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Parallel and Intersecting Lines

Finding an angle nobody measured

A cricket pitch has parallel creases, cut by return creases. One corner's angle is known.

Start at a known angle: 52°, upper crossing.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Start at a known angle: 52°, upper crossing.
  2. Straight line: the wedge beside it is 180 − 52 = 128°.
  3. Corresponding: the matching corner at the lower crossing is 128°.
  4. Vertically opposite: the wedge facing it is also 128°.

The rule

The angle you know is usually not the angle you want. Walk to the angle you want, one named fact at a time. Each fact says where you may move. Each fact also says what happens to your number.

Five facts, where each one takes you, and what it does to your number
FactMoves you toNumber becomes
vertically oppositeacross the same crossingunchanged
angles on a linethe wedge beside it180° minus it
correspondingsame corner, other crossingunchanged, needs parallel
alternateinside wedge, opposite sideunchanged, needs parallel
co-interiorinside wedge, same side180° minus it, needs parallel

The last three need the two lines parallel. Check: 52° and 128° lie side by side on a line. 52 + 128 = 180.

One angle is given. Tap x. Then read the walk of facts.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 Cross once, or never cross
  3. 2 What parallel really means
  4. 3 The four angles at a crossing
  5. 4 Angles that fill a straight line
  6. 5 One line laid across two
  7. 6 Only when the lines are parallel
  8. 7 Finding an angle nobody measured
  9. 8 Square corners: perpendicular lines
  10. 9 Parallels from square corners
  11. 10 A bend between two parallels
  12. 11 Checkpoint: square corners and bends
  13. 12 The big picture
  14. 13 Track quiz

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