5.

7 Using Congruent Triangles

Essential Question How can you use congruent triangles to make
an indirect measurement?

Measuring the Width of a River

Work with a partner. The figure
shows how a surveyor can measure B
the width of a river by making
measurements on only one side
CRITIQUING of the river.
THE REASONING C
a. Study the figure. Then explain D
OF OTHERS how the surveyor can find the
A
To be proficient in math, width of the river.
you need to listen to or
read the arguments of b. Write a proof to verify that
others, decide whether they the method you described in
make sense, and ask useful part (a) is valid. E
questions to clarify or Given
— ≅ CD
∠A is a right angle, ∠D is a right angle, AC —
improve the arguments.
c. Exchange proofs with your partner and discuss the reasoning used.

Measuring the Width of a River

Work with a partner. It was reported
that one of Napoleon’s officers estimated
the width of a river as follows. The
officer stood on the bank of the river and F
lowered the visor on his cap until the
farthest thing visible was the edge of the D G
bank on the other side. He then turned
and noted the point on his side that was
in line with the tip of his visor and his E
eye. The officer then paced the distance
to this point and concluded that distance
was the width of the river.
a. Study the figure. Then explain how the officer concluded that the width of
the river is EG.
b. Write a proof to verify that the conclusion the officer made is correct.
Given ∠DEG is a right angle, ∠DEF is a right angle, ∠EDG ≅ ∠EDF
c. Exchange proofs with your partner and discuss the reasoning used.

Communicate Your Answer

3. How can you use congruent triangles to make an indirect measurement?
4. Why do you think the types of measurements described in Explorations 1 and 2
are called indirect measurements?

Section 5.7 Using Congruent Triangles 277

5.7 Lesson What You Will Learn
Use congruent triangles.
Prove constructions.
Core Vocabul
Vocabulary
larry
Previous Using Congruent Triangles
congruent figures
Congruent triangles have congruent corresponding parts. So, if you can prove that
corresponding parts
two triangles are congruent, then you know that their corresponding parts must be
construction congruent as well.

Using Congruent Triangles

Explain how you can use the given information to prove that the hang glider parts
are congruent.

Q
1 T

S
2

Given ∠1 ≅ ∠2, ∠RTQ ≅ ∠RTS

— ≅ ST
Prove QT —

SOLUTION
If you can show that △QRT ≅ △SRT, then you will know that QT— ≅ ST—. First, copy
the diagram and mark the given information. Then mark the information that you can
deduce. In this case, ∠RQT and ∠RST are supplementary to congruent angles, so
∠RQT ≅ ∠RST. Also, RT — ≅ RT
— by the Reflexive Property of Congruence
(Theorem 2.1).

Mark given information. Mark deduced information.

R R

Q T S Q T S
1 2

Two angle pairs and a non-included side are congruent, so by the AAS Congruence
Theorem (Theorem 5.11), △QRT ≅ △SRT.
— ≅ ST
Because corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent, QT —.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

B
1. Explain how you can prove that ∠A ≅ ∠C.

A C

278 Chapter 5 Congruent Triangles

 Using Congruent Triangles for Measurement

Use the following method to find the

MAKING SENSE distance across a river, from point N
to point P.
OF PROBLEMS N P
When you cannot easily • Place a stake at K on the near side
— ⊥ NP
so that NK —.
measure a length directly,
you can make conclusions —.
• Find M, the midpoint of NK
M
about the length indirectly, — ⊥ KL
—
usually by calculations • Locate the point L so that NK L K
based on known lengths. and L, P, and M are collinear.
Explain how this plan allows you to find
the distance.

SOLUTION
— ⊥ NP
Because NK — and NK— ⊥ KL —, ∠N and ∠K are N P
congruent right angles. Because M is the midpoint
—, NM
of NK — ≅ KM —. The vertical angles ∠KML and
M
∠NMP are congruent. So, △MLK ≅ △MPN by the
ASA Congruence Theorem (Theorem 5.10). Then
L K
because corresponding parts of congruent triangles
— ≅ NP
are congruent, KL —. So, you can find the
—.
distance NP across the river by measuring KL

Planning a Proof Involving Pairs of Triangles

Use the given information to write a plan for proof. D

Given ∠1 ≅ ∠2, ∠3 ≅ ∠4 E
2 4
C A
Prove △BCE ≅ △DCE 1 3

SOLUTION B

In △BCE and △DCE, you know that ∠1 ≅ ∠2 and CE — ≅ CE—. If you can show that
— —
CB ≅ CD , then you can use the SAS Congruence Theorem (Theorem 5.5).
— ≅ CD
To prove that CB —, you can first prove that △CBA ≅ △CDA. You are given
∠1 ≅ ∠2 and ∠3 ≅ ∠4. CA — ≅ CA — by the Reflexive Property of Congruence
(Theorem 2.1). You can use the ASA Congruence Theorem (Theorem 5.10) to prove
that △CBA ≅ △CDA.

Plan for Proof Use the ASA Congruence Theorem (Theorem 5.10) to prove that
△CBA ≅ △CDA. Then state that CB— ≅ CD
—. Use the SAS Congruence Theorem
(Theorem 5.5) to prove that △BCE ≅ △DCE.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

2. In Example 2, does it matter how far from point N you place a stake
at point K? Explain. P Q
3. Write a plan to prove that △PTU ≅ △UQP.
R
S

T U

Section 5.7 Using Congruent Triangles 279

 Proving Constructions
Recall that you can use a compass and a straightedge to copy an angle. The
construction is shown below. You can use congruent triangles to prove that this
construction is valid.
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
C C C

A B A B A B
F F

D E D E D E

Draw a segment Draw an arc Draw a ray

and arcs Draw an arc with radius Draw $$$⃗
DF. In Example 4,
To copy ∠A, draw a BC and center E. Label you will prove that
segment with initial the intersection F. ∠D ≅ ∠A.
point D. Draw an arc
with center A. Using the
same radius, draw an
arc with center D. Label
points B, C, and E.

Proving a Construction

Write a proof to verify that the construction for copying an angle is valid.

SOLUTION
— and EF
Add BC — to the diagram. In the construction, one
—, DE
compass setting determines AB —, AC—, and DF
—, and C
— —
another compass setting determines BC and EF . So, you
can assume the following as given statements. A B
— ≅ DE
Given AB —, AC
— ≅ DF
—, BC
— ≅ EF
— F

Prove ∠D ≅ ∠A
D E
Plan Show that △DEF ≅ △ABC, so you can conclude
for that the corresponding parts ∠D and ∠A are congruent.
Proof
Plan STATEMENTS REASONS
in
— ≅ DE
Action 1. AB —, AC
— ≅ DF
—, BC
— ≅ EF
— 1. Given
2. △DEF ≅ △ABC 2. SSS Congruence Theorem
(Theorem 5.8)
3. ∠D ≅ ∠A 3. Corresponding parts of congruent
triangles are congruent.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

4. Use the construction of an angle bisector on page 42. What segments can you
assume are congruent?

280 Chapter 5 Congruent Triangles

 5.7 Exercises Dynamic Solutions available at BigIdeasMath.com

Vocabulary and Core Concept Check

1. COMPLETE THE SENTENCE ______________ parts of congruent triangles are congruent.

2. WRITING Describe a situation in which you might choose to use indirect measurement with
congruent triangles to find a measure rather than measuring directly.

Monitoring Progress and Modeling with Mathematics

In Exercises 3–8, explain how to prove that the In Exercises 13 and 14, write a proof to verify that the
statement is true. (See Example 1.) construction is valid. (See Example 4.)
3. ∠A ≅ ∠D 4. ∠Q ≅ ∠T 13. Line perpendicular
to a line through a
A B D S P
point not on the line
Q
M
P A B
C T Q
R
— —
5. JM ≅ LM
— —
6. AC ≅ DB
Plan for Proof Show that △APQ ≅ △BPQ by the
K A B
SSS Congruence Theorem (Theorem 5.8). Then show
that △APM ≅ △BPM using the SAS Congruence
Theorem (Theorem 5.5). Use corresponding parts of
J M L C D congruent triangles to show that ∠AMP and ∠BMP
are right angles.
— —
7. GK ≅ HJ
— —
8. QW ≅ VT
14. Line perpendicular
J G H K T to a line through a
R point on the line
Q
P
S
M U A B
N L
W Q
V

In Exercises 9–12, write a plan to prove that ∠1 ≅ ∠2.

(See Example 3.) Plan for Proof Show that △APQ ≅ △BPQ by
the SSS Congruence Theorem (Theorem 5.8). Use
9. 10. corresponding parts of congruent triangles to show
F G E that ∠QPA and ∠QPB are right angles.

1 2 In Exercises 15 and 16, use the information given in the

J 1 2 diagram to write a proof.
K H A B C D
15. Prove
— ≅ HN
FL — F H
G
11. 12.
J K
P Q A B C
1 T
M
2 1 2
L N
S R F E D

Section 5.7 Using Congruent Triangles 281

16. Prove △PUX ≅ △QSY 20. THOUGHT PROVOKING The Bermuda Triangle is a
region in the Atlantic Ocean in which many ships and
P Q
planes have mysteriously disappeared. The vertices
T
are Miami, San Juan, and Bermuda. Use the Internet
S U
or some other resource to find the side lengths, the
R V perimeter, and the area of this triangle (in miles).
Then create a congruent triangle on land using cities
W
ass vertices.
ver
erti
tice
ces.
s..
X Y
Bermuda

17. MODELING WITH MATHEMATICS Explain how to find

the distance across the canyon. (See Example 2.)

Miami, FL
D E
San Juan, Puerto Rico
B

A C

21. MAKING AN ARGUMENT Your friend claims that

△WZY can be proven congruent to △YXW using
18. HOW DO YOU SEE IT? the HL Congruence W X
Use the tangram puzzle. Theorem (Thm. 5.9).
Is your friend
correct? Explain
a. Which triangle(s)
your reasoning.
have an area that is Z Y
twice the area of the
purple triangle? 22. CRITICAL THINKING Determine whether each
conditional statement is true or false. If the statement
is false, rewrite it as a true statement using the
b. How many times greater is the area of the orange converse, inverse, or contrapositive.
triangle than the area of the purple triangle?
a. If two triangles have the same perimeter, then they
are congruent.
19. PROOF Prove that the green triangles in the Jamaican b. If two triangles are congruent, then they have the
— & BC
flag are congruent if AD — and E is the midpoint same area.
—
of AC .
23. ATTENDING TO PRECISION Which triangles are
A B
congruent to △ABC? Select all that apply.
F M

E
C
D E K L

J Q
D C A B

G H N P

Maintaining Mathematical Proficiency Reviewing what you learned in previous grades and lessons

Find the perimeter of the polygon with the given vertices. (Section 1.4)
24. A(−1, 1), B(4, 1), C(4, −2), D(−1, −2) 25. J(−5, 3), K(−2, 1), L(3, 4)

282 Chapter 5 Congruent Triangles