Solve Problems involving Parallel Lines Worksheet

Parallel lines have so much in common. Its a shame they will never meet.

Engineers, architects and designers all need to know facts about angles in their work. You wouldn't want a wonky house, or an aircraft with wings not designed correctly would you.

Knowing the properties (facts) about angles and parallel lines can help us to solve problems. Lets remind ourselves of the facts.

Angles on a straight line add up to 180°

alternate angles

Alternate angles are equal Corresponding angles are equal

Quite often they are combined and so therefore you need an eagle eye to solve problems.

Lets give it a go.

Example 1

Find angle x.

Here you need to draw in another parallel line to help. There are no rules to say we can't do that.

You can now apply the alternate angle rules as shown. 28 + 38 = 66°

Example 2

Find the value of x and y.

Y is a corresponding angle to x, therefore 114°

Angle x and y are on straight line, therefore x is 180 - 114 = 66°

parallel lines problem solving

Find the value of x.

92°

48°

46°

88°

parallel lines

Find the value of y.

Write your answer in figures without the units.

Which two values represent x and y.

69°

111°

42°

120°

What is the value of x?

Write your answer in figures without the units.

parallel lines problems

The value of x is

177°

27°

130°

59°

The value of x is 87° 93° 77°

ANSWERS

Question 1

parallel lines problem solving

Find the value of x.

CORRECT ANSWER

88°

EDDIE SAYS

Did you remember to draw in another parallel line. Once you do this you can see that alternate angles rule can be applied. 46 and 42 are now where x is so 46 + 42 = 88° How cool is that.

ANSWERS

Question 2

parallel lines problem

EDDIE SAYS

x is alternate to 40° so, therefore, the same. The value of y is calculated by angles on a straight line. 180 - 46 = 134° z can be calculated in one of two ways. You may have spotted that it is corresponding to y, or that interior angles add up to 180. 180 - 46 = 134° And the beauty here is you can work things out in any order you want.

ANSWERS

Question 3

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

Don't let two lines across the parallels put you off. x is alternate to 65° and y is corresponding to 69° No working out which is great as long as you know the rules.

ANSWERS

Question 4

parallel lines

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

Two set of parallel lines here for the price of one. Apply interior angles add up to 180° to find x. 180 - 62 = 118° Apply this again to x and z. 180 - 118 = 62° y is alternate to 100° so therefore the same. Are you getting used to spotting different rules within the same diagram?

ANSWERS

Question 5

parallel lines

Find the value of y.

Write your answer in figures without the units.

CORRECT ANSWER

64

EDDIE SAYS

Could you spot the alternate angle? Sometimes the sneaky teacher put in an angle that you don't need just to check that you know the rules. y = 64°

ANSWERS

Question 6

Which two values represent x and y.

CORRECT ANSWER

111°
42°

EDDIE SAYS

The sneaky part is that you need to find angles you are not asked for first. y is 42° as it is alternate to 42°. Look at the markings on the triangle. It shows that the triangle is isocelese. The two base angles are the same. You need a base angle to calculate x. 180 - 42 = 138° ÷2 = 69° x is on a straight line to 69° 180 - 69° = 111°

ANSWERS

Question 7

EDDIE SAYS

Don't you just love it when they do this? Before you do anything you need to find the missing angles on the straight line with 2x and x. The missing angle is alternate to 72° Now to find x 180 - 72 = 108° Share the 108 between 3 =36° x is 36° y is alternate to x so also 36°

ANSWERS

Question 8

What is the value of x?

Write your answer in figures without the units.

CORRECT ANSWER

50

EDDIE SAYS

Just use the parallel lines. The other base angle in the triangle is alternate to 52° Angles in a triangle add up to 180° 180 - 78 - 52 = 50°

ANSWERS

Question 9

parallel lines problems

The value of x is

CORRECT ANSWER

59°

EDDIE SAYS

Oh that wonderful curved ball we all love. No problems. We know that interior angles add up to 180°. 2x - 12 + x + 15 = 180° 3x + 3 = 180° 3x = 177° x = 59° Put this back into the original equation as it all adds up to 180°

ANSWERS

Question 10

CORRECT ANSWER

The value of x is 87° 93° 77°

EDDIE SAYS

You need to spot other angles that you are not asked to find here. The angle on the line next to x is corresponding to 87° Now we can work with angles on a straight line add up to 180° 180 - 87 = 93°