GCNU305A.

Unit Sub-Title Solve simple problems involving congruence in

triangles
Unit Code GCNU305A.3

1 Basic Geometry (幾何) Revision

Fact 1 If AOB is a straight line, then a + b =

180.

Ref.: adjacent angles on a straight line ( 直線上的鄰 a

角) A b B
Abbr.: [ adj. s on st. line ] O

Fact 2 If AO, BO, CO and DO meet at O, then B

a + b + c + d = 360. b
O c
A a
Ref.: angles at a point (同頂角) d
Abbr.:[s at a pt. ] C
D

Fact 3 If AB and CD intersect at O, then B

a = b and x = y. C
x

Ref.: vertically opposite angles (對頂角) a b

O
Abbr.: [ vert. opp. s ] A y
D

Fact 4 If AB // CD, then

i) a = b, P
Ref.: corresponding angles (同位角), AB parallels
CD a
A B
Abbr.: [ corr. s, AB // CD ] c
d
ii) c = b,
Ref.: alternated angles (內錯角), AB parallels CD b
Abbr.: [ alt. s, AB // CD ] C D
iii) b + d = 180.
Ref.: interior angles (同旁內角) , AB parallels CD Q
Abbr.: [ int. s, AB // CD ]

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Fact 5 AB and CD are parallel if either

i) a = b, P
Ref.: corresponding angles equal (同位角相等)
Abbr.: [corr. s equal ] a
A B
or c
d
ii) c = b,
Ref.: alternated angles equal (內錯角相等) b
Abbr.: [ alt. s equal ] C D
or
Q
iii) b + d = 180.
Ref.: interior angles supplementary (同旁內角互補)
Abbr.: [ int. s supp ]
Fact 6 In ABC , if C = 90, A

then a2 + b2 = c2.
c
Ref: Pythagoras’ theorem (畢氏定理) b

Abbr.: [ Pyth. theorem ]

B a C

Fact 7 a + b + c = 180 A
Ref: angles sum of a triangle (三角形內角和)
a
Abbr.: [  sum of  ]
b c
B C

Fact 8 If BC is extended to D,
A
then d = a + b.
a
Ref: exterior angles of a triangle (三角形外角) d
b c D
Abbr.: [ ext.  of  ] B
C

A
Fact 9 If AB = AC,
then b = c.
Ref:base angles, isosceles triangle (等腰三角形底
b c
角) B C
Abbr.:[ base s, isos  ]

Fact If AB = BC = AC, A
10 then a = b = c = 60.
a
Ref:property of equilateral triangles (等邊三角形性
質) b c
B C
Abbr.: [ prop. of equil.  ]

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Fact In a convex polygon with n sides, the sum of

a3 a4
11 interior angles is (n - 2) × 180. a2 a5
i.e. a1 + a2 + a3+    + an = (n - 2) × 180
a1
Ref. : angle sum of a polygon (多邊形內角和)
an
Abbr. : [  sum of polygon ]

Fact If the sides of a convex polygon are D E

12 extended in order, the sum of exterior angles C F

is 360.
i.e. A + B + C + …..+ N = 360 B
Ref. : sum of exterior angles of a polygon ( 多邊形外
A N
角和)
Abbr. : [sum of ext. s of polygon ]

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2 Congruent Triangles (全等三角形)

Congruent triangles have the same shape and the same size.

A X
If two triangles are congruent, then
a) each pair of corresponding angles (對應角) are equal.
b) each pair of corresponding sides (對應邊) are equal.

The symbol for congruent is . B C Y Z

If ABC and XYZ are congruent (ABC  XYZ), then

i) A = X , B = Y, C = Z
Ref. : corresponding angles of congruent triangles (全等的對應角)
Abbr. : [ corr. s,   ]
ii) AB = XY, BC = YZ and CA = ZX
Ref. : corresponding sides of congruent triangles (全等的對應邊)
Abbr. : [ corr. sides,  ]

Example 1
In the figure, PQR  XYZ, find a, b and c. P

8 a
Solution:
Q b R
PQR  XYZ ; given
∠P = ∠X ; corr. ∠s,  
Z 35 Y
a=
∠R = ∠Z ; corr. ∠s,   100 c

b= X
XY = PQ ; corr. sides, 
c=

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3 Conditions for Congruent Triangles (全等三角形的判定條件)

SSS Postulate (公設) A X

In ABC and XYZ
If AB = XY, BC = YZ and CA = ZX,
then ABC  XYZ
Ref. : Side - Side - Side (邊 - 邊 - 邊)
Abbr. : [ SSS ] B C Y Z

SAS Postulate
A X
In ABC and XYZ
If AB = XY , CA = ZX and A = X,
then ABC  XYZ
Ref. : Side - Angle - Side (邊 - 角 - 邊)
Abbr. : [ SAS ]
B C Y Z

ASA Postulate A X
In ABC and XYZ
If B = Y, C = Z and BC = YZ ,
then ABC  XYZ
Ref. : Angle - Side - Angle (角 - 邊 - 角)
Abbr. : [ ASA ] C Y Z
B

AAS Postulate A X
In ABC and XYZ
If A = X, B = Y and BC = YZ ,
then ABC  XYZ
Ref. : Angle - Angle - Side (角 - 角 - 邊)
Abbr. : [ AAS ]
B C Y Z

RHS Postulate A X
In ABC and XYZ
If AB = XY , BC = YZ
and C = Z = 90,
then ABC  XYZ
Ref. : Right angle - Hypotenuse - Side (直角 – 斜邊 - 邊)
Abbr. : [ RHS ] B C Y Z
B

There is no SSA
For example, the 2 triangles below are not congruent

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Example 2
In each of the following figures, must the pair of triangles congruent?
a) A
Z

5
5 4
6

X
C Y 6
B
4
b)
C Z X
60 50

x x

50 60
A B Y

c) A Z

3z y y 3z
B C Y X
8 8

d) X Z
A
30
7
3 3
7
30
B C Y

e) Z

10 10
6

X Y
B C 6

Solution:
a) Yes. ABC  ( )
b) Yes. ABC  ( )
c) Yes. ABC  ( )
d) No.
e) Yes. ABC  ( )

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