How to explain angles: acute, right or obtuse in angles to your student: Example question
1 November 2026
Children often see angles in shapes and drawings, but it can be tricky to remember the names for different types. Here is a clear example to help your child decide if an angle is acute, right or obtuse using its size in degrees.
Example question
An angle measures 120 degrees.
Step 1: Compare the angle to 90 degrees.
Step 2: 120 is more than 90.
Step 3: Angles more than 90 degrees are called obtuse angles.
The answer is: The angle is obtuse.
Now your child can spot whether an angle is acute, right or obtuse just by looking at its measure. There are more practice questions ready to help them get confident with this skill.
