Q, forming ∠1, ∠2, ∠3, and ∠4.
Figure 2 Two pairs of vertical angles and four pairs of adjacent angles.
- Vertical angles:
- Adjacent angles:
- ∠1 and ∠2
- ∠2 and ∠3
- ∠3 and ∠4
- ∠4 and ∠1
Theorem 7: Vertical angles are equal in measure.
Complementary angles
Complementary angles are any two angles whose sum is 90°. In Figure 3, because ∠ ABC is a right angle, m ∠1 + m ∠2 = 90°, so ∠1 and ∠2 are complementary.
Figure 3 Adjacent complementary angles.
Complementary angles do not need to be adjacent. In Figure 4, because m ∠3 + m ∠4 = 90°, ∠3, and ∠4, are complementary.
Figure 4 Nonadjacent complementary angles
Example 1: If ∠5 and ∠6 are complementary, and m ∠5 = 15°, find m ∠6.
Because ∠5 and ∠6 are complementary,
Theorem 8: If two angles are complementary to the same angle, or to equal angles, then they are equal to each other.
Refer to Figures 5 and 6. In Figure 5, ∠ A and ∠ B are complementary. Also, ∠ C and ∠ B are complementary. Theorem 8 tells you that m ∠ A = m ∠ C. In Figure 6, ∠ A and ∠ B are complementary. Also, ∠ C and ∠ D are complementary, and m ∠ B = m ∠ D. Theorem 8 now tells you that m ∠ A = m ∠ C.
Figure 5 Two angles complementary to the same angle
Figure 6 Two angles complementary to equal angles
Supplementary angles
Supplementary angles are two angles whose sum is 180°. In Figure , ∠ ABC is a straight angle. Therefore m ∠6 + m ∠7 = 180°, so ∠6 and ∠7 are supplementary.
Figure 7 Adjacent supplementary angles.
Theorem 9: If two adjacent angles have their noncommon sides lying on a line, then they are supplementary angles.
Supplementary angles do not need to be adjacent (Figure 8).
Figure 8 Nonadjacent supplementary angles.
Because m ∠8 + m ∠9 = 180°, ∠8 and ∠9 are supplementary.
Theorem 10: If two angles are supplementary to the same angle, or to equal angles, then they are equal to each other.