GEOMETRY: ANGLES

COMMON MISTAKES

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Geometry-Angles
Types and Definition of
Various Angles Common Mistakes
 Types-Vertical,  Not correctly identifying the vertical
angles.
Complementary and  Not realizing the angles are
Supplementary, Adjacent, congruent. b
Straight
2
 Vertical-Definition 1 3
4
Vertical lines are lines
formed when two lines  Incorrect: Angles 1 and 2 are a
intersect at a point. congruent vertical angles.
 Correct: Angle 1 and Angle 3 are
 Vertical Angles are congruent vertical angles.
congruent( have the same Angle 2 and Angle 4 are
measure), congruent vertical angles.

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Geometry-Angles continued
Types and Definition-
Complementary and Common Mistakes
Supplementary
 Confusing which term
 Complementary
which goes with which
Angles definition.
are angles whose sum is 26˚ H
90˚. S
64˚
 Supplementary Angles 154˚
B
are angles whose sum is  Incorrect: Angles B and H are
180˚. supplementary angles.
 Correct: Angles B and H are
Note: These angles do not complementary angles; Angles H and
S are supplementary.
have to “touch”.
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Geometry– Angles continued
Types and Definition-
Adjacent Angles and Linear
Pairs Common Mistakes
 Adjacent Angles- angles  Believing adjacent angles may
which share a common side or only be complementary or
“touch”. adjacent.
 Linear Pair- adjacent angles
that are also supplementary
(their measurements add up to 1 2 3 4
180˚).
 Incorrect: Angle 1 and 2 are
an adjacent linear pair.
Note: Not all adjacent angles  Correct: Angles 1 and 2 are
are linear pairs; however, ALL adjacent; Angle 3 and 4 are the
linear pairs are adjacent. linear pair.

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Geometry-Angles continued
Types formed by
Intersecting lines and Common Mistakes
Transversals
 When a transversal line intersects two other  Incorrectly naming the angles
lines, parallel or not, names are given to the formed by a transversal.
angles formed based upon the position(s) in
which they lie.
 Corresponding Angles occupy the same
position with respect to the intersecting line and 1 2
transversal (i.e. angles 1 and 5; 2 and 6; 3 and 7; 4 4 3 a
and 8 )
 Alternate Interior Angles lie in the interior 5 6 b
positions, but on opposite sides of the 8 7
transversal. (i.e. angles 4 and 6; 3 and 5)
 Alternate Exterior Angles lie in the exterior
t
positions, also on opposite sides of the
transversal. (i.e. angles 1 and 7; 2 and 8)
 Same-Side Interior Angles occupy the  Incorrect: Angles 2 and 6 are same-side
interior positions on the same-side of the interior angles.
transversal. (i.e. angles 4 and 5; 3 and 6)
 Correct: Angles 2 an 6 are corresponding
 Same-Side Exterior Angles also occupy the angles.
exterior positions but on the same-side of the
transversal. (i.e. angles 1 and 8; 2 and 7)

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Geometry-Angles continued
Types defined by their Angle
Measurements Common Mistakes
 Mistaking the definitions of angles
 Acute Angles are angles whose
measurements are between 0˚ and
based upon their measurements.
90˚ (i.e. Angle A).
 Right Angles are angles whose
measurements are 90˚ (i.e. Angle b).
A B C
 Obtuse Angles are angles whose
measurements are between 90˚ and
180˚ (i.e. Angle C).
D
 Straight Angles are angles
 Incorrect: Angle A is an obtuse angle.
whose measurements are 180˚
 Correct: Angle A is an acute angle.
(i.e. Angle D). Lines are
examples of straight angles.
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