Introduction to Geometry

Here’s a quick introduction to geometry. Geometry is a branch of mathematics involved in the study
of the properties of shapes and angles, and the orientation of shapes. It also deals with the
relationships between points, lines, angles, shapes and its measurements.
Let’s define all these now.
A point is a position or a place. A point does not have any dimensions. For example, the tip of a
pencil is a point.
When we join two points, the length between them is called an interval.

A line is a set of points. The arrows indicate that the line goes forever in both directions.

If an arrow has a starting point, then it is called a ray. In other words, a line which continues in one
direction forever is a ray. A beam of light from a torch is an example of a ray.

When a set of three or more points lie in a straight line, we say those points are collinear. Ordering
of letters is important when expressing collinear points – we write from where it starts first.

Concurrent lines are lines that pass through the same single point. Here all lines pass through A,
so they are all concurrent lines.

Types of Lines
There are four types of lines: horizontal line, vertical line, perpendicular, and parallel lines. They are
defined based on their orientation, and the angles if any, formed between them. Let’s look at each
one of them.
 
Horizontal line
A line that runs from left to right in a straight line is called a horizontal line.
 

Vertical line
A line that runs from top to bottom in a straight line is a vertical line.
 

Perpendicular line
When two straight lines intersect (i.e.cross) each other at right angles (= 90°), then these two lines
are said to be perpendicular to each other.

Here AB and CD are the two perpendicular lines, and they are represented as  .
 
Parallel lines

When two lines never meet each other, no matter how much you extend
them, then these two lines are said to be parallel to each other.
Lines AB and CD are parallel lines, and are always the same distance apart from each other.

Parallel lines are represented by the two large arrows on the lines, and are represented as 

Introduction to Angles
Angles are formed when two rays have the same end point. This common end point is called the
vertex.

The angle ABC is written as  LABC. Other ways of representing the LABC  is LB,  , or LCBA.
B is the vertex and must be in the middle. AB and BC are called arms of the angle.
Here are some other types of angles.
Note:

 LB or   is used only if the angle has 2 arms.

 Also, we need to be careful to represent the angle as LB or   when the point B is the vertex for
more than one angle. Since there are two angles LABC and LCBD sharing the same vertex B, we

cannot represent the angle as LB or 

Adjacent angles:
When we have a common arm, say BC (in the above diagram) at vertex B, LABC
(or LCBA) and LCBD (or LDBC) are called adjacent angles.
 
Complementary angles:
When adjacent angles add up to 90°, the two angles are then said to be complementary
angles; they will then make a right angled triangle (= 90º).
Here LABC and LCBD, (50º and 40° respectively) are complementary angles. We say 50º is a
complement of 40º and vice versa.

Straight line (or supplementary angles):

This is a straight line, and it measures 180°.

When a pair of angles that have a sum of 180°, then they are called supplementary
angles. Here LABC (= 130°) and LABD (=50°) add up to 180°(straight angle), and hence are
supplementary angles. 50º is supplement of 130º.
 
Vertically opposite angles:
When two straight lines intersect, four angles are formed, viz. LABE, LEBC, LCBD and LDBA. Of
these four angles, LEBC and LDBA are equal and vertically opposite each other. Similarly, LABE
and LCBD are equal and vertically opposite each other.

 
Angle at a point:
Finally, when two or more angles with a common vertex move around in a circle (or form
a revolution), they will add up to 360°.

Here’s some other types of angles

Types of angles
There are six different types of angles – acute, right, obtuse, straight, reflect and revolution angles.
Each of these angles is formed by the sizes made by two rays. The angles are classified according
to their sizes. Let’s look at these six different types of angles:
 
Acute angle
This angle is less than 90°, but more than 0°. Examples of acute angles are 20°, 22°, 47°, 65°, 89°

Right angle
An angle that forms a sharp corner like that of a corner of a whiteboard, is called a right angle. A
right angle is exactly 90°.

 
Obtuse angle
This angle is more than 90°, but less than 180°. Examples of obtuse angles are 96°, 110°, 138°,
175°, 189°

 
Straight line
A straight line is exactly 180°, and the two arms are in a straight line.
Reflex angle
A reflex angle is more than 180°, but less than 360°. Examples of reflex angles are 190°, 232°, 285°,
315°, 359°

Revolution
A revolution is a complete turn – it is exactly 360°. When turned, it turns one full circle.

Measuring an angle
Measuring an angle involves the use an instrument called the protractor (see picture below). It has
two scales marked on it – an inner scale and an outer scale. The inner scale is used to measure the
angle in an ‘anti-clockwise’ direction, and the outer scale is used to measure the angle in a
‘clockwise’ direction.
The unit of measurement for an angle is degrees, and is represented by a small circle next to the
number (like 20°).

To actually measure the size of an angle, we follow the following steps:

Step 1: Place the central point of the protractor on the vertex of the angle.
Step 2: Line up the base line of the protractor with the lower ray (first ray or arm) or the angle.
Step 3: Measure the angle from the base line using the scale which begins at 0° until you reach the
second ray/arm.
Step 4: The position of the second ray/arm will will the size of the angle on the protractor.
Tip: If the arms are too short to read/measure the angle, make it longer with a pencil and ruler
before measuring.

 
The angle of 50º is measured on inner scale, when angle is measured anticlockwise.

An angle measurement of 120º on outer scale is measured, when angle is measured clockwise.