Chapter 4:
Congruent Triangles
4-1 Congruent Figures
Congruent- when two figures have the same
size and shape
D
A
C E F
B
4-1 Continued
Congruent triangles- two triangles are congruent
if and only if their vertices can be matched up
so that the corresponding parts (angles and
sides) of the triangle are congruent
1. Their corresponding angles are congruent
because congruent triangles have the same
shape.
2. Their corresponding sides are congruent
because congruent triangles have the same
size.
4-1 Continued
Congruent parts of triangles are marked alike.
Congruent triangles must be named in the
same order of congruency.
S
SUN RAY
N U
A Y
R
4-1 Continued
When justifying statements by use of the
definition of congruent triangles, use this
wording:
Corresponding parts of congruent
triangles are congruent, which is written:
Corr. Parts of s are .
4-1 Continued
Congruent polygons- two polygons are
congruent if and only if their vertices can be
matched up so that their corresponding parts
are congruent
B C
A ABFGH
BCDEF
H
D
F
G E
4-2 Some Ways to Prove
Triangles Congruent
Proving triangles
congruent with only G L
three corresponding
parts.
1. Side Side Side
Postulate (SSS)- if
three sides of one O B E T
triangle are congruent
to three sides of another
triangle, then the
triangles are congruent
GOB LET by the SSS Postulate
4-2 Continued
Side Angle Side
Postulate (SAS)- if two J P
sides and the included
angle of one triangle are
congruent to two sides
and the included angle
of another triangle, then E N A K
the triangles are
congruent
JEN PAK by the SAS Postulate
4-2 Continued
Angle Side Angle
Postulate (ASA)- if two C O
angles and the included
side of one triangle are
congruent to two angles
and the included side of
another triangle, then A R L Y
the triangles are
congruent
CAR OLY by the ASA Postulate
Proof of ASA Postulate
Statement Reason
Given:E is the midpoint of 1. E is the midpoint of
1. Given
2. Definition of a midpoint
2.
3. Given
Prove: 3.
4. If two lines are perpendicular
then they form congruent adjacent
4. angles.
5. Reflexive property of congruence
5.
6. SAS postulate
T
6.
M J
E
4-3 Using Congruent
Triangles
Learning how to extract information on
segments or angles once it is shown that
they are corresponding parts of congruent
triangles…
4-3 Continued
Statement Reason
1. and 1. Given
Given: AB and CD bisect each other at M 2. Definition of a bisector of a
2. M is the midpoint of
bisect each segment
other at M and of
3. Definition of a midpoint
ll
3. ;
Prove: AD BC 4. Vertical angles are
4.
congruent
5.
5. SAS Postulate
A C 6.
6. Corresponding parts of
M 7. ll congruent triangles are
congruent
7. If two lines are cut by a
D B transversal and alternate
interior angles are
congruent, then the lines
are parallel.
4-3 Continued
A line and a plane are perpendicular if and only if
they intersect and the line is perpendicular to
all lines in the plane that pass through the point
of intersection.
P
O
4-3 Continued
Statement Reason
1. plane X
1. Given
2. ;
Given: PO plane X; 2. Definition of a line
3. m = 90; m = 90
perpendicular to a plane.
AO BO 4.
3. Definition of perpendicular
Prove: PA 5.
lines
P 6.
4. Defintion of congruent
7. angles
8. 5. Given
6. Reflexive Property
X 7. SAS postulate
A B 8. Corresponding parts of
O congruent angles are
congruent.
4-3 Continued
To prove two segments or two angles are
congruent:
1.) Identify two triangles in which the
two segments or angles are corresponding
parts.
2.) Prove that the triangles are
congruent.
3.) State that the two parts are
congruent, using this reason
Corr. Parts of s are .
4-4 The Isosceles Triangle
Theorems
Legs- the congruent sides
of a triangle Vertex
angle
Base- the non-congruent
side of a triangle
Base angles- the angles Leg Leg
at the base of the
triangle
Vertex angle- the angle
opposite the base of the
isosceles triangle Base angles
Base
4-4 Continued
The Isosceles Triangle Theorem- if two sides
of a triangle are congruent, then the angles
opposite those sides are congruent
D B
C
4-4 Continued
Corollary 1- an equilateral triangle is also
equiangular
Corollary 2- an equilateral triangle has three
60 degree angles
Corollary 3- The bisector of the vertex angle
of an isosceles triangle is perpendicular to
the base at its midpoint
4-4 Continued
Theorem 4-2
If two angles of a triangle
are congruent, then the A
sides opposite those
angles are congruent.
Corollary- an equilateral
triangle is also
equilateral D B
C
* Theorem 4-2 is the converse of
Theorem 4-1, and the corollary of
Theorem 4-2 is the converse of
Corollary 1 of Theorem 4-1.
4-5 Other Methods of
Proving Triangles
Congruent
Angle Angle Side Theorem (AAS)- if two
angles and a non-included side of one triangle
are congruent to the corresponding parts of
another triangle, then the triangles are
congruent
A Y
E C U O
4-5 Continued
Hypotenuse- the side opposite the right angle
in a right triangle
Legs- the other two sides of the triangle
hypotenus
e
leg
leg
4-5 Continued
Hypotenuse Leg Theorem- if the hypotenuse
and a leg of one right triangle are congruent to
the corresponding parts of another right
triangle, then the triangles are congruent
O A
C T G N
B
4-5 Continued
Leg-Leg Method- if two legs of one right triangle
are congruent to the two legs of another right
triangle, then the triangles are congruent
Hypotenuse-Acute Angle Method- if the
hypotenuse and an acute angle of one right
triangle are congruent to the hypotenuse and an
acute angle of another right triangle, then the
triangles are congruent
Leg-Acute Angle Method- If a leg and an acute
angle of one right triangle are congruent of the
corresponding parts in another right triangle,
then the triangles are congruent.
4-6 Using More than One
Pair of Congruent Triangles
Statement Reason
Given: 1. Given
1. ; 2. Reflexive property
3. ASA postulate
Prove: 2.
4. Corresponding parts of
3. congruent angles are
4. congruent.
5. 5. Reflexive property
6. SAS postulate (1, 4, 5)
6.
7. Corresponding parts of
B 7. congruent angles are
8. congruent.
8. If two lines form congruent
1 3 O 5
adjacent angles, then the
A
2 6
C lines are perpendicular.
4
D
4-7 Medians, Altitudes, and
Perpendicular Bisectors
Median- a segment from a vertex to the
midpoint of the opposite side in a triangle
B
B
B
A C A
C
A C
4-7 Continued
Altitude- the perpendicular segment from a vertex to a
line that contains the opposite side
In an acute triangle, the three altitudes are all inside the
right triangle.
B
B B
A
A C
A C
C
4-7 Continued
A A
B C
B C
B C
In a right triangle, two of the altitudes are parts of the
triangle. They are the legs of the right triangle. The third
altitude is inside the triangle.
A A
A
L
B C B C
J B C
In an obtuse triangle, two of the altitudes
are outside the triangle.
4-7 Continued
Perpendicular bisector- a line (or ray or
segment) that is perpendicular to the segment
at its midpoint
M N O
p
4-7 Continued
Theorem 4-5
If a point lies on the perpendicular bisector of a
segment, then the point is equidistant from the
endpoints of the segment.
K L J
t
4-7 Continued
Theorem 4-6
If a point is equidistant from the endpoints of a
segment, then the point lies on the
perpendicular bisector of the segment.
*Theorem 4-6 is the converse of Theorem 4-5.
I
1 2
K J
L
4-7 Continued
The distance from a point to a line (or plane)
is defined to be the length of the
perpendicular segment from the point to
the line (or plane).
B
A D
R t
4-7 Continued
Theorem 4-7
If a point lies on the
bisector of an angle,
then the point is
equidistant from the
sides of the angle.
A
G
F
B
D
C
4-7 Continued
Theorem 4-8
If a point is equidistant
from the sides of an
angle, then the point
lies on the bisector of
the angle.
* Theorem 4-8 is the
converse of Theorem 4-
7. K
N
M
J
H
L
The End
(Thank God!)