Question

In the given figure, the value of x is: -

(a) \[{{40}^{\circ }}\]
(b) \[{{80}^{\circ }}\]
(c) \[{{35}^{\circ }}\]
(d) \[{{90}^{\circ }}\]

Answer 1

Hint: Take the sum of the given two angles and equate it with 180 degrees by considering XOY as a straight line and the given angles as a linear pair. Solve for the value of x to get the answer.

Complete step-by-step solution
Here, we have been provided with a figure and we have been asked to find the value of x.

Clearly, we can see that XOY is a straight line and a ray is originated from O such that it forms two angles on the line XOY. One angle is given as \[x+{{15}^{\circ }}\] and the other as \[x+{{5}^{\circ }}\]. So, these angles are forming a linear pair. Let us see what is meant by a linear pair.
Now, a linear pair of angles are the angles formed when two lines intersect each other. These angles must be adjacent to each other when the lines intersect. Linear pair of angles always makes a sum of \[{{180}^{\circ }}\], i. e. they are supplementary.

For example: - in the above figure we have assumed two lines intersecting each other at a point. Here, the pairs: - \[\left( \angle 1,\angle 2 \right);\left( \angle 2,\angle 3 \right);\left( \angle 3,\angle 4 \right)\] and \[\left( \angle 4,\angle 1 \right)\] are the four pairs of linear pair angles. So, we can write: -
\[\Rightarrow \angle 1+\angle 2=\angle 2+\angle 3=\angle 3+\angle 4=\angle 4+\angle 1={{180}^{\circ }}\]
Now, let us come to the question. So, from the figure given in the question we can write,
\[\begin{align}
  & \Rightarrow \left( x+{{15}^{\circ }} \right)+\left( x+{{5}^{\circ }} \right)={{180}^{\circ }} \\
 & \Rightarrow 2x+{{20}^{\circ }}={{180}^{\circ }} \\
 & \Rightarrow 2x={{160}^{\circ }} \\
 & \Rightarrow x={{80}^{\circ }} \\
\end{align}\]
Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Note: One may note that here we must not use a protractor to measure the angles drawn in the figure of the question. It may be possible that we will get the wrong answer. So, we must solve it algebraically to find the value of x. Remember the several properties of linear pair angles otherwise, you will not be able to solve the question. At last, remember that the value of x is an angle so do not forget to mention degrees.