SAT Yellow Math 187

Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

YELLOW MATH LESSON 7A: PROPERTIES OF ANGLES AND LINES

Getting Your Feet Wet

Directions: The problems below are intended as a short diagnostic exam.

𝐶𝐶

𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵 (3𝑥𝑥 − 6)°
(2𝑥𝑥 + 8)° 𝐷𝐷

𝐸𝐸

1. What is the measure of ∠𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 in the figure above?

(𝑥𝑥 + 25)°

(3𝑥𝑥 + 7)°

2. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥 in the figure above?

A) 9
B) 14.5
C) 16
D) 37

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 SAT Yellow Math
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Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

YELLOW MATH LESSON 7A: PROPERTIES OF ANGLES AND LINES

Wading In

Directions: Read the explanation for each problem type mentioned below. Pay special
attention to the methods and techniques used to solve the sample problems. Then, do the
practice exercises that follow; use the appropriate method to solve each problem.

TOPIC OVERVIEW: PROPERTIES OF ANGLES

There are three important angle properties that will show up time and time
again on the SAT:
Linear Pair

When a straight line is intersected by another line, the two angles form a
linear pair, as shown above. The angles of a linear pair are supplementary,
or add up to 180°.

Complementary Angles

When a right angle is intersected by another line, the two angles are
complementary. This means that the angles add up to 90°.

Vertical Angles

When two lines intersect, they form two pairs of opposite angles. Those
opposite angles are always congruent, while adjacent angles are
supplementary.

Let’s look at an example problem that focuses on these rules:

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Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

SAMPLE PROBLEM 1: PROPERTIES OF ANGLES

𝐶𝐶

𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵 (3𝑥𝑥 − 6)°
(2𝑥𝑥 + 8)° 𝐷𝐷

𝐸𝐸

What is the measure of ∠𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 in the figure above?

We need to find the measure of ∠𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, but we don’t have any information
immediately associated with it. So, let’s start with what we do know. ∠𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
and∠𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 are vertical angles, so we know they must be equal to each other.
Let’s set their measurements equal and solve for 𝑥𝑥.

2𝑥𝑥 + 8 = 3𝑥𝑥 − 6
2𝑥𝑥 + 8 + 6 = 3𝑥𝑥 − 6 + 6
2𝑥𝑥 + 14 = 3𝑥𝑥
2𝑥𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑥 + 14 = 3𝑥𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑥
14 = 𝑥𝑥

Since we know that 𝑥𝑥 = 14, we know the measures of ∠𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 and ∠𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
must both be 36°. We also know that ∠𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 is supplementary to both
angles. So,
𝑚𝑚∠𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 + 𝑚𝑚∠𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 180
36 + 𝑚𝑚∠𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 180
𝑚𝑚∠𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 144

And we’re done. Our answer is 144°.

TOPIC OVERVIEW: PARALLEL LINES AND TRANSVERSALS

When two parallel lines are intersected by another line, called a transversal,
the angles formed show the following properties:

𝐸𝐸
𝐹𝐹
𝐻𝐻 𝐺𝐺

𝐴𝐴
𝐵𝐵
𝐷𝐷 𝐶𝐶

Most geometry books have very specific names for the different angle pairs,
but for the purposes of the SAT, we only need to know which angles are
congruent. As shown by the picture above, ∠𝐴𝐴, ∠𝐶𝐶, ∠𝐸𝐸, and ∠𝐺𝐺, all of the

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Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

angles marked by one line, are congruent to each other. In the same way,
the angles marked by two lines, ∠𝐵𝐵, ∠𝐷𝐷, ∠𝐹𝐹, and ∠𝐻𝐻, are also congruent to
each other.

Many of the problems dealing with parallel lines and transversals will be
very similar to the sample problem we just completed: use algebra to figure
out values of the variables that make the two angles congruent or
supplementary. Let’s try one:

SAMPLE PROBLEM 2: PARALLEL LINES AND TRANSVERSALS

(𝑥𝑥 + 25)°

(3𝑥𝑥 + 7)°

What is the value of 𝑥𝑥?

A) 9
B) 14.5
C) 16
D) 37

Whenever we have to deal with two or more parallel lines and a transversal
cutting through them, we should always figure out if the angles needed to
solve the problem are congruent or supplementary. In this case, we know
that the two angles are congruent. Let’s set their sum equal to each other
and solve.
𝑥𝑥 + 25 = 3𝑥𝑥 + 7
𝑥𝑥 + 25 − 7 = 3𝑥𝑥 + 7 − 7
𝑥𝑥 + 18 = 3𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 + 18 = 3𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥
18 = 2𝑥𝑥
9 = 𝑥𝑥
So, our answer is A.

WRAP-UP

Since geometry questions are not extremely common on the SAT, we will
not have to remember too many different formulas or theorems. However,
the topics covered in this lesson are some of the most foundational topics in
geometry, so knowing them is a must for the SAT. Be sure to memorize
everything taught in this lesson and apply all of the information to the
problem sets on the following pages. Good luck!

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 SAT Yellow Math 191
Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

YELLOW MATH LESSON 7A: PROPERTIES OF ANGLES AND LINES

Learning to Swim

Directions: Answer each question below.

PRACTICE SET 1 (NO CALCULATOR)

(𝑥𝑥)°

20° 𝑃𝑃 38°

1. In the diagram above three lines intersect at point 𝑃𝑃. What is 𝑥𝑥?

𝑎𝑎 𝑏𝑏
𝑐𝑐 𝑑𝑑

𝑒𝑒 𝑓𝑓
𝑔𝑔 ℎ

2. In the figure above, a transversal line intersects two parallel lines. List all the angles that are
supplementary to angle 𝑐𝑐.

(𝑥𝑥)°

(𝑦𝑦)°

3. In the figure above, what is 𝑥𝑥 in terms of 𝑦𝑦?

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Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

4. Angle 𝑎𝑎 has a measure of 71 degrees. If angles 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑏𝑏 are complementary, angles 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑐𝑐 are
supplementary, and angles 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑑𝑑 are vertical, what is the sum of the angle measures of angles 𝑏𝑏, 𝑐𝑐,
and 𝑑𝑑?

120°
𝑘𝑘

𝑙𝑙
(𝑐𝑐)° (𝑐𝑐)°

5. In the figure above what is 𝑐𝑐?

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 SAT Yellow Math 193
Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

YELLOW MATH LESSON 7A: PROPERTIES OF ANGLES AND LINES

Diving into the Deep End

Directions: Answer each question below.

PRACTICE SET 2 (NO CALCULATOR)

(𝑥𝑥 + 4)° (𝑦𝑦 + 36)° 𝐴𝐴
(3𝑥𝑥 − 16)°

(𝑥𝑥 + 3)° 𝐵𝐵
(2𝑦𝑦 − 9)° (2𝑧𝑧 + 66)°
(2𝑥𝑥 − 3)°
(𝑦𝑦)°

For questions 9, 10, and 11, use the figure above.

Assume that 𝐴𝐴 ∥ 𝐵𝐵.

For questions 6 and 7, use the figure above 9. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥 + 4?
A) 5
6. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥? B) 10
A) 58 C) 14
B) 60 D) Not enough information to determine
C) 62
D) 87

7. What is the value of 𝑦𝑦? 10. What is the value of 𝑦𝑦?

A) 45 A) 130
B) 60 B) 144
C) 63 C) 166
D) 65 D) Not enough information to determine

(𝑥𝑥 − 97)°
(𝑦𝑦 + 7)° 11. What is the value of 2𝑧𝑧 + 66?
(𝑥𝑥 − 1)° A) 14
B) 130
C) 163
D) 166

8. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 in the figure above?

A) 90
B) 180
C) 270
D) 360

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Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

PRACTICE SET 3 (NO CALCULATOR)

(2𝑥𝑥)° (4𝑦𝑦)° (2𝑥𝑥 + 10)° 𝐴𝐴

𝐵𝐵
(160 − 𝑥𝑥)°

12. In terms of 𝑦𝑦, what does 𝑥𝑥 equal in the figure 16. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥 in the figure above?
above? Assume that 𝐴𝐴 ∥ 𝐵𝐵.
1
A) 𝑦𝑦 A) 10
2
B) 2𝑦𝑦 B) 30
C) 90 − 2𝑦𝑦 C) 50
D) 180 − 4𝑦𝑦 D) 70

(7𝑦𝑦 − 14)°
(3𝑥𝑥)° (4𝑥𝑥 + 40)° (4𝑦𝑦)°
(3𝑦𝑦 + 12)° (𝑦𝑦)° (3𝑦𝑦 + 9)°

(𝑧𝑧 + 10)°
17. What is the value of 𝑦𝑦 in the figure above?
A) 5.75
B) 9.5
C) 11.5
For questions 13, 14, and 15, use the figure above
D) 18.5

13. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥?

A) 20
B) 60
C) 120
D) Not enough information to determine (9𝑥𝑥 + 1)°
(2𝑦𝑦 + 27)°
(4𝑦𝑦 − 53)°

14. What is the value of 3𝑦𝑦?

18. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 in the figure above?

A) 20
15. What is the value of 𝑧𝑧?
B) 32
C) 36
D) 48

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 SAT Yellow Math 195
Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

(𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦)°
110°
(2𝑥𝑥 + 50)°
(𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦)° (3𝑥𝑥)°
7°

19. What is the value of 𝑦𝑦 using the figure above? 21. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥 using the figure above?
A) −90 A) 24.3
B) −20 B) 26
C) 20 C) 43
D) 90 D) 50

(𝑦𝑦 + 9)°
(3𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦)° 𝐿𝐿
(2𝑥𝑥 − 6)° (3𝑥𝑥 + 21)°

𝑀𝑀
(3𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦)° (𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦)°

20. What is the value of 𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥 using the figure

above?
A) 18 22. What is the value of 𝑦𝑦 using the figure above?
B) 33 Assume that 𝐿𝐿 ∥ 𝑀𝑀.
C) 51 A) 30
D) 84 B) 45
C) 60
D) 90

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 SAT Yellow Math
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Lesson 7A: Properties of Angles and Lines

(2𝑥𝑥 + 7𝑦𝑦 − 1)°

(10𝑥𝑥 − 3)°
(64 + 𝑥𝑥)° (3𝑥𝑥 + 32)° (8𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦 + 27)°

23. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥 using the figure above?

A) 5
25. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 using the figure
B) 16
above?
C) 21
D) 37

(25𝑦𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑥)° (5𝑥𝑥)°

(6𝑥𝑥 + 5𝑦𝑦)°

24. What is the value of 𝑥𝑥 − 𝑦𝑦 using the figure

above?

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