An equation is two expressions separated by an equal sign. The key to solving equations is to repeatedly do the same thing to both sides of the equation until the variable is isolated on one side of the equal sign and the answer on the other.

An acute angle measures less than 90°, a right angle measures 90°, and an obtuse angle measures more than 90°.

The area of a trapezoid is one-half the sum of the lengths of the parallel sides multiplied by the height:

a = ½(b + d)(h)
a = ½(4 + 2)(3)
a = ½(6)(3)
a = ½(18) = \( \frac{18}{2} \)
a = 9

When solving an equation with two variables, replace the variables with the values given and then solve the now variable-free equation. (Remember order of operations, PEMDAS, Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction.)

For parallel lines with a transversal, the following relationships apply:

• angles in the same position on different parallel lines equal each other (a° = w°, b° = x°, c° = z°, d° = y°)
• alternate interior angles are equal (a° = z°, b° = y°, c° = w°, d° = x°)
• all acute angles (a° = c° = w° = z°) and all obtuse angles (b° = d° = x° = y°) equal each other
• same-side interior angles are supplementary and add up to 180° (e.g. a° + d° = 180°, d° + c° = 180°)

Applying these relationships starting with x° = 163, the value of c° is 17.