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!)