Find Angle BDC: Solving Quadrilateral with Expressions 3x-4, 2x+8, 6x+10, x-2

Interior Angle Sum with Variable Expressions

Look at the quadrilateral below.
Calculate the size of angle BDC ∢\text{BDC} .

AAABBBDDDCCC3x-42x+86x+10x-2

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Determine the size of angle BDC
00:04 The sum of angles in a quadrilateral equals 360
00:16 Substitute in the relevant values and proceed to solve for X
00:22 Collect terms
00:39 Isolate X
00:49 This is the value of X
00:53 Now substitute the X value in the expression for angle BDC and proceed to solve
01:00 This is the solution

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Look at the quadrilateral below.
Calculate the size of angle BDC ∢\text{BDC} .

AAABBBDDDCCC3x-42x+86x+10x-2

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Set up the equation for the sum of the interior angles.
  • Step 2: Solve for x x .
  • Step 3: Calculate D ∠D using the value of x x .

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: The angles of quadrilateral ABCD are given as follows:
A=2x+8 ∠A = 2x + 8 , B=3x4 ∠B = 3x - 4 , C=6x+10 ∠C = 6x + 10 , and D=x2 ∠D = x - 2 .
According to the angle sum property of a quadrilateral, we have:

(2x+8)+(3x4)+(6x+10)+(x2)=360 (2x + 8) + (3x - 4) + (6x + 10) + (x - 2) = 360

Step 2: Simplify and solve for x x :

Combine like terms:
2x+3x+6x+x+84+102=360 2x + 3x + 6x + x + 8 - 4 + 10 - 2 = 360

This simplifies to:
12x+12=360 12x + 12 = 360

Subtract 12 from both sides:
12x=348 12x = 348

Divide both sides by 12 to isolate x x :
x=29 x = 29

Step 3: Substitute x=29 x = 29 into the expression for D=x2 ∠D = x - 2 :
D=292=27 ∠D = 29 - 2 = 27

Therefore, the measure of angle BDC ∢\text{BDC} or D ∠D is 27 degrees.

3

Final Answer

27

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Interior Angles: Sum of quadrilateral interior angles always equals 360°
  • Technique: Combine like terms: 12x + 12 = 360 gives x = 29
  • Check: Verify all angles sum to 360°: 66 + 83 + 184 + 27 = 360° ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Confusing angle notation with angle location
    Don't assume ∠BDC means the angle at B or C = wrong vertex identification! Students often mix up which vertex the angle is actually at. Always identify that ∠BDC means the angle at vertex D.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Is DE side in one of the triangles?
AAABBBCCCDDDEEE

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do quadrilateral angles always add up to 360°?

+

A quadrilateral can be divided into two triangles by drawing a diagonal. Since each triangle has angles summing to 180°, the quadrilateral has 180°+180°=360° 180° + 180° = 360° !

How do I know which expression goes with which angle?

+

Look at the diagram carefully! Each angle is labeled with its expression. In this problem: ∠A = 2x+8, ∠B = 3x-4, ∠C = 6x+10, and ∠D = x-2.

What if I get a negative value for x?

+

Check your arithmetic! In geometry problems, x usually gives positive angle measures. If x is negative, one or more angles might be negative, which isn't possible for interior angles.

Does ∠BDC mean something different from ∠D?

+

∠BDC and ∠D refer to the same angle - the interior angle at vertex D. The three-letter notation just specifies the rays forming the angle more precisely.

How can I check if my final answer makes sense?

+

Your angle should be between 0° and 180° for a convex quadrilateral. Since 27° falls in this range, it's reasonable. Also verify that x = 29 makes all four angles positive!

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Triangle questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations