Final answer:
Supplementary angles are a pair of angles that sum up to 180 degrees, forming a straight line when combined. Examples include certain angles created by a clock's hands, and they are vital in geometry for solving various problems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Supplementary angles are two angles whose measures add up to 180 degrees. This means that when you combine the degrees of both angles, they should form a straight line or a linear pair. In geometry, understanding supplementary angles is crucial because they are often involved in problems dealing with parallel lines cut by a transversal, and they are also useful in determining unknown angles.
An example of supplementary angles in a real-world context is the angle made by the two hands of a clock at 6:00. The minute hand points to the 12, making a 0-degree angle with the vertical, while the hour hand points to the 6, making a 180-degree angle with the vertical. Together, these angles are supplementary because they add up to 180 degrees.