kennethsparks2004
kennethsparks2004 5h ago โ€ข 0 views

Complementary vs. Supplementary Angles: What's the Key Difference?

Hey there! ๐Ÿ‘‹ Ever get mixed up between complementary and supplementary angles in geometry? Don't worry, you're not alone! They sound super similar, but they're actually quite different. Let's break it down with a simple explanation and a handy table. ๐Ÿ˜„
๐Ÿงฎ Mathematics

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juliebrown2002 Dec 29, 2025

๐Ÿ“š Complementary Angles Explained

Complementary angles are two angles that add up to form a right angle. A right angle is exactly 90 degrees. So, if you have two angles that, when combined, measure 90ยฐ, you've got yourself a pair of complementary angles!

  • ๐Ÿ“ Definition: Two angles whose measures sum to $90^{\circ}$.
  • โž• Formula: $\angle A + \angle B = 90^{\circ}$
  • โœจ Example: A $60^{\circ}$ angle and a $30^{\circ}$ angle are complementary because $60^{\circ} + 30^{\circ} = 90^{\circ}$.

๐Ÿ“ Supplementary Angles Explained

Supplementary angles, on the other hand, are two angles that add up to form a straight angle, which is 180 degrees. So, if you have two angles that, when combined, measure 180ยฐ, they are supplementary!

  • ๐Ÿ“ Definition: Two angles whose measures sum to $180^{\circ}$.
  • โž• Formula: $\angle A + \angle B = 180^{\circ}$
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Example: A $120^{\circ}$ angle and a $60^{\circ}$ angle are supplementary because $120^{\circ} + 60^{\circ} = 180^{\circ}$.

๐Ÿ“ Complementary vs. Supplementary Angles: The Key Differences

Let's summarize the differences in an easy-to-understand table:

Feature Complementary Angles Supplementary Angles
Definition Two angles that add up to $90^{\circ}$ Two angles that add up to $180^{\circ}$
Resulting Angle Right Angle Straight Angle
Example $30^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ $80^{\circ}$ and $100^{\circ}$

๐Ÿš€ Key Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿง  Remember: "C" comes before "S" in the alphabet, and $90^{\circ}$ comes before $180^{\circ}$. This can help you remember which is which!
  • โœ๏ธ Complementary: Think 'corner' (right angle).
  • ๐Ÿงฎ Supplementary: Think 'straight' (straight line).

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