Congruent Triangles

Examples
Postulates and theorems on congruent triangles are
discussed using examples. More congruent triangles
problems with detailed solutions are presented.

Side-Angle-Side (SAS) Congruence Postulate

If two sides (CA and CB) and the included angle ( BCA ) of a
triangle are congruent to the corresponding two sides
(C'A' and C'B') and the included angle (B'C'A') in another
triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.

Example 1: Let ABCD be a parallelogram and AC be one of

its diagonals. What can you say about triangles ABC and
CDA? Explain your answer.
Solution to Example 1:
 In a parallelogram, opposite sides are congruent. Hence
sides

BC and AD are congruent, and also sides AB and CD

are congruent.

 In a parallelogram opposite angles are congruent.

Hence angles

ABC and CDA are congruent.

 Two sides and an included angle of triangle ABC are

congruent to two corresponding sides and an included
angle in triangle CDA. According to the above postulate
the two triangles ABC and CDA are congruent.

Side-Side-Side (SSS) Congruence Postulate

If the three sides (AB, BC and CA) of a triangle are congruent
to the corresponding three sides (A'B', B'C' and C'A') in
another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.

Example 2: Let ABCD be a square and AC be one of its

diagonals. What can you say about triangles ABC and CDA?
Explain your answer.

Solution to Example 2:
 In a square, all four sides are congruent. Hence sides

AB and CD are congruent, and also sides BC and DA

are congruent.
  The two triangles also have a common side: AC.
Triangles ABC has three sides congruent to the
corresponding three sides in triangle CDA. According to
the above postulate the two triangles are congruent. The
triangles are also right triangles and isosceles.

Angle-Side-Angle (ASA) Congruence Postulate

If two angles (ACB, ABC) and the included side (BC) of a
triangle are congruent to the corresponding two angles
(A'C'B', A'B'C') and included side (B'C') in another triangle,
then the two triangles are congruent.

Example 3: ABC is an isosceles triangle. BB' is the angle

bisector. Show that triangles ABB' and CBB' are congruent.
Solution to Example 3:
 Since ABC is an isosceles triangle its sides AB and BC
are congruent and also its angles BAB' and BCB' are
congruent. Since BB' is an angle bisector, angles ABB'
and CBB' are congruent.

Two angles and an included side in triangles ABB' are

congruent to two corresponding angles and one included
side in triangle CBB'. According to the above postulate
triangles ABB' and CBB' are congruent.

Angle-Angle-Side (AAS) Congruence Theorem

If two angles (BAC, ACB) and a side opposite one of these
two angles (AB) of a triangle are congruent to the
corresponding two angles (B'A'C', A'C'B') and side (A'B') in
another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent.
Example 4: What can you say about triangles ABC and QPR
shown below.

Solution to Example 4:
 In triangle ABC, the third angle ABC may be calculated
using the theorem that the sum of all three angles in a
triangle is equal to 180 derees. Hence

angle ABC = 180 - (25 + 125) = 30 degrees

 The two triangles have two congruent corresponding

angles and one congruent side.

angles ABC and QPR are congruent. Also angles BAC

and PQR are congruent. Sides BC and PR are
 congruent.

 Two angles and one side in triangle ABC are congruent

to two corresponding angles and one side in triangle
PQR. According to the above theorem they are
congruent.

Right Triangle Congruence Theorem

If the hypotenuse (BC) and a leg (BA) of a right triangle are
congruent to the corresponding hypotenuse (B'C') and leg
(B'A') in another right triangle, then the two triangles are
congruent.

Example 5: Show that the two right triangles shown below

are congruent.
Solution to Example 5:
 We first use Pythagora's theorem to find the length of
side AB in triangle ABC.

length of AB = sqrt [5 2 - 3 2] = 4

 One leg and the hypotenuse in triangle ABC are

congruent to a corresponding leg and hypotenuse in the
right triangle A'B'C'. According to the above theorem,
triangles ABC and B'A'C' are congruent.
More geometry references