Consecutive exterior angles are pairs of angles that are located on the same side of a transversal and outside the two lines that the transversal intersects. These angles are formed when a transversal cuts through two parallel or non-parallel lines.
Here’s a simple explanation:
- When two lines are cut by a transversal, the angles that are on the same side of the transversal and outside the two lines are called consecutive exterior angles.
- If the two lines are parallel, consecutive exterior angles are supplementary, meaning they add up to 180 degrees.
- If the lines are not parallel, consecutive exterior angles are not supplementary.
For example, consider two parallel lines cut by a transversal. If one consecutive exterior angle measures 110 degrees, the other consecutive exterior angle on the same side of the transversal will measure 70 degrees, because 110 + 70 = 180 degrees.
Understanding consecutive exterior angles is important in geometry, especially when dealing with parallel lines and transversals. It helps in solving various problems related to angles and lines.