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Geometry and Trigonometry Difficulty: Medium
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In the figure shown, lines r and s are parallel, and line m intersects both lines. If y<65, which of the following must be true?

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Explanation

Choice B is correct. In the figure shown, the angle measuring y° is congruent to its vertical angle formed by lines s and m , so the measure of the vertical angle is also y°. The vertical angle forms a same-side interior angle pair with the angle measuring x°. It's given that lines r and s are parallel. Therefore, same-side interior angles in the figure are supplementary, which means the sum of the measure of the vertical angle and the measure of the angle measuring x° is 180°, or x + y = 180 . Subtracting x from both sides of this equation yields y=180-x. Substituting 180-x for y in the inequality y<65 yields 180-x<65. Adding x to both sides of this inequality yields 180<65+x. Subtracting 65 from both sides of this inequality yields 115<x, or x>115. Thus, if y<65, it must be true that x>115.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect. x + y must be equal to, not less than, 180 .

Choice D is incorrect. x + y must be equal to, not greater than, 180 .