Alternate angles are on opposite sides of the transversal that intersects two parallel lines and are not on the same side of the parallel lines to which they belong. Alternate angles are equal.
The following sketch illustrates two pairs of alternate angles, one is painted red and the other blue.
Before seeing a formal definition of alternate angles, it is helpful to understand the circumstances under which these angles can be formed. The simplest way to describe it is with a drawing of two parallel lines with a transversal that intersects them (for more details, see the article that deals with the topic of "Parallel lines "), as can be seen in this illustration:
As mentioned, here we see two parallel lines A and B with a transversal C intersecting them.
Other angles in brief
There are other types of angles that are formed under the circumstances just described. We will briefly review them:
Join Over 30,000 Students Excelling in Math!
Endless Practice, Expert Guidance - Elevate Your Math Skills Today
Corresponding angles are on the same side of the transversal that cuts two parallel lines and are on the same side of their respective parallel lines. The corresponding angles are equal. For more details refer to the article that deals with the subject of "corresponding angles".
Vertically opposite angles
Vertically opposite angles are formed by two straight lines that intersect, have a vertex in common and are opposite each other. Opposite angles are equal. For more details see the specific article that deals with the subject of "angles opposite at the vertex".
Collateral angles are on the same side of the transversal that intersects two parallel straight lines and are not at the same side of their respective parallel lines. Together they equal 180°, that is, the sum of two collateral angles is equal to one hundred and eighty degrees. For more details go to the specific article that deals with "collateral angles".
Examples and exercises
Exercise 1
In each of the following illustrations, indicate if the angles are alternate angles or not. In both cases explain why.
Solution:
Diagram No 1: In this case we are dealing with alternate angles since they meet the criteria, that is, they are two angles that are on opposite sides of the transversal that cuts the two parallel lines and the angles are not on the same side of their respective parallel lines.
Diagram No 2: In this case we are not dealing with alternate angles since they do not meet the criteria, i.e., we are dealing with two angles that are on the same side of the transversal that cuts the two parallel lines and are also on the same side of their respective parallel lines.
Diagram No 3: In this case we are not dealing with alternate angles since they do not meet the criteria, i.e., we are dealing with two angles that lie on the same side of the transversal that cuts the two parallel lines and the two angles are not on the same side of their respective parallel lines.
Answer:
Diagram No 1: alternate angles.
DiagramNo 2: not alternate angles.
Diagram No 3: not alternate angles.
Check your understanding
Question 1
It is possible for two adjacent angles to be right angles.
Given the triangleABC as illustrated in the diagram.
The angle B of the triangle equals 35° degrees.
Also, we know that the line AK and the edge (the side) BC are parallel.
Find the other angles of the triangle ABC.
Solution:
We will look at the illustration and see that, in fact, we have two parallel lines (AK and BC) that are cut by a transversal (the edge AC). The angle C of the triangle is equal to the angle CAK since they are alternate angles, that is, they are two angles located on opposite sides of the transversal (AC) that cuts the two parallel lines (AK and BC) and these angles are not on the same side of their respective parallel lines.
It follows that the angle C of the triangle is equal to 60° degrees.
The sum of the three angles of any triangle equals 180° degrees.
Therefore, the angle A equals 180°−35°−60°=85°degrees.
Answer:
The angle A measures 85° degrees.
Angle C measures 60° degrees.
Exercise 3
In the following diagram given:
In this illustration two parallel lines and a transversal line cutting them are given.
The angle K is to be found based on the data given in the sketch.
Solution:
According to the given information we can see that the two angles indicated in the diagram are alternate angles. That is, they are two angles located on opposite sides of the transversal (C) that cuts the two parallel lines (A and B) and these angles are not on the same side of their respective parallel lines.
The alternate angles are equal, therefore, the angle K also measures 75° degrees.
InTutorela you will find a variety of articles about mathematics.
Review questions
What are external alternate angles?
They are angles that, as their name implies, are alternate on the outside of the two parallel lines and are equal, as illustrated in the following:
∢a=∢h (alternate external angles)
∢b=∢g (alternate external angles)
What are internal alternate angles?
They are the angles that are in the internal part of two parallel lines cut by a transversal, but in an alternate way. These angles are equal. Let's see in the following:
∢c=∢f (internal alternate angles)
∢d=∢e (internal alternate angles)
How to calculate internal alternate angles?
The internal alternate angles are equal, let's see an example of how to calculate these angles:
Let the lines A and B be parallel. Calculate the value of the angle ∢5 in the following drawing:
We know that the ∢3=120o, therefore the ∢6 also measures the same because they are internal alternate angles, then.
∢6=120o
And we can see, ∢5 and ∢6 are supplementary angles, therefore added together they should give us 180o
Therefore ∢5=180o−∢6
∢5=180o−120o
∢5=60o
Answer:
∢5=60o
How do we calculate external alternate angles?
Remember that the external alternate angles are equal. Let's see an example:
We are given that the straight lines A∥B Calculate the value of the angle ∢8, given that ∢1=75o
Since the angles ∢1 and ∢8, are external alternate angles, then by definition we know that they are equal, therefore:
Is it possible to have two adjacent angles, one of which is obtuse and the other right?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
Remember the definition of adjacent angles:
Adjacent angles always complement each other up to one hundred eighty degrees, that is, their sum is 180 degrees.
This situation is impossible since a right angle equals 90 degrees, an obtuse angle is greater than 90 degrees.
Therefore, together their sum will be greater than 180 degrees.
Answer
No
Exercise #2
In which of the diagrams are the angles α,β vertically opposite?
Step-by-Step Solution
Remember the definition of angles opposite by the vertex:
Angles opposite by the vertex are angles whose formation is possible when two lines cross, and they are formed at the point of intersection, one facing the other. The acute angles are equal in size.
The drawing in answer A corresponds to this definition.
Answer
Exercise #3
a is parallel to
b
Determine which of the statements is correct.
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
Let's review the definition of adjacent angles:
Adjacent angles are angles formed where there are two straight lines that intersect. These angles are formed at the point where the intersection occurs, one next to the other, and hence their name.
Now let's review the definition of collateral angles:
Two angles formed when two or more parallel lines are intersected by a third line. The collateral angles are on the same side of the intersecting line and even are at different heights in relation to the parallel line to which they are adjacent.
Therefore, answer C is correct for this definition.
Answer
β,γ Colateralesγ,δ Adjacent
Exercise #4
What angles are described in the drawing?
Step-by-Step Solution
Let's remember that vertical angles are angles that are formed when two lines intersect, and they are created at the point of intersection, opposite each other.
Answer
Vertices
Exercise #5
Which type of angles are shown in the figure below?
Step-by-Step Solution
Alternate angles are a pair of angles that can be found on the opposite side of a line that cuts two parallel lines.
Furthermore, these angles are located on the opposite level of the corresponding line that they belong to.