Angles On A Straight Line

Here we will learn about angles on a straight line, including the sum of angles on a straight line, how to find missing angles, and using these angle facts to generate equations and solve problems.

There are also angles on a straight line worksheets based on Edexcel, AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further guidance on where to go next if you’re still stuck.

What are angles on a straight line?

Angles on a straight line relate to the sum of angles that can be arranged together so that they form a straight line.

Angles on a straight line add to 180Β°.

Let us look at this visually:

Let’s take the three angles of a, b, and c.

a is a right angle as it measures 90Β°, b = 38Β°, and c = 52Β°

If we move these three angles so that each vertex meets, we get an arrangement that looks like this:

These three angles create a straight line. 

By adding together a = 90Β°, b = 38Β°, and c = 5Β° we can see the sum of the angles on a straight line is 180Β°.

We can also look at this in reverse by considering how many degrees it takes to do a full turn. 

If you stand facing North, and turn to face East, you have turned 90Β° clockwise. A further turn of 90Β° clockwise will mean you would now be facing South. Repeating this turn twice more, you would first face West, and then back to North (the full turn). Half a turn is therefore 2 lots of 90Β° which is 180Β°

We can therefore state that the sum of angles on a straight line is equal to 180Β°. If we split any straight line into smaller angles, all of these angles would add to make 180Β°, the same as with a triangle.

Step by step guide: Angles in a triangle

Angles in a straight line are a problem solving tool for many geometric problems. These include: properties of shapes, circle theorems, angles in parallel lines, calculating angles in shapes (interior and exterior angles), trigonometry and more.

What are angles on a straight line?

What are angles on a straight line?

How to find missing angles on a straight line

In order to find missing angle on a straight line:

  1. Add all known angles.
  2. Subtract the angle sum from 180Β°.
  3. Form and solve the equation.

How to find missing angles on a straight line

How to find missing angles on a straight line

Angles on a straight line worksheet

Angles on a straight line worksheet

Angles on a straight line worksheet

Get your free angles on a straight line worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.

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Angles on a straight line worksheet

Angles on a straight line worksheet

Angles on a straight line worksheet

Get your free angles on a straight line worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.

DOWNLOAD FREE

Angles on a straight line examples

Example 1: obtuse angles

AB is a straight line through O. Calculate the missing angle x.

  1. Add all known angles.

\[78^{\circ}\]

2Subtract the angle sum from 180Β°.

\[180-78=102^{\circ}\]

\[x=102^{\circ}\]

Example 2: acute angles

AB is a straight line through O. Calculate the missing angle x.

Add all known angles.

Subtract the angle sum from 180Β°.

Example 3: right angles

AB is a straight line through O. Calculate the missing angle x.

Add all known angles.

Subtract the angle sum from 180Β°.

Example 4: vertically opposite angles

AB and CD are straight lines. Calculate the value x.

Add all known angles.

Subtract the angle sum from 180Β°.

Form and solve the equation.

Example 5: forming and solving equations

AB is a straight line through O. Calculate the size of all the angles that make up the line AB.

Add all known angles.

Form and solve the equation.

Example 6: circles and tangents

AB is a tangent to the circle with centre C. The tangent intersects the circle at the point O on the circumference. Use this information to calculate the value of x.

Add all known angles.

Form and solve the equation.

Common misconceptions

  • The sum of angles on a straight line is equal to 360Β°

The angle sum is remembered incorrectly as 360Β°, rather than 180Β°. The sum of angles on a straight line is half of a full turn, which is 180Β°.

  • Solving equations

There are many misconceptions around forming and solving equations. See the lesson on Solving Equations for further information.

Step by step guide: Solving equations

  • Using a protractor

When you are asked to calculate a missing angle, a common error is to use a protractor to measure the angle. When using angle facts to determine angles, diagrams are deliberately not drawn to scale unless the angle is 90Β° or 180Β° as these are important angles to recognise. You should not use a protractor for this style of question.

Angles on a straight line is part of our series of lessons to support revision on angle rules. You may find it helpful to start with the main angle rules lesson for a summary of what to expect, or use the step by step guides below for further detail on individual topics. Other lessons in this series include:

Practice angles on a straight line questions

1. AOB is a straight line. Calculate the size of angle x .
 

95^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

25^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

115^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz True

295^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

180-65=115^{\circ}
 

2. AOB is a straight line. Calculate the size of angle x .
 

238^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

58^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz True

32^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

122^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

180-122=58^{\circ}
 

3. Calculate the size of the angle 2x . Hence find the value of x .

26^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz True

52^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

76^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

116^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

2x+90+38=180
 
2x+128=180
 

4. AB and CD are straight lines. Calculate the size of angle BOD. Hence find the value of x .
 

8^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz True

40^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

220^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

12^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

5x+140=180
 

5. AOB is a straight line. By finding the value for x , calculate the size of each angle in the diagram below.

x=35^{\circ}, COD=175^{\circ}, DOE=15^{\circ}, EOB=165^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

x=12.5^{\circ}, COD=72.5^{\circ}, DOE=7.5^{\circ}, EOB=75^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz True

x=11.1^{\circ}, COD=55.5^{\circ}, DOE=8.9^{\circ}, EOB=69.4^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

x=2.05^{\circ}, COD=10.2^{\circ}, DOE=17.95^{\circ}, EOB=33.18^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

The circle with centre C has a tangent at point O. Calculate the value of x correct to 2 decimal places.

19.11^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

10.59^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

9.11^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz True

5.29^{\circ}
GCSE Quiz False

Angles on a straight line GCSE questions

1. Given that the sum of exterior angles of any regular polygon is equal to 360^{\circ} , calculate the interior angle of a regular pentagon.

 

(2 marks)

Show answer

360\div5=72^{\circ}

(1)

180-72=108^{\circ}

(1)

2.

(a) 3 straight lines intersect to form a triangle.

 

Calculate the size of angle x .
(b) What type of triangle is ABC?

 

(4 marks)

Show answer

a)
 

180-131=49

(1)

180-87=93

(1)

x=180-(93+49)=38^{\circ}

(1)

 
b)
 

A scalene triangle.

(1)

3. AB and CD are parallel lines. OE transects both lines.

 

Calculate the value of x .

 

(3 marks)

Show answer

4x+22.4=180

(1)

4x=157.6

(1)

x=39.4^{\circ}

(1)

4. AB is a straight line that is a tangent to the circle at point O. Show that OCD is a right angle triangle.

 

(3 marks)

Show answer

ODC=180-112=68^{\circ}

(1)

180-(68+22)=90^{\circ}

(1)

 
One angle in triangle OCD is equal to 90^{\circ} so it is a right angle triangle.

(1)

Learning checklist

You have now learned how to:

  • Find unknown angles on a straight line

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