Write and solve an algebraic equation to find the measure of the angle that is 12 degrees more than the measure of its compliment?

Answer 1

Complementary angles add up to 90 degrees, so the measure of angle X plus its complement is 90.

If x is 12 degrees more than its complement, then

x + (x-12) = 90

2x - 12 = 90

2x = 102

x=51 degrees

Answer 2

Kylie,

If two angles are complementary, their sum = 90 degrees.

For example, the complement of a 60 Degree angle is a 30 Degree angle because together they will equal 90 degrees.

So here, we can say x is one of our angles, and y is the complement. Write it out as:

x + y = 90

Since x is 12 degrees more than y, we can note that x = y + 12.

We can rewrite the previous equation to be

(y + 12) + y = 90

2y + 12 = 90

2y = 78

y = 39.

So our first angle is 51 degrees, and the complement is 39 degrees.

Check by verifying that 51 is 12 greater than 39 and that 51 + 39 = 90.

Hope this helps! :)