Activity (Process)

Solving a Problem Where the Difference of Two Complementary Angles is 20 Degrees

To find two complementary angles whose difference is 2020 degrees using a system of equations, assign variables xx and yy to their measures. Since the angles are complementary, their sum provides the first equation: x+y=90x + y = 90. The given difference provides the second: xy=20x - y = 20. Using the elimination method, add the two equations together to cancel out yy, resulting in 2x=1102x = 110. Solving for xx gives x=55x = 55. Finally, substitute x=55x = 55 into the first equation to find yy: 55+y=9055 + y = 90, which yields y=35y = 35. The measures of the two complementary angles are 5555^{\circ} and 3535^{\circ}.

0

1

Updated 2026-04-24

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.4 Systems of Linear Equations - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Related