Geometry & Figures

Depth · one concept from first principles · step 2 of 4

Quadrilateral angles sum to 360 degrees

Using the fact that the four angles of a quadrilateral add up to 360∘360^\circ, find the measure of angle aa in the figure.

[Figure] A quadrilateral rests at an angle with one vertex sitting on a straight line. Of its four interior angles, the top angle is 100∘100^\circ, the left angle is 80∘80^\circ, the right angle is 70∘70^\circ, and the bottom vertex's interior angle is labeled bb. That bottom vertex lies on the straight line, and along the line — from left to right — are a 45∘45^\circ angle, the quadrilateral's interior angle bb, and angle aa, which together form the straight angle 180∘180^\circ.

100° 80° 70° 45° b a
Measurement & data
Your answer
degrees
How to solve
Strategy Identify Subproblems — Subproblem 1: find b from the 360-degree quadrilateral rule. Subproblem 2: subtract 45 and b from the straight line's 180 degrees to get a.
1STEP 1

Find the bottom inside angle b

The four inside angles add to 360 degrees, so subtract the three known angles.

b = 360° - 100° - 80° - 70° = 110°
2STEP 2

Use the straight line to find a

The three angles 45 degrees, b = 110 degrees, and a lie along the straight line and add to 180 degrees. Subtract the two known ones.

a = 180° - 45° - 110° = 25°
Answer
25 degrees
a = 180° - 45° - 110° = 25°
Check the quadrilateral: 100 + 80 + 70 + 110 = 360 degrees. Check the line: 45 + 110 + 25 = 180 degrees. Both totals are exact, so a = 25 degrees is consistent.
Takeaway

First the 360-degree rule gives the missing corner, then the 180-degree straight line gives angle a - two friendly Grade 4 subtractions!

  • Find the bottom inside angle b
  • Use the straight line to find a
Where next?
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