The reference angle for 240 degrees is 60 degrees. To find the reference angle for an angle in standard position, you need to determine the smallest angle that the terminal side of the given angle makes with the x-axis.
Here’s how you can calculate it:
- First, determine the quadrant in which the angle lies. An angle of 240 degrees lies in the third quadrant because it is between 180 and 270 degrees.
- Next, subtract 180 degrees from the given angle to find the reference angle. For 240 degrees, the calculation is: 240 – 180 = 60 degrees.
So, the reference angle for 240 degrees is 60 degrees. This means that the terminal side of the 240-degree angle is 60 degrees away from the nearest x-axis.