Learn All About Angle, Its Measures And Different Types

In the chapter Point, Line, Ray, and Plane In Geometry we learnt about the basic geometrical concepts of rays. The inclination of these rays to each other leads to the formation of an angle. The word "angle" originates from the latin word which is "angulus", which means in latin as corner.

A ladder leaned against a wall forms an angle at top of the ladder where the ladder and the wall meet at a point. The second angle is formed where the ladder and floor meet at a point.

Let's take a deep look at the basics of angle, its measurements and various types.

What is an Angle?

A figure formed by joining two different rays starting from the same fixed initial point is called an angle. An angle is denoted by the symbol ∠.

Only capital letters of English alphabets are used to name an angle. The name of angles can be written using one or three alphabets. The vertex is always kept at the centre when written using three alphabets and only vertex when written as a single alphabet.

Example of how to write angle

This figure has two rays $\vec{O A}$ and $\vec{O B}$ .

The common end point of two rays is called the vertex of the angle. So, O is the vertex of angle AOB.

The rays $\vec{O A}$ and $\vec{O B}$ are called the arms or sides of angle AOB.

Thus, we can write the above angle in figure as ∠AOB or ∠BOA or ∠O.

Measurement of angle

The unit of measuring an angle is degree. The word degree originates from the Latin word "gradius" which means "step". It refers to a stage in an ascending or descending order.

The symbol used for degrees is "°". It is inserted on the right top of the numeral. For example, 90 degrees = 90°

Types of angle

Acute angle

An angle which is less than 90°, is called acute angle.

Diagram of an acute angle

Right angle

An angle which is equal to 90°, is called right angle.

Diagram of right angle

Obtuse angle

An angle which is greater than 90° and less than 180° is called an obtuse angle.

Diagram of an obtuse angle

Straight angle

An angle which is equal to 180°, is called straight angle or straight line angle.

Diagram of straight angle

Reflex angle

An angle which measures greater than 180° but less than 360° is called reflex angle.

Diagram of reflex angle

Complete angle

An angle is said to be a complete angle if two different rays coincide with the initial point after making a complete revolution.

Diagram of complete angle

Here, ray $\vec{O A}$ and ray $\vec{O B}$ coincide with each other after making a complete revolution. ∠AOB = 360°

Zero angle

An angle is said to be zero angle if two different rays coincide without any revolution.

Diagram of zero angle

Here, ray $\vec{O A}$ and ray $\vec{O B}$ coincide ∠AOB

∠AOB = 0°

Note

The acute and obtuse angles are known as oblique angles.

What are congruent angles?

Angles having the same measure are said to be congruent angles.

Diagram of congruent angles

Congruent angles AOB and XYZ equal to 45°

What are adjacent angles?

Two angles are said to be adjacent angles if they have a common vertex, a common arm and other two arms of the angles are on the opposite sides of the common arm.

Diagram of adjacent angles

In the given figure, two angles ∠AOB and ∠BOC have a common arm OB, a common vertex O and the other two arms OA and OC lie on the opposite sides of common arm OB.

Complementary angles

Two angles are said to be complementary if they form adjacent angle and sum of their measure is equal to 90°

Diagram of complementary angles

Sum of complementary angles AOC abd BOC is 90°

∠AOC + ∠BOC = 45° + 45° = 90°

Supplementary angles

Two angles are said to be supplementary angles if they form adjacent angles whose sum of their angles is equal to 180°

Diagram of supplementary angles

Sum of supplementary angles ABO and CBO equal to 180°

∠ABO + ∠CBO = 120° + 60° = 180°

List of types of angles with measures

Table of name of angles with its measure in degrees
Name of angle	Measure
Acute angle	0^° < θ < 90^°
Right angle	θ = 90^°
Obtuse angle	90^° < θ < 180^°
Straight angle	θ = 180^°
Reflex angle	180^° < θ < 360^°
Complete angle	θ = 360^°
Zero angle	θ = 0^°

Practice With Solved Examples

Classify the following as acute, obtuse, right angle, complete angle and reflex angle.

27°

As 27° lies between 0° and 90°, it is an acute angle.
110°

110° is an obtuse angle because it lies between 90° and 180°.
180°

180° is a straight angle.
232°

232° is a reflex angle because it lies between 180° and 360°.
360°

360° is a complete angle.
${180 \frac{3}{4}}^{°}$

${180 \frac{3}{4}}^{°}$ =180.75° lies between 180° and 360°. Therefore, it is a reflex angle.

Find the angle formed by an hour hand of a clock when it moves:

from 3 to 6

Number of hours when the hour hand moves from 3 to 6 = 3 hours.

An hour hand forms a 360° angle when it moves once cycle starting from 12 and ending at 12 on a clock. Or we can say, an hour hand makes a 360° angle in 12 hours.

Or, angle formed in 12 hours = 360°

∴ angle formed in 1 hour = $\frac{360}{12}$

So, angle formed in 3 hours = $\frac{360}{12} \times 3$

= 90° = 1 right angle
from 12 to 6

Number of hours when the hour hand moves from 12 to 6 = 6 hours.

Angle formed by hour hand in 12 hours = 360°

angle formed in 1 hour = $\frac{360}{12}$

So, angle formed in 6 hours = $\frac{360}{12} \times 6$

= 180° = a straight angle
from 9 to 1

Number of hours when the hour hand moves from 9 to 1 = 4 hours.

Angle formed by hour hand in 12 hours = 360°

angle formed in 1 hour = $\frac{360}{12}$

So, angle formed in 4 hours = $\frac{360}{12} \times 4$ = 120°
from 7 to 12

Number of hours when the hour hand moves from 7 to 12 = 5 hours.

Angle formed by hour hand in 12 hours = 360°

angle formed in 1 hour = $\frac{360}{12}$

So, angle formed in 5 hours = $\frac{360}{12} \times 5$ = 150°
from 2 to 9

Number of hours when the hour hand moves from 2 to 9 = 7 hours.

Angle formed by hour hand in 12 hours = 360°

angle formed in 1 hour = $\frac{360}{12} \times 6$

So, angle formed in 7 hours = $\frac{360}{12} \times 7$ = 210°

Out of east, west, north and south in which direction will a man be after starting a walk towards west, then taking a turn of $\frac{1}{2}$ revolution in clockwise direction.

A man moving in west direction then turns clockwise

1 revolution = 360°

$\frac{1}{2}$ revolution = $\frac{1}{2} \times 360$ = 180°

So, the man started walking in the west direction and took a turn of $\frac{1}{2}$ revolutions which was 180° in clockwise direction.

From the diagram, the east direction is at 180° of the west direction clockwise.

So, the man finally will be moving towards the east direction.

Out of east, west, north and south in which direction will a man be after starting a walk towards north, then taking a turn of $\frac{3}{4}$ revolution in anticlockwise direction.

A man moving in north direction then turns anticlockwise

1 revolution = 360°

$\frac{3}{4}$ revolution = $\frac{3}{4} \times 360$ = 270°

So, the man started walking in the north direction and took a turn of $\frac{3}{4}$ revolutions which was 270° in anti clockwise direction.

From the diagram, the west direction is at 270° of north direction in anticlockwise.

So, the man finally will be moving towards the west direction.

Fill in Blanks Worksheet

Help box

straight angle

arms

180°

acute

90°

vertex

obtuse

reflex

0°

right

The measure of one complete angle is equal to four ___ angles.
An angle of 180° measure is called ___.
The common initial point of two rays is called as ___.
An angle whose measure is greater than that of the right angle but less than 180° is ___.
The two intersecting rays at a point form an angle, the two rays are called as ___ of the angle.
The measure of 2 right angles is ___.
The sum of two angles is 90°, then each of them is ___ angle.
At 7 o'clock, the angle formed between minute hand and hour hand is a ___ angle.
At 12 o'clock, the angle formed between minute hand and hour hand is ___.
$\frac{1}{2}$ of straight angle is equal to ___.