What is 90° Angle?

A right angle, often referred to as a 90° angle, is an angle formed by the meeting of line segments that are perpendicular to each other. In other words, they meet in such a way that, in the end, they enclose the corners of a square.

Properties of Right Angle

• Measures Exactly 90 Degrees: A right angle always measures exactly 90 degrees. It’s one-fourth of a full circle.
• Forms a Perfect “L” Shape: When two lines meet to form a right angle, they make a perfect “L” shape.
• Found in Squares and Rectangles: All four angles in squares and rectangles are right angles. This helps give these shapes their straight, even sides.
• Indicated by a Small Square: In drawings or diagrams, a right angle is often shown with a small square at the corner to indicate it is 90 degrees.
• Basis for Perpendicular Lines: If two lines meet and form a right angle, they are called perpendicular lines. This means they cross each other to create a 90-degree angle.

In geometry, learning how to make a 90°, also called a right angle, is fundamental. Not only is it helpful in the construction of other angles like that of 60°, 45°, 120°, 30°, etc., but it also has lots of practical applications in real life, among which are distance measurements between planets and construction of buildings and other infrastructures. Although 90° can be quickly drawn with a protractor, this is an essential skill for students to accurately construct 90° with a compass and ruler.

In this article, we will learn to draw an angle of 90 degrees with a compass and ruler step by step.