Calculate the Unmarked Angle: Finding the Missing Value in a 160° Ray Diagram

Adjacent Angles with Linear Pair Properties

Calculate the size of the unmarked angle:

160

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find the value of the empty angle
00:03 A straight angle equals 180
00:06 Therefore subtract the known angle from it to find the empty angle
00:09 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Calculate the size of the unmarked angle:

160

2

Step-by-step solution

The unmarked angle is adjacent to an angle of 160 degrees.

Remember: the sum of adjacent angles is 180 degrees.

Therefore, the size of the unknown angle is:

180160=20 180-160=20

3

Final Answer

20

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Linear Pair Rule: Adjacent angles on a straight line sum to 180°
  • Subtraction Method: Calculate 180°160°=20° 180° - 160° = 20° for unknown angle
  • Verification: Check that 160°+20°=180° 160° + 20° = 180° forms straight line ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Adding angles instead of subtracting from 180°
    Don't add 160° + unknown angle = wrong approach! This ignores the linear pair rule and leads to impossible angle measures over 180°. Always subtract the known angle from 180° to find the adjacent angle.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

a is parallel to b.

Calculate the angles shown in the diagram.

115115115111222333444555666777aaabbb

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do adjacent angles always add up to 180°?

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When two angles share a vertex and their outer rays form a straight line, they create what's called a linear pair. A straight line measures exactly 180°, so the two angles must add up to this total.

How can I tell if angles are adjacent?

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Adjacent angles must share a common vertex (corner point) and have a common side between them. They should not overlap - just touch along their shared ray.

What if the given angle was larger than 180°?

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That's impossible! An angle in a linear pair cannot exceed 180° because the total must equal 180°. If you see this, check your diagram interpretation or calculations.

Can I use this method for any angle pair?

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Only for linear pairs (adjacent angles on a straight line). Other angle relationships like vertical angles or complementary angles have different rules.

What if I get a negative answer when subtracting?

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  • Check if you subtracted correctly: 180° minus the given angle
  • Verify the given angle is less than 180°
  • Make sure you're looking at the right angle in the diagram

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