Discovering Congruent Triangles Activity Objective: Understanding congruent triangle postulates and theorems using inductive reasoning.

Materials needed: straws, protractor, ruler, and construction paper or cardstock Groups: small groups from 2 to 4 students Have students cut straws into the following lengths: 2 straws 8 centimeters in length 2 straws 11 centimeters in length 2 straws 5 centimeters in length Part 1 1. Have students put the shown. 11 cm 5 cm straws of different lengths together to form a triangle as

8 cm cm

2. !orm another triangle with the other set of straws. 11 cm 5 cm

8 cm cm

. "easure the angles of #oth triangles using a protractor. Questions: 1. $hat are the measures of the angles in the first triangle% 2. $hat are the measures of the angles in the second triangle% . $hat is the relationship #etween the angles of each triangle% 4. &re the triangles congruent%

5. 'an the straws #e rearranged to form a triangle with different angles% Part 2 1. (ake 2 of the straws, place them on a piece of paper, and form a )* degree angle #etween them.

11 cm )*5 cm 2. (ake the 2 straws of the same length and also form a )* degree angle #etween them.

11 cm )*5 cm . +raw a line to represent the

rd

side. ,epeat the process for the 2nd triangle.

11 cm )*5 cm 4. "easure the length of the

rd

11 cm )*5 cm side and the two remaining angles for each triangle.

Questions: 1. $hat is the length of the

rd

side%

2. $hat are the measures of the remaining angles% . &re the two triangles congruent% 4. Use an. two straws and an. angle of .our choice. +o .ou get the same result% $ill .ou alwa.s get the same result% Part 1. "easure three angles measuring 8*, )*, and 4* degrees on the corners of 2 pieces of construction paper or cardstock, cut them out, and la#el them.

8*-

4*)*-

2. /n a piece of paper, take one of the straws, and place two of the cut0out angles on each end as shown. ,epeat the process for the 2nd triangle.

)*-

4*-

)*-

4*-

11 cm

11 cm

. Using a ruler, draw a segment along each of the angle. (he two segments should intersect forming the last angle. ,epeat the process for the 2nd triangle.

)*-

4*-

)*-

4*-

11 cm 4. "easure the Questions: 1. $hat is the measure of the

rd rd

11 cm angle and the lengths of the 2 sides in each triangle.

angle for each triangle%

2. $hat are the measures of the remaining 2 sides for each triangle% . &re the triangles congruent% 4. $hat if .ou used the 5cm straw% (he 8cm straw% & straw with a different length% Part ! 1. Use two of the angles used in the e1ample a#ove. 2. Use one of the straws and place one of the angles alongside it as shown. +raw a long segment like the dashed one in the drawing. ,epeat the process for the 2nd triangle.

4*8 cm

4*8 cm

. 2lace the second angle along this segment so that when a 2nd segment is drawn, it will connect with the end of the straw.

8*-

4*-

8*-

4*-

8 cm

8 cm

4. "easure the Questions:

rd

angle and the two remaining sides.

1. $hat is the measure of the

rd

angle for each triangle%

2. $hat are the measures of the remaining 2 sides for each triangle% . &re the triangles congruent% Part " 1. 2lace two of the straws together forming an angle of an. degree for one triangle, and repeat the process for the 2nd triangle. 8 cm 11 cm 8 cm

11 cm

2. Use one of the pre0cut angles and place alongside the longer of the sides #ut not as the included angle. 8 cm 4*11 cm . +raw a segment to connect the
rd

8 cm 4*11 cm side to the other two sides. 8 cm 4*11 cm 4*11 cm

rd

8 cm

4. 3wing the 8cm straw so that it hits the as in the first. 5. "easure the
rd

side at a different spot in the 2nd triangle

side and the remaining 2 angles in each triangle.

Questions 1. $hat is the measure of the

rd

side for each triangle%

2. $hat are the measures of the remaining 2 angles for each triangle% . &re the two triangles congruent% 4. +o .ou think that .ou would get different results if .ou used a different angle%

Part # 1. 2lace the angles so that the. can form a triangle without measuring the sides initiall.. +raw segments connecting the angles. ,epeat the process for the second triangle.

8*- 4*)*-

8*)*-

4*-

2. "easure the Questions

sides for each triangle.

1. $hat are the measures of the sides for each triangle% 2. &re the two triangles congruent% 4. +raw two triangles for each part, and using the correct marks, show which sides and angles are congruent. "atch the correct shortcut for each set of triangles from the following choices, and tell whether or not the shortcut is valid for proving triangles congruent. 333, 3&3, &&3, &&&, &3&, 33&

3 means that the corresponding sides of the triangles are congruent. & means that the corresponding angles of the triangles are congruent.