can someone help? The measures of two supplementary angles are in the ratio 2:7 what are the degree measures of the two angles?

Question

anonymous · Answer

2/7  = x / (180 - x)

360 - 2x = 7x

Can you finish it from here?

anonymous · Answer

Sorry I really dont understand much of it. From there do I simplify the equation?

anonymous · Answer

@tcarroll010

anonymous · Answer

mn + xn = (m + x)n

anonymous · Answer

what does m and n represent? haha..

anonymous · Answer

mn - xn = (m - x)n

Use these distributive properties.  Solve for "x" in my original equation.  Angles are "x" and 180 - x

anonymous · Answer

"n" is anything you want it to be.  It's a variable.

anonymous · Answer

Oh okay, let me try it one sec.

anonymous · Answer

I'm sorry I dont get it :( could you give me an outline or something?

anonymous · Answer

If you are having trouble with:

360 - 2x = 7x

add 2x to both sides and get a new equation, one with a "numeric" on one side and on the other side you will have "x" with a coefficient in front of it.  With this new equation, divide both sides by the coefficient.

anonymous · Answer

This start of adding 2x to both sides is done to get "x" on one side of the equation.

anonymous · Answer

Think of "x" as something tangible like apples.  If you have 2 apples in one room and 7 in another, and you want to get all your apples together, you take the 2 apples from one of the rooms and put them with the rest in that other room.  You will still have the same number of apples and that's the key concept.

anonymous · Answer

oh haha ok so it would be, 
360-2x=7x 
360=9x
360/9=40?

anonymous · Answer

x=40?

anonymous · Answer

There!  You got it!  and the other angle is 180 - x

anonymous · Answer

ok so the first angle is 40, and the second is 140?

anonymous · Answer

Notice that 40/140 is the same ratio as 2/7

anonymous · Answer

OH! thank you that helps alot! so when I write it all out I just use the equation then?

anonymous · Answer

And supplementary angles add to 180.  That's why one is 

x

and the other is:

180 - x

x + (180 - x) = 180

anonymous · Answer

Yes.

anonymous · Answer

Ok thank you very much

anonymous · Answer

uw!  Good luck to you in all of your studies and thx for the recognition! @baybay88