High School

Angles β and α are created by two intersecting straight lines. What are these angles called?

1. Vertically opposite angles
2. Adjacent supplementary angles
3. Complementary
4. Supplementary

Answer :

When two straight lines intersect, they form pairs of opposite angles. These angles are known as vertically opposite angles. Vertically opposite angles are equal to each other.

  1. Vertically Opposite Angles: When two lines intersect, they create two pairs of vertically opposite angles. For example, if two lines intersect creating angles [tex]\alpha[/tex] and [tex]\beta[/tex], then [tex]\alpha[/tex] and [tex]\beta[/tex] are vertically opposite angles and [tex]\alpha = \beta[/tex].

  2. Adjacent Supplementary Angles: These angles are not necessarily equal but are supplementary if two adjacent angles add up to [tex]180^\circ[/tex]. In this case, there is no indication that angles [tex]\alpha[/tex] and [tex]\beta[/tex] are adjacent and specifically supplementary.

  3. Complementary Angles: These are two angles that add up to [tex]90^\circ[/tex]. This definition does not apply to intersections of straight lines.

  4. Supplementary Angles: These angles add up to [tex]180^\circ[/tex]. This usually applies to angles on a straight line, and while adjacent angles formed by intersecting lines can be supplementary, [tex]\alpha[/tex] and [tex]\beta[/tex] as described are equal, not necessarily supplementary.

Thus, the correct choice for the angles created by two intersecting lines is 1. Vertically opposite angles.