An angle of 60 degrees is an angle that covers one-sixth of a circular area. It is an acute angle meaning that it is less than 90 degrees. The 60-degree angle can very easily be constructed by using a protractor as shown in the below image. It is also the easiest angle to draw using a ruler and compass (without using a protractor).
How to Construct 60 degree angle:
Step 1: Draw a straight line and draw a point A. The point A will be the vertex of our angle.
Step 2: Keeping the compass needle at point A we draw a circular arc as shown below.
Step 3: The circular arc meets the given line at some point label that point as B.
Step 4: Now keep the compass needle at the point B and draw another circular arc. The two arcs intersect at a point. Label that point as point C.
Step 5: Join the points A and C giving an angle of 60 degrees. The angle BAC in the below image is 60 degrees.
Remarks:
- In an equilateral triangle, all the angles of the triangle are equal to 60 degrees.
- A straight line is an angle of 180 degrees. This means that an angle of 60 degrees occupies one-third of the area of a straight line.
- The angle of 30 degrees can be constructed by bisecting the angle of 60 degrees.
- The 60 degree is the most elementary construction using ruler and compass. The other angles can be constructed by using the 60 degree angle as the foundation.
