39.0k views
4 votes
An angle measures 72° less than the measure of its complementary angle. What is the measure of each angle?

User Ed King
by
3.9k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Answer:

81 and 9

Explanation:

Okay, so if 2 angles are complementary, it means that when they are added together, they equal 90 degrees. So using this, we can make an equation. Let's call one angle x and the other that is 72 less than angle x can be described as x - 72. Now let's make that into an equation.

90 = x + x -72

So in order to solve this, we need to get x by itself. So we need to add 72 on both sides, and the equation should now look like this:

162 = x + x

Now we have to add the x's together.

162 = 2x

Now in order to isolate x, you divide by 2 on both sides.

X = 81

So we now know the larger angle is 81, and the smaller angle which is 72 less, would be 9.

User Jamal H
by
3.5k points