SOLUTION: If the measure of an angle is 78 less than the measure of its compliment, what is the measure of the angle? Would it be x-78=90?

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Question 221452: If the measure of an angle is 78 less than the measure of its compliment, what is the measure of the angle?
Would it be x-78=90?
Answer by drj(1380) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If the measure of an angle is 78 less than the measure of its complement, what is the measure of the angle?

Would it be x-78=90?

Not quite but you are on the right track...here's one approach.

Step 1. Complementary angles means two angles add up to 90 degrees.

Step 2. Let x be the angle.

Step 3. Let 90-x be its complement.

Step 4 x=90-x-78 since the measure of the angle x is 78 less than its complement (90-x).

Step 5. Solving equation in Step 4 yields x=12-x or 2x=12. Then x=6 after dividing by 2. Its complement is 90-x=84 degrees which is 78 degrees less than the complement of 84.

Step 6. ANSWER: The angle is 6 degrees and its complement is 84 degrees.

I hope the above steps were helpful.

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Good luck in your studies!

Respectfully,
Dr J