Quadrilateral PQRS is inscribed in circle O . Opposite angles P and R measure (x+16)° and (6x−4)° , respectively. Determine the measure of the smaller angle.(1 point) Responses 24° 24° 56° 56° 20° 20° 40°

1 answer

In a cyclic quadrilateral (a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle), opposite angles are supplementary. This means that the sum of the measures of opposite angles equals 180°.

Given:

  • Angle P = \( (x + 16)° \)
  • Angle R = \( (6x - 4)° \)

Setting up the equation for these two opposite angles:

\[ (x + 16) + (6x - 4) = 180 \]

Simplifying this equation:

\[ x + 16 + 6x - 4 = 180 \]

\[ 7x + 12 = 180 \]

Subtracting 12 from both sides:

\[ 7x = 168 \]

Dividing by 7:

\[ x = 24 \]

Now substituting \( x \) back into the expressions for angles P and R:

For angle P:

\[ P = x + 16 = 24 + 16 = 40° \]

For angle R:

\[ R = 6x - 4 = 6(24) - 4 = 144 - 4 = 140° \]

Now, since angles S and Q are also opposite to angles P and R, they must also be supplementary:

\[ S + Q = 180° \]

To find the measures of angles Q and S, we would typically need more information, but we can focus on finding the smaller angle.

We have:

  • Angle P = 40°
  • Angle R = 140°

The smaller angle is \( P = 40° \).

Thus, the measure of the smaller angle is \( \boxed{40°} \).