Triangle Congruence

Triangle Congruence: CPCTC

Key Objectives
Using CPCTC to prove parts of triangles are congruent.

Key Terms
CPCTC is an abbreviation for the phrase "Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles are Congruent," which can be used
as a justification in a proof after two triangles have been shown to be congruent.
Remember, congruent triangles are triangles with corresponding parts (angles and sides) that are congruent. The SSS, SAS,
ASA, AAS, and HL theorems and postulates are used to prove that two triangles are congruent by using some combination
of their corresponding parts. In other words, once some combination of corresponding parts has been shown to be congruent,
then SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, or HL can be used to justify that the two triangles are congruent.
CPCTC works in the opposite way. CPCTC is used to prove that corresponding parts of two triangles are congruent by using
the congruence of two triangles. In other words, once two triangles are shown to be congruent, then CPCTC can be used to
justify that any of their corresponding parts are congruent.
CPCTC is typically used in a proof after SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, or HL has been used to show that the two triangles are
congruent.

Example 1 Measuring Application

Indirect measurement is used in this example to show how
the distance from M to N could be found using only
measurements from Manda's side of the fence. Manda
constructed the two triangles so that M and Q are right
angles and MP = PQ = 20 ft. Use this given information to
explain how she could find MN without actually measuring
that distance.
First, prove that NMP RQP by using ASA since two
angles (M and P) and their included side in NMP are
congruent to two angles (Q and P) and their included
side in RQP.
Then, since the two triangles are congruent, CPCTC can be
used to show that any pair of corresponding parts are
congruent. So, use CPCTC to show that by finding QR, MN
can also be found since QR and MN are the lengths of
corresponding sides.

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Geometry

Example 2 Proving Corresponding Parts Congruent

A flowchart proof is used in this example to prove that two
sides are congruent. Remember, CPCTC can be used to prove
the congruence of a pair of corresponding sides (or angles)
in two triangles, but only after the two triangles are shown
to be congruent. So, the first task in this proof is to show that
AEB CED.
Two pairs of congruent sides are given. Additionally, their
included angles are congruent by the Vertical Angles Theorem
(since AEB and CED are vertical angles). So, the two
triangles must be congruent by SAS.
Now, since AEB CED by SAS, any of their
corresponding parts can be shown to be congruent by CPCTC.

Example 3 Using CPCTC in a Proof

In this proof there are two pieces of given information.
1. Y is the midpoint of XZ.
2. XYW is a right angle.
Notice that the angles to prove congruent, XWY and ZWY,
are corresponding angles in XWY and ZWY. Therefore,
first show that XWY ZWY and then use CPCTC to show
that XWY ZWY.

Example 4 Using CPCTC in a Coordinate Proof

CPCTC can be used in a coordinate proof just as it was used
in other proofs. First show that the two triangles are
congruent, then use CPCTC to show that some pair of
corresponding parts are congruent.
Remember, when given a figure on a coordinate plane, the
lengths of the figure's sides can always be determined by
using the distance formula.
For this proof, first find the length of each side of ABC and
of DEF by using the distance formula. Then, since
DF = AC, EF = BC, and DE = AB, the two triangles are
congruent by SSS. So, since BCA and DFE are
corresponding angles, BCA DFE by CPCTC.

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