Word: Complementary Angles
Definition:
Complementary angles are two angles that add up to 90 degrees. This means if you measure both angles and then add their measurements together, the total will be 90 degrees.
Usage Instructions:
You can use the term "complementary angles" when talking about geometry, which is the branch of mathematics that deals with shapes and angles. It's important to remember that both angles do not have to be equal; they just need to sum up to 90 degrees.
Example:
- If one angle measures 30 degrees, its complementary angle would measure 60 degrees because 30 + 60 = 90 degrees.
Advanced Usage:
In more advanced mathematics or geometry discussions, you might encounter complementary angles in relation to right triangles. In a right triangle, the two non-right angles are complementary to each other.
Word Variants:
- The term "complement" can also refer to something that completes or goes well with something else, but in mathematics, it specifically applies to angles as described.
Different Meaning:
The word "complementary" can also refer to things that complete each other in other contexts. For example, complementary colors are colors that, when combined, cancel each other out, producing a grayscale color like white or black.
Synonyms:
There are no direct synonyms for "complementary angles," but you might see phrases like "angles that sum to 90 degrees" used in explanations.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs related directly to complementary angles. However, in everyday language, you might hear about things being "complementary" when discussing how one thing enhances another, like "Their skills are complementary" meaning they work well together.
Summary:
Complementary angles are a specific concept in geometry referring to two angles that add up to 90 degrees.