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How Do You Use Supplementary Angles to Find a Missing Angle?

If angle RPS is a straight angle, find z in the diagram below

Summary

  1. Straight angles measure 180°
  2. Since RPK and KPS form a straight angle, they are supplementary angles
  3. If we add them together they should add up to 180°

Notes

    1. So since they form a straight angle, if we add angles RPK and KPS they should equal 180°
    1. Angle KPS measures 54.3°
    2. Angle RPK is our unknown
    3. Its measure is the variable 'z', which is what we're trying to find
    1. We can plug z in for the measure of angle RPK and 54.3° in for the measure of angle KPS
    2. Then we'll have an equation we can solve for z
    1. Subtract 54.3° from both sides to solve for z