What are the measures of two complementary angles if the difference in the measures of the two angles is 12?

Answer 1

Complimentary angles add to 90 degrees. So, x + y = 90. Also, we know the difference is 12 degrees. So, x - y = 12. (Note that it really doesn't matter which angle corresponds to x and y. The way it is set up here is x is the larger angle.) Now solve the system: x + y = 90 x - y = 12 2x = 102 x = 51 y = 90 - 51 = 39 So the two angles are 51 degrees and 39 degrees.