Math resources Geometry Angles
Adjacent angles
Here you will learn about adjacent angles, including how to identify adjacent angles and examples of adjacent angles.
Students will first learn about adjacent angles as part of geometry and measurement and data in 4 th grade.
Every week, we teach lessons on adjacent angles to students in schools and districts across the US as part of our online one-on-one math tutoring programs. On this page we’ve broken down everything we’ve learnt about teaching this topic effectively.
What are adjacent angles?
Adjacent angles are two angles that are side by side and share a common vertex and a common side. They are often formed by intersecting lines or line segments.
Since an angle is formed when two rays meet at a common endpoint, adjacent angles are simply two angles that are directly next to each other. Adjacent angles can be complementary angles or supplementary angles.
For example, in this diagram, angle XWY is adjacent to angle YWZ . They share a common vertex ( W ) and a common side (ray WY ).
[FREE] Adjacent Angles Worksheet (Grade 4)
Use this worksheet to check your 4th grade students’ understanding of adjacent angles. 15 questions with answers to identify areas of strength and support!
DOWNLOAD FREE
[FREE] Adjacent Angles Worksheet (Grade 4)
Use this worksheet to check your 4th grade students’ understanding of adjacent angles. 15 questions with answers to identify areas of strength and support!
DOWNLOAD FREE
Types of angles
A linear pair is a pair of adjacent angles that combine to form a straight angle. The angles in a linear pair are supplementary angles, meaning their measures add up to 180^{\circ}.
Adjacent angles can also be complementary angles. Complementary adjacent angles are angles that add up to 90^{\circ} .
Adjacent angles can also be found within the interior angles of polygons.
For example, one pair of adjacent angles in the pentagon is angle RQU and angle QUT .
What are adjacent angles?
Common Core State Standards
How does this relate to 4th grade math?
- Grade 4 – Geometry (4.G.A.1)
Draw points, lines, line segments, rays, angles (right, acute, obtuse), and perpendicular and parallel lines. Identify these in two-dimensional figures.
- Grade 4 – Geometry (4.MD.C.7)
Recognize angle measure as additive. When an angle is decomposed into non-overlapping parts, the angle measure of the whole is the sum of the angle measures of the parts. Solve addition and subtraction problems to find unknown angles on a diagram in real world and mathematical problems, for example, by using an equation with a symbol for the unknown angle measure.
How to identify adjacent angles
In order to identify adjacent angles:
- Recall the definition of adjacent angles.
- Determine which angles are adjacent and name them.
Adjacent angles examples
Example 1: identify adjacent angles
Name the pair of adjacent angles.
- Recall the definition of adjacent angles.
Adjacent angles are two angles that are side by side and share a common vertex and a common side.
2Determine which angles are adjacent and name them.
Angle SHG and angle GHV are adjacent angles.
Example 2: identify adjacent angles
Name the acute angle that is adjacent to angle QPE .
Recall the definition of adjacent angles.
Adjacent angles are two angles that are side by side and share a common vertex and a common side.
Determine which angles are adjacent and name them.
Angle EPH is adjacent to angle QPE .
Example 3: identify multiple pairs of adjacent angles
Name 2 pairs of adjacent angles.
Recall the definition of adjacent angles.
Adjacent angles are two angles that are side by side and share a common vertex and a common side.
Determine which angles are adjacent and name them.
Any angles that share a common vertex and a common side are adjacent angles. For example, angle DZC and angle CZO are one pair of adjacent angles. Another pair of adjacent angles is angle CZO and angle OZF .
Example 4: identify adjacent angles in real world objects
Find two pairs of adjacent angles in the pizza.
Recall the definition of adjacent angles.
Adjacent angles are two angles that are side by side and share a common vertex and a common side.
Determine which angles are adjacent and name them.
Any angles that share a common vertex and a common side are adjacent angles. For example, one pair of adjacent angles in the pizza is angle CZD and angle DZE . Another pair of adjacent angles is angle GZH and angle HZA .
How to find a missing angle measure within adjacent angles
In order to find a missing angle measure within adjacent angles:
- Recall the definition of adjacent angles.
- Determine which angles are adjacent and name them.
- Subtract the known angle measure from the total angle measure of the adjacent angles.
Example 5: find the missing angle measure.
The total angle measure of the adjacent angles is 130^{\circ} . What is the measure of angle XBK?
Recall the definition of adjacent angles.
Adjacent angles are two angles that are side by side and share a common vertex and a common side.
Determine which angles are adjacent and name them.
The adjacent angles are angle RBX and angle BXK .
Subtract the known angle measure from the total angle measure of the adjacent angles.
Total angle measure = 130^{\circ} .
Known angle measure (angle RBX ) = 50^{\circ}
130^{\circ}-50^{\circ} = 80^{\circ}
So the missing angle measure (angle BXK ) is 80^{\circ} .
Example 6: find the missing angle measure in a linear pair of angles.
A linear pair of angles is a pair of adjacent angles that add up to 180^{\circ} . They are also supplementary angles.
What is the measure of angle JUP?
Recall the definition of adjacent angles.
Adjacent angles are two angles that are side by side and share a common vertex and a common side.
Determine which angles are adjacent and name them.
The adjacent angles are angle JUP and angle PUL .
Subtract the known angle measure from the total angle measure of the adjacent angles.
Total angle measure = 180^{\circ} .
Known angle measure (angle PUL ) = 45^{\circ}
180^{\circ}-45^{\circ} = 135^{\circ}
So the missing angle measure (angle JUP ) is 135^{\circ} .
[FREE] Adjacent Angles Worksheet (Grade 4)
Use this worksheet to check your 4th grade students’ understanding of adjacent angles. 15 questions with answers to identify areas of strength and support!
DOWNLOAD FREE
[FREE] Adjacent Angles Worksheet (Grade 4)
Use this worksheet to check your 4th grade students’ understanding of adjacent angles. 15 questions with answers to identify areas of strength and support!
DOWNLOAD FREE
Teaching tips for adjacent angles
- Providing real-life examples of adjacent angles (either hands-on or on worksheets) to make the concept more relatable and tangible for students. For instance, you can use classroom objects, such as books or desks.
- Incorporate interactive games or online resources that focus on adjacent angles. There are numerous educational websites and apps that provide interactive activities where students can practice identifying, measuring, and classifying adjacent angles.
Easy mistakes to make
- Overlapping angles
Students may believe that if two angles overlap partially or fully, they are considered adjacent angles. However, adjacent angles should not overlap; they share a common vertex and a common side but do not intersect.
For example, angle MLO is not adjacent to angle MLN since they overlap.
- Non-adjacent angles on the same line
Students may confuse non-adjacent angles on the same line as adjacent angles. It’s important to clarify that adjacent angles must have a common vertex and side, meaning they are next to each other.
For example, angle ABE and angle DBC are located on the same straight line, but they are not adjacent angles since they are not next to each other.
Related angles lessons
- Angles
- Types of angles
- Measuring angles
- Acute angle
- Obtuse angle
- Right angle
- Complementary angles
- Supplementary angles
- Geometry theorems
- Vertical angles theorem
- Straight angle
- Angles point
- Pentagon angles
Practice adjacent angles questions
1) Which pair of angles are adjacent?
angle BRF and angle RYN
angle FRY and angle YRN
angle BRF and angle BRY
angle YRN and angle FRN
Angle FRY and angle YRN are adjacent angles since they are next to each other without overlapping.
2) Which angle is adjacent to angle COB ?
angle AOG
angle COA
angle BOA
angle BAG
Angle BOA is right next to angle COB and they do not overlap, so they are adjacent.
3) Name two pairs of adjacent angles on the clock.
Angles AEB and AEC ; angles AEB and BEC
Angles CED and CEA ; angles DEA and AEB
Angles DEB and BED ; angles AEC and BEC
Angles BEC and CED ; angles AEB and BEC
One pair of adjacent angles is angle BEC and angle CED . Another pair is angle AEB and angle BEC . These are the only options in the answer choices where each pair of angles does not overlap.
4) The adjacent angles shown below are complementary angles, so together they equal 90^{\circ} . What is the missing angle measure?
90^{\circ}
77^{\circ}
167^{\circ}
13^{\circ}
Since you know the total measure of the adjacent angles is 90^{\circ} , you can subtract 13^{\circ} from 90^{\circ} .
90^{\circ}-13^{\circ}=77^{\circ}
5) What is the missing angle measure in the linear pair of angles?
71^{\circ}
81^{\circ}
180^{\circ}
19^{\circ}
A linear pair is a pair of adjacent angles that combine to form a straight angle. The angles in a linear pair are supplementary angles, meaning their measures add up to 180^{\circ} . To calculate the missing angle, we subtract the known angle from the total angle measure of 180^{\circ} .
180^{\circ}-109^{\circ}=71^{\circ}
6) Name a pair of adjacent angles in the polygon.
Angle A and angle C
Angle C and angle D
Angle B and angle D
There are no adjacent angles in this polygon.
Angle C and angle D are adjacent angles because they are interior angles in a polygon (specifically a rectangle) that are right next to each other. They are also both right angles.
Adjacent angles FAQs
What are adjacent angles?
Adjacent angles are two angles that are side by side and share a common vertex and a common side.
What are the properties of adjacent angles?
The properties of adjacent angles are:
◌ they share a common vertex
◌ they share a common side
◌ they do not overlap
◌ they can be part of a linear pair or have other angle relationships like being complementary or supplementary
What is a linear pair of angles?
A linear pair is a pair of adjacent angles that combine to form a straight angle. The angles in a linear pair are supplementary angles, meaning their measures add up to 180^{\circ}.
When are adjacent angles complementary angles?
Adjacent angles are complementary when the sum of their measures is equal to 90^{\circ}.
When are adjacent angles supplementary angles?
Adjacent angles are supplementary when the sum of their measures is equal to 180^{\circ}.
Can vertical angles be adjacent angles?
No, vertical angles cannot be adjacent angles. Vertical angles are formed when two lines intersect, and they are opposite to each other. Adjacent angles are next to each other.
The next lessons are
- Angles in parallel lines
- Triangles
- 2D shapes
- Lines
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