one of 2 complementary angles is 5 times the other. Find the larger scale

Question

 For this question you are supposed to write an equation to it, but I don't know what equation that would be.

Answer 1

Hello Margaret,

 

Complementary angles add up to 90 degrees.

 

If a is one angle and b is the other angle, then 

 

a + b = 90

 

Translating directly:

 

one angle is 5 times the other

 

is means equals, so

 

a = 5b

 

Substitute 5b for a back into the first equation:

 

5b + b = 90

6b = 90

b = 15

 

a = 5b, so

a = 5(15)

a = 75