Page 1 of 7

2.4 Vertical Angles

Goal Two angles are vertical angles if they are not adjacent and their
Find the measures of sides are formed by two intersecting lines. The scissors show
angles formed by two sets of vertical angles.
intersecting lines.
a1 and a3 are vertical angles. 2
1 3
Key Words a2 and a4 are vertical angles.
4
• vertical angles
• linear pair

Two adjacent angles are a linear pair if their

noncommon sides are on the same line.
common
side
a5 and a6 are a linear pair.
5 6
noncommon side noncommon side

Visualize It! EXAMPLE 1 Identify Vertical Angles and Linear Pairs

You can use colored Determine whether the labeled angles are vertical angles,
pencils to help you see a linear pair, or neither.
pairs of vertical angles.
a. b. c.
2 3 2 3 5 6
1 1 4
6 4
5

Vertical angles
Solution
a1 and a4 a. a1 and a2 are a linear pair because they are adjacent and their
a2 and a5 noncommon sides are on the same line.
a3 and a6
b. a3 and a4 are neither vertical angles nor a linear pair.
c. a5 and a6 are vertical angles because they are not adjacent and
their sides are formed by two intersecting lines.

POSTULATE 7
Linear Pair Postulate
Words If two angles form a linear pair,
then they are supplementary.
1 2
Symbols ma1 1 ma2 5 1808

2.4 Vertical Angles 75

 Page 2 of 7

EXAMPLE 2 Use the Linear Pair Postulate

Find the measure of aRSU.
U

628
R S T
Solution
aRSU and aUST are a linear pair. By the Linear Pair Postulate, they
are supplementary. To find maRSU, subtract maUST from 1808.
maRSU 5 1808 2 maUST 5 1808 2 628 5 1188

Student Help THEOREM 2.3

VISUAL STRATEGY
Draw an example of
Vertical Angles Theorem
this theorem with Words Vertical angles are congruent.
specific measures, 2
1 3
as shown on p. 52. Symbols a1 c a3 and a2 c a4. 4

The following steps show why the Vertical Angles Theorem is true.

●
1 a1 and a2 are a linear pair, so a1 and a2
1
2
3
are supplementary.

●
2 a2 and a3 are a linear pair, so a2 and a3
1
2
3
are supplementary.
Student Help
LOOK BACK
To review the Congruent ●
3 a1 and a3 are supplementary to the same
2
Supplements Theorem, angle, so a1 is congruent to a3 by the 1 3
see p. 69. Congruent Supplements Theorem.

EXAMPLE 3 Use the Vertical Angles Theorem

Find the measure of aCED.
A D
E
C
508

B
Solution
aAEB and aCED are vertical angles. By the Vertical Angles Theorem,
aCED c aAEB, so maCED 5 maAEB 5 508.

76 Chapter 2 Segments and Angles

 Page 3 of 7

Student Help EXAMPLE 4 Find Angle Measures

STUDY TIP Find ma1, ma2, and ma3.
1
When you know the 358 2
measure of one vertical 3
angle, an easy starting Solution
point is to fill in the
measure of the other. ma2 5 358 Vertical Angles Theorem
ma1 5 1808 2 358 5 1458 Linear Pair Postulate
ma3 5 ma1 5 1458 Vertical Angles Theorem

Find Angle Measures

Find ma1, ma2, and ma3.

1. 2. 3.
1 2 2 678
1 3 3
288 3 1248
2 1

EXAMPLE 5 Use Algebra with Vertical Angles

Find the value of y.
(4y 2 42)8
2y 8

Solution
Because the two expressions are measures of vertical angles, you can
write the following equation.
(4y 2 42)8 5 2y8 Vertical Angles Theorem
4y 2 42 2 4y 5 2y 2 4y Subtract 4y from each side.
242 5 22y Simplify.
242 2 2y
}} 5 }} Divide each side by 22.
22 22
21 5 y Simplify.

Use Algebra with Angle Measures

Find the value of the variable.

4. 5. 6.

(2r 1 3)8 3x8 (20t 1 5)8

898 (2x 1 16)8
15t 8

2.4 Vertical Angles 77

 Page 4 of 7

2.4 Exercises
Guided Practice
Vocabulary Check Complete the statement.
1. Two adjacent angles whose noncommon sides are on the same
line are called __?__.

2. Two angles are called __?__ if they are not adjacent and their sides
are formed by two intersecting lines.

Skill Check Find the measure of the numbered angle.

3. 4.
1
198 2
198

Find ma1, ma2, and ma3.

5. 6.

728 1 2
1 3
3 2

Find the value of x.

7. 8.

408 (12x 2 8)8

6x 8 12x 8

Practice and Applications

Extra Practice Vertical Angles and Linear Pairs Determine whether the angles are
See p. 678. vertical angles, a linear pair, or neither.
9. a5 and a6 10. a5 and a9
5 6 7
11. a5 and a8 12. a6 and a9
9 8
13. a8 and a9 14. a5 and a7

Homework Help
Using the Linear Pair Postulate Find the measure of a1.
Example 1: Exs. 9–14
Example 2: Exs. 15–19 15. 16. 17.
Example 3: Exs. 20–22 1
Example 4: Exs. 28–37 1 1368
1 378
Example 5: Exs. 51–56 918

78 Chapter 2 Segments and Angles

 Page 5 of 7

Linear Pairs Find the measure of the angle described.

18. a1 and a2 are a linear pair, and ma1 5 518. Find ma2.

19. a3 and a4 are a linear pair, and ma4 5 1248. Find ma3.

Using the Vertical Angles Theorem Find the measure of a1.

20. 21. 1608 22.
1 1
768
1
638

Evaluating Statements Use the figure below to decide whether the

statement is true or false.
23. If ma1 5 408, then ma2 5 1408.

24. If ma4 5 1308, then ma2 5 508.

25. a1 and a4 are a linear pair. 1 4

3 2
26. ma1 1 ma4 5 ma3 1 ma2

27. a1 and a4 are vertical angles.

IStudent Help Finding Angle Measures Find ma1, ma2, and ma3.
ICLASSZONE.COM
28. 29. 30.
HOMEWORK HELP 258 1
828 1 2 3
Extra help with problem 3 2
3 2 1 1178
solving in Exs. 28–33 is
at classzone.com

31. 32. 33.

3 3 1408
2 558 12
1 2 1
1218 3

Flags Each flag shown contains vertical angles. Find ma1, ma2,
and ma3.

34. 35. 36.

1 908 1 2
61.98 2 1 3
3 3 2 126.98

Scotland Dominican Republic Jamaica

2.4 Vertical Angles 79

 Page 6 of 7

37. Drafting Table The legs of the drafting table form vertical angles.
Find the measures of a1, a2, and a3.
Careers

3
2 858
1

Finding Angle Measures Find ma1, ma2, ma3, and ma4.

ERGONOMISTS study work 38. 39. 40.
conditions to improve the 4
safety, efficiency, and comfort 1 2 448 4
608 3 3
of workers. Drafting tables are 4 3 2 1068 2
1 388
angled so people can work at 558 1
them without injuring their
backs.
Career Links Vertical Angles Use the diagram to complete the statement.
CLASSZONE.COM
41. aBGC c __?__ 42. aAGB c __?__
B
43. aAGC c __?__ 44. aCGE c __?__ C
508 G 228
45. maAGF 5 __?__8 46. maDGE 5 __?__8
A D
F
47. maCGE 5 __?__8 48. maBGC 5 __?__8
E
49. maDGF 5 __?__8 50. maAGD 5 __?__8

Using Algebra Find the value of the variable.

51. 1528 52. 53.

(w 1 73)8 788 (5y 1 2)8

1058 (2x 2 11)8

Using Algebra Find the value of the variable. Then use

substitution to find maABC.
54. 55. A 56. C (5p 1 28)8 D
E (6x 1 19)8 C
A B D E B x8 12p8
B
8n8 A
(9n 2 5)8 D E
C

80 Chapter 2 Segments and Angles

 Page 7 of 7

57. Challenge Find the values of x and y in the diagram below.

18y 8
(7x 2 2)8 (11x 2 34)8

58. Visualize It! Sketch and label four angles so that a1 and a2
are acute vertical angles, a3 is a right angle adjacent to a2, and
a1 and a4 form a linear pair.

Standardized Test 59. Multi-Step Problem Use the diagram below.

Practice
(4x 1 8)8
6x 8

a. Use the Vertical Angles Theorem to write an equation.

b. Solve your equation to find the value of x.

c. Find the measures of the acute angles formed by the lines.

d. Find the measures of the obtuse angles formed by the lines.

Mixed Review Describing Number Patterns Describe a pattern in the numbers.

Write the next number you expect in the pattern. (Lesson 1.1)
60. 4, 11, 18, 25, . . . 61. 3, 15, 75, 375, . . .

62. 32, 16, 8, 4, . . . 63. 404, 414, 424, 434, . . .

Congruent Segments Determine which segments in the coordinate

plane are congruent. (Lesson 1.5)
64. y 65. y
A(24, 3) E(4, 3) J(23, 3) K (2, 3)
2 2
C (22, 1) D(1, 1) L(22, 1) M(1, 1)

B (24, 0) 1 x N(3, 0) 4 x
F (4, 21)
G (23, 22) H(1, 22) Q (23, 22) R (0, 22)
P(3, 23)

Algebra Skills Simplifying Expressions Simplify the expression.

(Skills Review, p. 671)
66. 216x 1 9x 67. 7 1 a 2 2a 68. 28z 2 1 5z 2 2 4

69. 6b 2 1 6b 2 b 2 70. 24(t 2 3) 2 4t 71. 3w 2 2 1 2 w 2 1 5

2.4 Vertical Angles 81