Learning Assistance Center

Southern Maine Community College

ANGLE CALCULATIONS
An angle is formed by rotating a given ray about its endpoint to some terminal position. The original ray is the initial side of the angle and the second ray is the terminal side of the angle. The common endpoint is the vertex of the angle (see figure below). The measure of an angle is determined by the amount of rotation of the terminal ray from the initial ray. For the purposes of this worksheet we will discuss two ways to measure angles: by degrees and by radians.

vertex initial side

Degrees
The concept of measuring angles in degrees grew out of the belief of the early Babylonians that the seasons repeated every 360 days. One degree is the measure of an angle formed by rotating a ray (one three hundred sixtieth) of a complete revolution.

Figure 1

There are two popular methods for representing degrees and their fractional parts. One is the decimal degree method. For example, the measure 29.76 is a decimal degree. It means
29 plus 76 hundredths of 1

A second method of measurement is known as the DMS (Degree, Minute, Second) method. For example, the measure 126 12 27 is a degree value expressed in DMS form. It means 126 plus 12 minutes plus 27 seconds In the DMS method the fractional part of a degree may be expressed by understanding that we subdivide a degree into 60 equal parts, each of which is called a minute (denoted by ) and that a minute is subdivided into 60 equal parts, each of which is called a second (denoted by ). Thus 1 = 60, 1 = 60, and 1 = 3600. Changing Minutes and Seconds to Decimal Degrees: It is sometimes necessary to change minutes or seconds to decimal equivalents or vice versa. Minutes or seconds are first changed to their fractional part of a degree. Then the fraction is changed to its decimal equivalent by dividing the numerator by the denominator.
Remember : 1 = 1 1 of a degree, and 1 = 60 3600

Anglecalc.doc

June 7, 2006

Angle Calculations To change minutes to a decimal part of a degree: Divide minutes by 60. To change seconds to a decimal part of a degree: Divide seconds by 3600. For example: Convert 50 15 27 to a decimal degree value. Change 15 to its decimal degree equivalent .

15 60 27 Change 27 to its decimal degree equivalent. 3600

= 0.25 = 0.0075 = 50.2575

And then add the values together: 50+ 0.25+ 0.0075

Changing a Decimal Degree into a DMS Degree Value: The decimal part of a degree can be changed to minutes and seconds by reversing the procedure. To change a decimal part of a degree to minutes, multiply by 60. Similarly, to change the decimal part of a minute to seconds, multiply by 60.
To change a decimal part of a degree to minutes: Multiply the decimal part of a degree by 60. To change a decimal part of a minute to seconds: Multiply the decimal part of a minute by 60.

For example: Convert 50.75 into a DMS degree value Change 0.75 to minutes And so... 0.75 60 50.75 = 45 = 50 45

For example: Convert 28.43 into a DMS degree value Change 0.43 to minutes and seconds 0.43 60 0.8 60 And so... 28.43 = 25.8' (degrees to minutes) = 48' (decimal part of min to sec) = 28 25' 48

Adding and Subtracting Angle Measures: Angle measures can be added or subtracted. Keep in mind that only like measures can be added or subtracted. To add, arrange the measures in columns of like measures.

For example:

12 15' 54" + 82 28' 19" 94 43' 73"

which simplifies* to 94 44' 13

*Since 73 = 1' 13, we must simplify and shift the values to the left as appropriate. In this case we must add one minute to 43 to make 44 minutes leaving a remainder of 13 seconds.
Anglecalc.doc June 7, 2006

Angle Calculations Worksheet To subtract, arrange the measures in columns of like measures; borrow as needed. 37 15 = 36 75 (Borrow 1 from 37. 1 = 60 and 60 + 15 = 75.) For example: - 15 32 = - 15 32
21 43

Since we cant subtract 32 from 15 with real numbers, we must borrow (much like you would in regular whole number subtraction) one degree to make more minutes from which to subtract. Complementary & Supplementary Angles: If the sum of the measures of two angles equals one straight line (180), the angles are called supplementary. If the sum of the measures of two angles equals one right angle (90), the angles are called complementary. To find the complement of any angle, subtract the angle from 90; to find the supplement of any angle, subtract the angle from 180. For example: Find the complement of 63 37'.
90 = 89 60' 63 37' = 63 37' 26 23'
(Borrow 1 from 90. 1 = 60 )

Multiplying and Dividing Angle Measures: To multiply or divide angle measures, perform the indicated operation and simplify as needed. For example: An angle whose measure is 65 02' 37" needs to be twice as large. Find the measure of the new angle. (65 02' 37") * 2 = 130 04' 74". Since 74" = 1' 14", we must simplify to a final answer of 130 05' 14".

)))))
PRACTICE: Perform the indicated operations. Be sure to simplify your final answers. 1. Change 0.42 to equivalent minutes and seconds.

Anglecalc.doc

June 7, 2006

Angle Calculations Worksheet 2. Change 15 4' to its decimal degree equivalent rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth.

3. Change 0.46 to equivalent minutes and seconds.

4. Change 8 20' to its decimal degree equivalent rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth.

5) Add and simplify:

15 47' 18" + 37 12' 45"

6) Subtract and simplify:

147 28' 114 35' 23"

7) Add and simplify:

45 10' 14" + 7 8' 55"

32 6" 8) Subtract and simplify: 20 10' 8"

9. Find the measure of an angle with a complement of 35.

Anglecalc.doc

June 7, 2006

Angle Calculations Worksheet

10. Find the measure of an angle with a supplement of 35.

11. An angle whose measure is 17 36' 40" needs to be three times as large. Find the measure of the new angle in degrees and minutes.

12. An angle whose measure is 45 37' 30" needs to be twice as large. Find the measure of. the new angle in degrees and minutes.

13. A right angle will be divided into four equal angles. Find the measure of each new angle in degrees and minutes.

14. Find the complement of 40 37' 26". Then convert the result to its decimal equivalent rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth.

ANSWER KEY 1. 25' 12" 8. 11 49' 58" Anglecalc.doc 2. 15.0667 9. 55 3. 27' 36" 10. 145 4. 8.3333 11. 52 50' 5. 53 3" 12. 91 15' 6. 32 52' 37" 13. 22 30' 7. 52 19' 9" 14. 49.3761 June 7, 2006

Angle Calculations Worksheet

Radians
Until now, we have been measuring angles in terms of degrees, minutes and seconds, or in degrees and decimal parts of degrees. In order to deal with sinusoidal waveforms and some other important ideas of physics and calculus, another system of angle measurement is necessary, namely, radians. Technically, at one radian the measure of the radius (half the distance across any particular circle) is equal to the arc length marked by the intersection of the two rays of the angle on any particular circle (see figure at right). So whats the relationship between degrees and radians? Study the figure to the left. For every angle measured in degrees, there is a related radian measure. The values on the inner ring are radian measurements. For example, for every 180 degrees there are radians. Therefore, 180 = radians. We can use this understanding of the relationship between radians and degrees to go from one to the other using the process of dimensional analysis or unit conversion. While it is possible to use your calculator to transpose radians into degrees and degrees into radians, it is good practice and probably faster and easier to do it with some quick hand calculations as demonstrated next.

1 radian
(57.3 degrees)

radius = x

Anglecalc.doc

June 7, 2006

Angle Calculations Worksheet For example: 120 is equal to how many radians?
/ rad 2 1 /2 /0 / 120 = = rad / 1 3 1 /8 /0 /
3 2

For example: 3 radians equal how many degrees?

3 =
/ 180 540 3 /a /r /d = = 540 / 1 1 /a /r /d

PRACTICE: Perform the indicated operations. Be sure to simplify your final answers.

Convert the following degree measures to radians: 1) 20 2) 50 3) 270

Convert the following radian measures to degrees: 4) 2 radians 5)

2 radians

6) 0 .25 radians

Answers: 1)

90

radians

2)

5 radians 18

3)

3 radians 2

4)

115

5)

90

6)

14

Anglecalc.doc

June 7, 2006