GEOMETRY THEOREMS AND PROOFS

Rational:
The policy of the JRAHS Mathematics Staff when teaching Geometry Proofs is to have students present a
solution in which there is a full equation showing the geometric property that is being used and a
worded reason that again identifies the geometric property that is being used.

EXAMPLE: B
Find the value of x.
73

42
A
x

EQUATION REASON COMMENT

x 42 73 180 (Angle sum of Desired level of proof to be reproduced by students
x 115 180 ABC equals 180 ) full equation contains geometric property and
reason contains geometric property
x 65

General Notes:
(1) the word equals may be replaced by the symbol = or words such as is
(2) abbreviation such as coint, alt, vert opp, etc are not to be used words are to be written in
full
(3) the angle symbol (), the triangle symbol (), the parallel symbol (||), the perpendicular symbol
(), etc are not to be used as substitutes for words unless used with labels such as PQR, ABC,
AB||XY, PQST
(4) If the geometric shape is not labelled then the students may introduce their own labels or refer to the
shape in general terms such as angle sum of triangle = 180o or angle sum of straight angle = 180o

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 1

Revolution, Straight Angles, Adjacent angles, Vertically opposite angles
The sum of angles about a point is 360o. (angles in a revolution)

Find the value of x. 2 x x 60 165 360 (angle sum at a point P

C equals 360o)
3 x 225 360
B 3 x 135
x 45
60
2x x
P
165
A
D

A right angle equals 90o.

AB is perpendicular to BC. Find the value of x. x 36 90 (angle sum of right angle ABC
A equals 90o)
x 54

x
36
B C

A straight angle equals 180o.

FMJ is a straight segment. Find the value of x. 2 x 4 x 46 50 180 (angle sum of straight
angle FMJ equals 180o)
H 6 x 96 180
6 x 84
I
x 14
G

46 4x
2x 50
F M J

Three points are collinear if they form a straight angle

Given that AKB is a straight line. 3 x 2 x 180 (angle sum of straight angle AKB
Prove that the points P, K and Q are collinear. equals 180o)
5 x 180
A
x 36
P
PK Q 3 x 72
3x
3 36 72
72 2x
K 180
P, K and Q are collinear (PKQ is a straight
Q B angle) *
o
* PKQ equals 180

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 2

Vertically opposite angles are equal.

AC and DE are straight lines. Find the value of y. y 29 67 (vertically opposite angles are equal)
y 38
A D

29
67 B
y

E C

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 3

Angles and Parallel Lines
Alternate angles on parallel lines are equal.

All lines are straight. Find the value of x. x 59 (alternate angles are equal as AB||CD)

E
C D
x
o
F >>

o
A G 59
>> B

Corresponding angles on parallel lines are equal.

All lines are straight. Find the value of x. x 137 (corresponding angles are equal as
AB||CD)
E

o
x B
A G >>
o
137
>>
C H D

Cointerior angles on parallel lines are supplementary.

All lines are straight. Find the value of x. x 125 180 (cointerior angles are
supplementary as AB||CD)
E x 55

B
A G x
o >>
o
125
>>
C H D

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 4

Two lines are parallel if a pair of alternate angles are equal

Prove that AB // CD
E AGH GHD (both 73o) **
AB || CD (alternate angles are equal)
A
G B
73
** equality of the angles involved must be clearly
indicated
C H 73 D

Two lines are parallel if a pair of corresponding angles are equal

Prove that AB // CD EGB = GHD (both 65o) **

E AB || CD (corresponding angles are equal)

A
G 65 B
** equality of the angles involved must be clearly
indicated
C H 65 D

Two lines are parallel if a pair of cointerior angles are supplementary

Prove that PR // KM RQL + QLM = 124o + 56o **

X = 180o

R PR || KM (cointerior angles are

P Q supplementary)
124

* RQL + QLR = 180o

K L 56 M
** supplementary nature of the angles involved
must be clearly indicated
Y

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 5

Angles in Polygons
The angle sum of a triangle is 180o.

Find the value of x. x 67 34 180 (angle sum of ABC equals

180o)
A x 101 180
x 79
o
67

o
x o
B 34
C

The exterior angle of a triangle equals the sum of the opposite (or remote) interior angles.

Find the value of x. x 68 47 (exterior angle of ABC equals sum

of the two opposite interior angles)
B x 115
o
47
* exterior angle of ABC equals sum of remote
interior angles

o
68 xo
A C D

The angle sum of the exterior angles of a triangle is 360o.

Find the value of x. x 157 128 360 (sum of exterior angles of

ABC equals 360o)
x 285 360
B
x 75
o
157
o
128
A xo C

The angles opposite equal sides of a triangle are equal. (converse is true)

Find the value of x. x 54 (equal angles are opposite equal sides in

C ABC ) *

o
54

=
* base angles of isosceles ABC are equal

|| xo
A B

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 6

The sides opposite equal angles of a triangle are equal (converse is true).

Find the value of x. x 15 (equal sides are opposite equal angles in

A ABC )

o
65

12 x

o
65
B 15 C

All angles at the vertices of an equilateral triangle are 60o.

ABC is equilateral. EC and DB are angle ACB = 60o (all angles of an equilateral triangle
bisectors and meet at P. Find the size of CPB. are 60o)
similarly ABC = 60o
A ECB = 30o (EC bisects ACB)
similarly DBC = 30o
CPB + 60o = 180o (angle sum of PCB equals
180o)
D E CPB = 120o
P

C B

The angle sum of a quadrilateral is 360o.

Find the value of x. 4 x 200 360 (angle sum of quadrilateral ABCD

equals 360o)
A 4 x 160
o x 40
130
o D
3x

o
x
B o
70

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 7

The angle sum of a n-sided polygon is 180(n 2)o or (2n 4) right angles.

Find the value of x.

B Angle sum of a pentagon = 3 180o
= 540o
87 x + 450 = 540 (angle sum of pentagon equals
C 540o)
106 x = 90

A 92
165
D
x

180n 2
o

The angle at each vertex of a regular n-sided polygon is .

n

Find the size of each interior angle of a regular 180 4

hexagon Angle size
6
120

The angle sum of the exterior angles of a n-sided polygon is 360o.

Find the size of each interior angle of a regular Sum of exterior angles = 360o
decagon. 360
o

Exterior angles =
10
= 36o
Interior angles = 144o (angle sum of straight angle
equals 180o)

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 8

Similar Triangles
Two triangles are similar if two angles of one triangle are equal to two angles of the other triangle.

Prove that ABC and DCA are similar. In ABC and DCA
ABC = ACD (given)
D BAC = ADC (given)
A ABC ||| DCA (equiangular) *


* The abbreviations AA or AAA are not to be
accepted
*
B *
C

Two triangles are similar if the ratio of two pairs sides are equal and the angles included by these
sides are equal.

Prove that ABC and ACD are similar. In ABC and ACD
BCA = ACD (given)
A BC 36 3

AC 24 2
B AC 24 3

DC 16 2
D BCA ||| ACD (sides about equal angles are in
24 the same ratio) *
36
16 * sides about equal angles are in proportion
* *
C

Two triangles are similar if the ratio of the three pairs of sides are equal.

Prove that ABC and ACD are similar. In ABC and ACD
AB 16 4

A CD 12 3
18
D BC 32 4

AC 24 3
16 AC 24 4
24 12
AD 18 3
ABC ||| DCA (three pairs of sides in the same
ratio) *
B 32 C
* three pairs of sides in proportion

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 9

Example problem:
Given that AB // PQ , find the value of x. In ABC and PQC
ABC PQC (corresponding angles are equal
A as AB // PQ )
ACB PCQ (common)
x cm P
ABC ||| PQC (equiangular)
9 cm x 20
(corresponding sides in similar triangles
9 12
B 8 cm Q 12 cm C are in the same ratio) *
20
x 9
12
x 15

* corresponding sides in similar triangles are in

proportion

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 10

Congruent Triangles
Two triangles are congruent if three sides of one triangle are equal to three sides of the other
triangle.

Given that AC = BD and AB = CD. In CAB and BDC.

Prove that CAB BDC. AC = BD (both 8) or (given) or (data)
AB = CD (both 12) or (given) or (data)
A 8 C CB = CB (common) or CB is common
CAB BDC (SSS)
12
or
12
In CAB and BDC.
B 8 D AC = BD = 8
AB = CD = 12
CB = CB (common) or CB is common
CAB BDC (SSS)

Two triangles are congruent if two sides of one triangle are equal to two sides of the other triangle
and the angles included by these sides are equal.

Given that AC = BD and CAB = DBA. In CAB and DBA

Prove that CAB DBA. AB = AB (common) or AB is common
AC = BD (given)
C
D
CAB = DBA (given)
CAB DBA (SAS)

= =

A B

Two triangles are congruent if two angles of one triangle are equal to two angles of the other
triangle and one pair of corresponding sides are equal.

Given that AB = CD and EAB = ECD. In ABE and CDE.

Prove that ABE CDE. AB = CD (given)
EAB = ECD (given)
A C AEB = CED (vertically opposite angles are
equal)

* * ABE CDE (AAS)

= E
=

B D

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 11

Two right- angled triangles are congruent if their hypotenuse are equal and a pair of sides are also
equal.

Given that CD = AD. Prove that ABD CBD. In ABD and CBD
C BCD = BAD (both 90o)
CD = AD (given)
DB = DB (common)
= ABD CBD (RHS)
D
B
=
A

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 12

Intercepts and Parallels
An interval joining the midpoints of the sides of a triangle is parallel to the third side and half its
length.

E and F are midpoints of AB and AC. EF=BC (interval joining midpoints of sides of
G and H are midpoints of FB and FC. ABC is half the length 3rd side)
Prove that EF = GH. Similarly in BFC , GH=BC
EF = GH
A

(Note: It can also be proven that EF and GH are

parallel)
E F

G H

B C

An interval parallel to a side of a triangle divides the other sides in the same ratio. (converse is true)

Find the value of x. x 20

(interval parallel to side of ABC divides
9 15
A other sides in same ratio)
x = 12
15 9

I > J
20
x

B > C

Parallel lines preserve the ratio of intercepts on transversals. (converse is not true)

Find the value of x. x 18

(parallel lines preserve the ratios of
32 24
intercepts on transversals) *
x = 24
> 18
x
>
24
32 * intercepts on parallel lines are in the same ratio
> * intercepts on parallel lines are in proportion

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 13

Circles and Chords or Arcs
Equal chords subtend equal arcs on a circle. (converse is true)

Equal arcs subtend equal chords on a circle. (converse is true)

Equal chords subtend equal angles at the centre of a circle. (converse is true)

AB = EF. Find the value of x. x = 68 (equal chords subtend equal angles at the
centre)
A

E
68
B x
O

Equal arcs subtend equal angles at the centre of a circle. (converse is true)

arc AB = arc EF. Find the value of x. x = 68 (equal arcs subtend equal angles at the
centre)
A

E
68
B x
O

Equal angles at the centre of a circle subtend equal chords. (converse is true)

Chord EF = 16cm, find the length of chord AB. AB = 16 cm (equal angles at the centre subtend
equal chords)

A E

O
75 75

B F

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 14

Equal angles at the centre of a circle subtend equal arcs. (converse is true)

arc EF = 16cm, find the length of arc AB. arc AB = 16 cm (equal angles at the centre subtend
equal arcs)

A
E
O
75 75 16 cm

B
F

A line through the centre of a circle perpendicular to a chord bisects the chord. (converse is true)

O is the centre of the circle. Find the length of AP. AP = 8 cm (interval through center perpendicular to
chord AB bisects the chord)
B

8 cm
P
O

A line through the centre of a circle that bisects a chord is perpendicular to the chord. (converse is true)

Find the size of OEB. interval through centre bisecting

OEB 90
chord BC is perpendicular to the chord

O
6 cm C
6 cm
E
B

NOTE: It can be proven that the perpendicular bisector of a chord passes through the center of the
circle.

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 15

Chords equidistant from the centre of a circle are equal. (converse is true)

Find the length of XY. AB = 10 cm (interval through centre perpendicular

to chord AB bisects the chord)
A XY = 10 cm (chords equidistant from the centre of
P a circle are equal)
5cm
B
=
O
= Y
Q
X

Equal chords are equidistant from the centre of a circle. (converse is true)

Find the length of OL. IH = FG = 14

OL = 10 (equal chords are the equidistant from the
I centre)
F
7
7
M
L 5
7
7
O
H
G

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 16

Angles in Circles
The angle at the centre of a circle is twice the angle at the circumference standing on the same arc.
The angle at the circumference of a circle is half the angle at the centre standing on the same arc.

(i) Find the value of y. (i) y = 108 (angle at centre equals twice angle
circumference standing on arc AB)
A

Note: use arc AB and not chord AB the

54 statement is not necessarily true for
chords
O
y

B C

(ii) Find the value of x. (ii) x = 47 (angle at circumference equals half

A angle at centre standing on arc AB)

94

B C

Angles at the circumference standing on the same arc are equal

or
Angles at the circumference in the same segment are equal. (converse is true)

Find the value of x. x = 41 (angles at the circumference on the same

arc PQ are equal)
R
(Note: use arc PQ and not chord PQ the
statement is not necessarily true for chords)
S
x

41 O or

x = 41 (angles at the circumference in the same

segment equal)
Q
P

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 17

Equal arcs subtend equal angles at the circumference. (converse is true)

arc AB = arc CD. Find the value of x. x = 37 (Equal arcs subtend equal angles at the
circumference)
F
E
37 Note: the statement is not necessarily true for
A equal chords
x

B
D
C
Equal angles at the circumference subtend equal arcs.

Find the length of arc PQ. PQ = 8 cm (Equal angles at the circumference

subtend equal arcs)
X

25
N Y

8 cm
25
M

Q
P

The angle at the circumference in a semi-circle is 90o.

AB is a diameter. Find the value of x. AP B 90 (angle at circumference in semi-circle

P equals 90o)
x + 128 = 180 (angle sum of APB equals 180o)
x = 52

x 38
A O B
A right angle at the circumference subtends a diameter
If AC B 90 then AB is a diameter.
C

A B

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 18

A radius (diameter) of a circle is perpendicular to the tangent at their point of contact

STU is a tangent at T. Find the size of TOU. OTU = 90o (radius is perpendicular to tangent at
point of contact)
TOU + 116o = 180o (angle sum of OUT equals
180o)
O
TOU = 64o
26
U
T
S
The angle between a tangent and a chord equals the angle at the circumference in the alternate
segment.

Find the size of RTN. RTN = 93o (angle between tangent and chord
equals angle at circumference in
alternate segment)
R

S 93

M
T
N

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 19

Cyclic Quadrilaterals
The opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral are supplementary. (converse is true)

Find the value of x. x + 87 = 180 (opposite angles of cyclic

quadrilateral ABCD are
A supplementary)
x = 93
o
87

B
* opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral are
supplementary
D
o
x
C

The exterior angle of a cyclic quadrilateral equals the opposite (or remote) interior angle. (converse
is true)

Find the size of ADE. ADE = 112o (exterior angle of cyclic

quadrilateral ABCD equals
opposite interior angle)
C D
E or

ADE = 112o (exterior angle of cyclic

quadrilateral ABCD equals
remote interior angle)
o
112
B
A

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 20

Intercept Theorems
The product of the intercepts on intersecting chords are equal. (converse is true)

Find the value of x. x 8 = 12 18 (product of intercepts on

intersecting chords are equal)
P x = 27

B
12 8

x
18

A Q

The product of the intercepts on intersecting secants are equal.

Find the value of x. x 9 9 15 12(product of intercepts on

intersecting secants are equal)
12 T 9x + 81 = 180
P Q 9x = 99
3 9 x = 11
B
x

The square of the intercept on tangent to a circle equals the product of the intercepts on the secant.

Find the value of x. x 2 16 4 (square of intercept on tangent to

circle equals product of intercepts
on secant)
T
x2 = 64
x x = 8 (length > 0)

P
4
B
12

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 21

Intercepts on tangents drawn from a point to a circle are equal.

Find the value of x. x = 35 (intercepts on tangents

from a point to a circle
are equal)
x

35

The line joining the centers of two circles passes through their point of contact

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 22

Converses of Cyclic Quadrilateral theorems
If the opposite angles of a quadrilateral are supplementary then the quadrilateral is cyclic.

XA and YB are altitudes of XYZ. Prove that AZBP YBZ = 90o (YB is an altitude)
is a cyclic quadrilateral. XAZ = 90o (XA is an altitude)
PBZ + PAZ = 180o
Z AZBP is cyclic (opposite angles are
B
supplementary)
X

P
A

If the exterior angle of a quadrilateral equals the opposite interior angle then the quadrilateral is
cyclic.

Prove that ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral. DAB = TCB (both 87o)

ABCD is a cyclic (exterior angle equals opposite
T interior angle)
C
o
D 87

o
87
A
B

If a side of a quadrilateral subtends equal angles at the other two vertices then the quadrilateral is
cyclic.
OR
If an interval subtends equal angles on the same side at two points then the ends of the interval and
the two points are concyclic.

XA and YB are altitudes of XYZ. Prove that XBAY XBY = 90o (YB is an altitude)
are the vertices of a cyclic quadrilateral. XAY = 90o (XA is an altitude)
XBA = XAY = 90o
B
Z XBAY is cyclic (XY subtends equal angles on
X
the same side at A and B)

P
A

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 23

If the product of the intercepts on intersecting intervals are equal then the endpoints of the intervals
are concyclic.

Prove that points A, C, B and D are concyclic. AF FB DF FC 36

A A, C, B and D are concyclic (product of
C intercepts are equal)

9 6
F
6
4
B
D

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 24

Pythagoras Theorem
Pythagoras Theorem: The square on the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares on the other two
sides in a right angled triangle.

Find the value of x. x 2 12 2 15 2 (Pythagoras Theorem)

x 2 225 144
81
15 x9
x
or

x 9 (3,4,5 Pythagorean Triad)

12

A triangle is right-angled if the square on the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares on the other
two sides (converse of Pythagoras Theorem)

Prove that ABC is right-angled BC 2 10 2

B 100
AB 2 AC 2 6 2 8 2
10 cm
36 64
6 cm
100
AB 2 AC 2 BC 2
A C ABC is right-angled (Pythagoras theorem
8 cm
converse)

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 25

Quadrilateral Properties
Trapezium
One pair of sides of a trapezium are parallel
The non-parallel sides of an isosceles trapezium are equal

Parallelogram
The opposite sides of a parallelogram are parallel
The opposite sides of a parallelogram are equal
The opposite angles of a parallelogram are equal
The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other
A parallelogram has point symmetry

Kite
Two pairs of adjacent sides of a kite are equal
One diagonal of a kite bisects the other diagonal
One diagonal of a kite bisects the opposite angles
The diagonals of a kite are perpendicular
A kite has one axis of symmetry

Rhombus
The opposite sides of a rhombus are parallel
All sides of a rhombus are equal
The opposite angles of a rhombus are equal
The diagonals of a rhombus bisect the opposite angles
The diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other
The diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular
A rhombus has two axes of symmetry
A rhombus has point symmetry

Rectangle
The opposite sides of a rectangle are parallel
The opposite sides of a rectangle are equal
All angles at the vertices of a rectangle are 90o
The diagonals of a rectangle are equal
The diagonals of a rectangle bisect each other
A rectangle has two axes of symmetry
A rectangle has point symmetry

Square
Opposite sides of a square are parallel
All sides of a square are equal
All angles at the vertices of a square are 90o
The diagonals of a square are equal
The diagonals of a square bisect the opposite angles
The diagonals of a square bisect each other
The diagonals of a square are perpendicular
A square has four axes of symmetry
A square has point symmetry

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 26

Sufficiency conditions for Quadrilaterals
Sufficiency conditions for parallelograms
A quadrilateral is a parallelogram if
both pairs of opposite sides are parallel or
both pairs of opposite sides are equal or
both pairs of opposite angles are equal or
the diagonals bisect each other or
one pair of sides are equal and parallel

JRAHS Geometry Proofs (SV) 30/5/05 27