Question

What is the measure of angle 1?

Answer 1

27 degrees

Explanation:

The easy way is by remembering the formula (a-b)/2=c, where a is the larger angle, and b is the smallest angle. (90-36)/2=27.

The longer, more drawn out answer goes as follows. See the image to understand the notation I use:

1. AOE + BOD + BOA + DOE = 360
2. AOE + BOD = 90 + 36 = 126
3. BOA + DOE = 360 - AOE - BOD = 234
4. Since the sum of a triangle's angles is 180, ODE = (180 - DOE) / 2
5. Likewise, OBA = (180 - BOA) / 2
6. Since CDE is 180, CDO = 180 - ODE = 180 - (180 - DOE) / 2
7. Likewise, CBA is 180, so CBO = 180 - OBA = 180 - (180 - BOA) / 2
8. The interior angles of the irregular polygon CBOD add up to 360, so CBO + CDO + BOD + BCD = 360.
9. Substituting what we already found, 180 - (180 - BOA)/2 + 180 - (180 - DOE)/2 + 36 + BCD = 360
10. Cleaning it all up, we get 180 + (BOA + DOE)/2 + 36 + BCD = 360
11. As we found in line 3, BOA + DOE = 234, so substituting that in, 180 + 117 + 36 + BCD = 360
12. Finally, solving for BCD (360 - 36 - 117 - 180) we get our answer, 27

Note: The long drawn out method shown above is a way to derive the formula for the secant theorem. You do not need to use this method every time. Just remember, large angle minus small angle, all divided by 2. That is it.