Dr.

Mason, Harrison High The SAS Postulate and its Consequences, Part 2: SSS and ASA

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II. SSS Our Given is three-part: AB = RS, BC = ST and AC = RT. We wish to prove that . Let us say that we transform RST so that RT comes to coincide with AC. On my diagram, triangle ABC will lie above AC and triangle RST will lie below. After the transformation is complete, we will join points B and S. We will find that three cases must be distinguished. (1) BS cuts through the interior of AC. (2) BS goes through point C. (3) BS lies on the outside of our two-triangle composite. Case 1 Case 2 Case 3

Case 1: By the ITT, angle ABS is congruent to angle ASB. Again by the ITT, angle CBS is congruent to angle CSB. Thus the two parts of angle ABC equal the two parts of angle RST. But equals added yield equals, and thus angles ABC and RST are congruent. Finally by SAS, triangle ABC is congruent to triangle RST. Case 2: By the ITT, angles B and S are congruent. Thus by SAS, triangles ABC and RST are congruent. Case 3: Triangle ABS is isosceles. Thus angles ABS and ASB are congruent. Likewise, triangle BCS is isosceles. Thus angles CBS and CSB are congruent. But when equals are subtracted from equals, equals result. Thus angle ABC equals angle RST. SAS then gives us that triangle ABC is congruent to triangle RST. III. ASA Given: B = E, C = F, BC = EF Prove: s BAC and EDF are Assumption: AB is unequal to DE

On our assumption, AB and DE are unequal. Thus one is larger. Let it be AB. Thus we can cut off from AB a segment equal to DE. Mark point G on AB so that GB = DE. By SAS, triangles GBC and DEF are congruent. Thus angle BCG equals angle EFD by CPCTC. But the Given told us that angle EFD equals angle ACB. Thus by the transitive property of equality, angles ACB and GCB are equal. But this is plainly absurd, for angle GCB is clearly less. Thus the assumption made above must be false. We conclude that AB = DE. This together with the remainder of the Given allows us to say that triangles ABC and DEF are congruent by SAS.