The measure of one angle is 6 more than half the measure of another angle. The angles are complementary, find that measures

Question

This is for homework and I am having trouble with this problem.

 

Answer 1

Complementary angles add up to 90 degrees.

So here's what we know:

a + b = 90

a = .5b + 6 (one angle is 6 more than half of the other angle)

 

We have a variable value, so let's plug it in:

.5b + 6 + b = 90

Simplify:

1.5b + 6 = 90

Subtract:

1.5b = 84

Divide both sides by 1.5, and you'll have the value of b. Then you can use that to find a.