Lesson 2.

1: Angles and Their

Measures

Lesson Summary
This lesson discusses the definition of angles. It also includes how to name and measure
angles, and classify angles according to their measure.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Name and measure angles,
2. Classify angles according to their measure, and 3. Identify congruent angles.

Motivation Question
How are angles named, measured, and classified?

Discussion
Angle
An angle consists of two different rays with the same
endpoint. The rays are the sides of the angle. The endpoint is
the vertex of the angle.
The angle with sides and can be named
, , or . Point A is the vertex of the angle.
Figure 2.1.1. Angle

Example2.1.1: Name Angles

Name the three angles in the diagram.

You should not name any of these angles because all three angles have X as their
vertex.
Measuring Angles
Angles can be measured in degrees and radians. In Euclidean, Geometry angles are measured
in degrees and usually, the smallest possible angle is 0 degrees and the largest possible angle is
180 degrees. Let’s briefly discuss how to measure angles using degrees. The most common way
to measure angles can is by a protractor. A protractor, shown below, is a device used to measure
angles.

Figure 2.1.2. Protractor

To measure an angle using a protractor, you place the protractor over the angle and line
up the center point of the protractor up with the vertex of the angle as shown in the figure below.
Next, you find the side of the angle that isn’t lined up with the base of the protractor and read the
angle measure from the protractor.

Figure 2.1.3.. Measuring Angle using Protractor

The measure of the angle in the above figure 2.2.3 would be 72 degrees. You can write
this statement in two ways.
Words The measure of ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 is 72°.
Symbols 𝑚∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 = 72°.

Classifying angles
Angles can be classified as acute, right, obtuse, and straight, as shown below.
 Type Angle Description

▪ An acute angle
measures
more than 0 but less
Acute
than 90 .

▪ A right-angle
measures exactly
90 . Right angles are
Right formed by
perpendicular lines.

▪ An obtuse angle
measures more
than 90 but less
Obtuse than 180 .

▪ A straight
angle
measures
Straight Straight angles
are formed by rays
that lie on a line.

Table 2.1.1. Angle Classification

Example 2.1.2. Measure and Classify Angles

Use the diagram to find the measure of the
indicated angle. Then classify the angle.

Solution:
A protractor has an inner and an outer scale. When you measure an angle, check to see
which scale to use.
 a. is lined up with the 0 on the inner scale of the protractor. passes
through 55 on the inner scale. So, .
It is an acute angle.
b. is lined up with the 0 on the outer scale, and passes through 125 on
the outer scale. So, . It is an obtuse angle.
c. . It is a straight angle.
d. . It is a right angle.

Figure 2.1.4. Figure 2.1.5.

In figure 2.1.4, ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 contains the noncollinear points A, B, and C. These three points, in
turn, determine a plane. The plane containing ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 is separated into three subsets by the
angle:
Points like D are said to be in the interior of ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶.
Points like E are said to be on ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶.
Points like F are said to be in the exterior of ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶.
With this description, it is possible to state the counterpart of the SegmentAddition Postulate!
Consider Figure 2.1.5 as you read Postulate 3.
POSTULATE
Postulate 3 Angle Addition Postulate
Words If D is in the interior of ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶, then the measure of ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 is equal to the sum of the
measures of ∠𝐴𝐵𝐷 and ∠𝐷𝐵𝐶.
Symbols If D is in the interior of ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶, then
𝒎∠𝑨𝑩𝑪 = ∠𝑨𝑩𝑫 + ∠𝑫𝑩𝑪
Example 2.1.3 Find angle measures
Algebra. Given that 𝒎∠𝑳𝑲𝑵 = 145°, find 𝒎∠𝑳𝑲𝑴 and
𝒎∠𝑴𝑲𝑵.

Solution
Step 1 Write and solve an equation to find the value of x.
𝑚∠𝐿𝐾𝑁 = 𝑚∠𝐿𝐾𝑀 + 𝑚∠𝑀𝐾𝑁 Angle Addition Postulate.
145° = (2𝑥 + 10)° + (4𝑥 − 3)° Substitute angle
measures.
145° = 6𝑥 + 7 Combine like terms.
138 = 6𝑥 Subtract 7 from each side.
23 = 𝑥 Divide each side by 6.
Step 2 Evaluate the given expression when 𝑥 = 23.
𝒎∠𝑳𝑲𝑴 = (2𝑥 + 10)° = (2.𝟐𝟑 + 10) = 56°
𝒎∠𝑴𝑲𝑵 = (4𝑥 − 3)° = (4.𝟐𝟑 − 𝟑) = 89° So, 𝒎∠𝑳𝑲𝑴 = 56°
and 𝒎∠𝑴𝑲𝑵 = 𝟖𝟗°.

Congruent Angles
Two angles are congruent angles if they have the same measure. In the diagram below, you can
say that “the measure of angle A is equal to the measure of angle B,” or you can say “angle A is
congruent to angle B.”

Matching arcs are used to show that angles are congruent. If more than one pair of angles
are congruent, double arcs are used.

Example 2.1.4 Identify congruent angles

TRAPEZE The photograph shows some of the angles formed by the ropes in a trapeze
apparatus. Identify the congruent angles. If 𝑚∠𝐷𝐸𝐺 = 157°, what is 𝑚∠𝐺𝐾𝐿?
Solution:
There are two pairs of congruent angles:
∠𝐷𝐸𝐹 ≅ ∠𝐽𝐾𝐿 and ∠𝐷𝐸𝐺 ≅ ∠𝐺𝐾𝐿.
Because ∠𝐷𝐸𝐺 ≅ ∠𝐺𝐾𝐿, 𝑚∠𝐷𝐸𝐺 = 𝑚∠𝐺𝐾𝐿. So, 𝑚∠𝐺𝐾𝐿 = 157°

Activity: Fold an Angle Bisector

Step 1: Use a straightedge to draw and label an acute angle, ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶.

Step 2: Fold the paper so that is on top of .

Step 3: Draw a point D on the fold inside . Then measure

What do you observe?
Angle Bisector
An angle bisector is a ray that divides an angle into two congruent angles. In the activity,
bisects . So, and
.

Example 2.1.5 Double an angle measure

In the diagram at the right, bisects
, and . Find .
Solution:
By the Angle addition Postulate,
. Because bisects ,
you know that .
So, , and you can write
𝑚∠𝑋𝑌𝑍 = 𝑚∠𝑋𝑌𝑊 + 𝑚∠𝑊𝑌𝑍 = 18° + 18° = 36°