In polygons, what is a characteristic of consecutive angles?

In polygons, consecutive angles refer to pairs of angles that share a common side and vertex. A key characteristic of these angles in any polygon is that they are supplementary. This means that the measures of two consecutive angles always add up to 180 degrees.

For example, in a quadrilateral such as a rectangle or a square, each interior angle is 90 degrees, and the consecutive angles (like angle A and angle B) will sum to 180 degrees (90 + 90 = 180). This property holds true for all simple polygons regardless of the number of sides. It’s essential for ensuring the overall shape adheres to geometric principles and maintains the characteristics of planar figures.

While other options suggest relationships such as equality or complementary angles, these do not universally apply to all polygons as consecutive angles can vary in measure while still adhering to the supplementary relationship. Hence, identifying that consecutive angles in polygons are always supplementary provides a crucial understanding of polygon properties in geometry.