What degree is a obtuse angle?

Obtuse Angles: Not as Confusing as They Sound

Geometry, right? It can sound intimidating, but honestly, it’s all about shapes and angles, things we see every single day. And one angle that often pops up is the obtuse angle. So, what exactly is an obtuse angle? Let’s break it down in a way that actually makes sense.

Basically, an obtuse angle is any angle that’s bigger than a right angle (that perfect corner, 90 degrees) but not quite a straight line (180 degrees). Think of it like this: if a right angle is an “L” shape, an obtuse angle is like leaning back a little further. It’s wider, more relaxed, you could say.

Now, let’s get a little more specific. We know it’s somewhere between 90 and 180 degrees. So, 91 degrees? Obtuse. 150 degrees? Definitely obtuse. 179 degrees? You bet. Anything in that range fits the bill.

What makes obtuse angles interesting? Well, for starters, they’re always bigger than those sharp little acute angles (less than 90 degrees). And, of course, smaller than straight angles, reflex angles (those guys that are bigger than 180 degrees), and a full circle (360 degrees). It’s all relative, you see.

You’ll often find obtuse angles hanging out in triangles. If a triangle has one obtuse angle, we call it an obtuse triangle. The cool thing is, the other two angles in that triangle have to be acute. And get this: the side opposite the obtuse angle is always the longest side of the whole triangle. It’s like the obtuse angle is so big, it needs the longest side to balance it out. These triangles can be scalene (all sides different) or isosceles (two sides the same), but never equilateral (all sides the same).

But obtuse angles aren’t just stuck in textbooks. Look around! You’ll spot them everywhere. Think about the hands on a clock. At 4 o’clock, that’s an obtuse angle right there. Or how about a reclined chair? The angle between the seat and the back? Probably obtuse. Even the roof of a house can form an obtuse angle. And when you’re using scissors, the blades make an obtuse angle as you start to open them. See? They’re all over the place!

Even in more abstract math, obtuse angles play a role. For example, in trigonometry, the cosine of an obtuse angle is always negative. And they can team up with acute angles to form supplementary angles, where the two angles add up to 180 degrees. It’s all connected!

So, next time you hear the term “obtuse angle,” don’t let it intimidate you. Just remember it’s an angle that’s wider than a right angle, but not quite a straight line. Once you start looking, you’ll be surprised at how many you can find in the world around you. Geometry isn’t so scary after all, is it?