Premises of Geometry and Postulates of Geometry

Objectives: The student will be able to apply the premises of

geometry by solving algebraic and basic geometric proofs.
The student will be able to apply the postulates of geometry by using
them to solve basic geometry proofs.
Anticipatory Set (used also as Bell Ringer Activity):
The students will draw a straight line on a given piece of paper by
using only the paper and their pencil. Then the students will explain
how they completed the problem in a few sentences.
Go over their ideas on drawing a straight line on a given piece of paper
by using only the paper and their pencil students randomly using AskPause-Call.
Information:
The process for geometric proofs is the same as for logic proofs except
there are different types of premises.
1. Undefined termspoint, line, and planeand you have a list of
definitions in your notebook
2. Properties of arithmetic, equality, and congruence
3. Postulates of geometry
4. Previously accepted or proven geometric connectors
The students will already be familiar with the undefended and
definition premise and should have examples in their notebooks.
Now we will take a closer look at the second group of premises:
properties of algebra, equality, and congruence.
Properties of Algebra:

Commutative Property of Addition says that a + b = b + a

Commutative Property of Multiplication says that a b = b a
Associative Property of Addition says that a + (b + c) = (a + b)
+c
Associative Property of Multiplication says that a (b c) = (a
b) c

Distributive Property says that a (b + c) = a b + a c

Properties of Equality:
These properties my not be familiar to the students, but they have
used them in mathematics before, its now just adding the proper name
to properties they already know.

The reflexive property of equality says that a=a. In other words,

any number is equal to itself. Also know as the identity property.
The transitive property of equality says that if a = b and b = c,
then a = c.
This property often takes the form of the substitution property,
which says that if a = b, then a may be replaced by b in an
algebraic expression. For example, if x + a = c and a = b, then x
+ b = c.
The symmetric property of equality says that if a = b, the b = a.
The addition property of equality says that if a = b, then a + c =
b + c.
The subtraction property of equality says that if a = b, then a - c
= b c.
The multiplication property of equality says that if a = b then, ac
= bc.
The division property of equality says that if a = b, then a / c =
b / c provided c 0.
The zero product property of equality says that if ab = 0 then a =
0 or b =0 or both a = 0 and b = 0.
The square root property of equality says that if a2 = b then a =
b.

Example 1
Equation:

5x 12 = 3(x + 2)

5x 12 = 3(x + 2)
5x 12 = 3x + 6
5x = 3x + 18

Given
Distributive property
Addition property of equality

2x = 18

Subtraction property of

equality
x=9

Division property of

equality

Example 2
Conjecture: If ax + b = c, then x= c b provided a 0
a
Proof:

ax + b = c

Given

ax = c - b

Subtraction property of

x=cb

Division property of

equality
equality
a

Postulates of Geometry
Postulates are so basic that we can accept them as true with little
debate.
Postulate 1
You can construct exactly on line through any two points (Line
Postulate)
Postulate 2
The intersection of two lines is exactly one point (Line
Intersection Postulate)
Postulate 3

You can construct exactly one midpoint on an line segment

(Midpoint Postulate)

Postulate 4
You can construct exactly one angle bisector in any angle (Angle
Bisector Postulate)
Postulate 5
Through a point not on a given line, you can construct exactly
one lime parallel to the given line (Parallel Postulate)
Postulate 6
Through a point not on a given line, you can construct exactly
one line perpendicular to the given line (Perpendicular
Postulate)
Postulate 7
If point B is on AC and between points A and C, then AB + BC =
AC (Segment Addition Postulate)
Postulate 8
If the point D lies in the interior of
ABC then m
DBC = m ABC (Angle Addition Postulate)

ABD + m

The following postulates are based on some of the most basis and
useful of your geometric conjectures.
Postulate 9
If two angles are a linear pair, then they are supplementary
(Linear Pair Postulate)
Postulate 10
If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the alternate
interior angles are congruent. Conversely, it two lines are cut by
a transversal forming congruent alternate interior angles, then
the lines are parallel (AIA Postulate)
Postulate 11
If the three sides of one triangle are congruent to three sides of
another triangle, the two triangles are congruent (SSS
Congruence Postulate)
Postulate 12
If the two sides and the angle between them in one triangle are
congruent to two sides and the angle between them in another

triangle, then the two triangles are congruent (SAS Congruence

Postulate)
Postulate 13
If two angles and the side between them in one triangle are
congruent to two angles and the side between them in another
triangle, then the two triangles are congruent (ASA Congruent
Postulate)
Guided Practice:
In the textbook students will do:
15.1
9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21
15.2
1, 3, 10, 13
Independent Practice (Homework):
In the textbook students will do:
15.1
7, 8, 10, 14, and 20
15.2
2, 5, 12, 14