Dictionary Definition
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a degree as "a unit of measurement of angles or circular arcs, being an angle equal to the 90th part of a right angle, or an arc equal to the 360th part of the circumference of a circle (which subtends this angle at the centre)."A Real Example of Degrees
An angle measured in degrees is written as number followed by the degree symbol °:
This is 90° (said as "90 degrees").
360 Degrees in a Circle
There are 360 degrees in a full rotation (a circle). One degree is 1⁄360th of a circle.
How to Measure an Angle in Degrees
The number of degrees in an angle can be measured directly using a protractor:
Alternatively, geometry and trigonometry can be used to find angles.
Important Angles in Degrees
- 90° is a right angle, a quarter of a rotation.
- 180° is a straight angle, a half of a rotation.
- 270° is three quarters of a rotation.
- 360° is a full angle, a whole rotation.
This page was written by Stephen Clarke.
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