An angle is the meeting of two lines. Angles and lines form the bedrock of geometry. In the physical world, angles are everywhere. Walls and doors meet at an angle, roads curve and incline at angles, and sports involve pitching and shooting a ball at set angles. Knowing how to measure angles is an important skill.
- Protractor
- Pencil
- Ruler
Know that 0° and 180° may not be marked on the protractor. They are at the same level as the straight edge. Always use the correct scale. Check whether the numbers are increasing or decreasing. This will verify that you are using the correct scale. If the arms of the angle are too short, place the ruler along the arm and extend it so it crosses the semicircular outer edge of the protractor. This does not change the angle.
Review your knowledge of the protractor. The protractor is a semicircular instrument with degrees marked off along the circular edge. Generally, there are two sets of markings. Reading clockwise, the outer marking goes from 0° to 180°, and the inner markings go from 180° to 0°. The baseline, also known as the zero edge, has a small circle at its midpoint. This is the center mark, or origin point.
Place the protractor on one arm of the angle, lining up the center mark with the vertex (the point at which the two lines meet).
Ensure that the zero edge lines up with one arm of the angle and that the other arm crosses the protractor's scale.
Remember that a right angle is 90° and looks like the capital letter "L." Determine if the angle you are measuring looks greater than 90° (obtuse angle) or less than 90° (acute angle).
If it looks greater than 90°, then read along the outer scale. If it is less than 90°, then use the inner scale.
Things You'll Need
Tips
References
Tips
- Know that 0° and 180° may not be marked on the protractor. They are at the same level as the straight edge.
- Always use the correct scale.
- Check whether the numbers are increasing or decreasing. This will verify that you are using the correct scale.
- If the arms of the angle are too short, place the ruler along the arm and extend it so it crosses the semicircular outer edge of the protractor. This does not change the angle.
About the Author
Anjali Amit is a children's book author with two published books. She has a master's degree in English literature. Amit has worn many hats including banker, tax accountant, writer, bookkeeper and teacher. She has been published in "Highlights," "Kite Tales," "Viatouch," "Stories for Children," "Fandangle" and "Imagination Cafe."
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