Writing Proofs

GERALYN T. MACAHILAS
Discussant
Example 1:

Given: ∠𝐴 is an angle
Prove: ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐴

Statement Reason

1. ∠𝐴 is an angle 1. Given

2. m∠𝐴 = 𝑚∠𝐴 2. Reflexive property

of equality

3. ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐴 3. Definition of
congruent angles
Paragraph proof

If ∠𝐴 is an angle, then m∠𝐴 = 𝑚∠𝐴 by

reflexivity. Thus, ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐴.
EXAMPLE 2:
Proof:

Statement Reason

1. O is the midpoint of 1. Given

𝐴𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝐷

2. 𝐴𝑂 ≅ 𝐶𝑂 , 𝐵𝑂 ≅ 𝐷𝑂 2. Definition of a
midpoint
3. 𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝐷𝐶 3. Given

4. ∆𝐴𝑂𝐵 ≅ ∆𝐶𝑂𝐷 4. SSS Congruence

Postulate
Paragraph proof:

If O is the midpoint of 𝐴𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝐷, then

𝐴𝑂 ≅ 𝐶𝑂 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑂 ≅ 𝐷𝑂 . Since 𝐴𝐵 ≅
𝐷𝐶, ∆𝐴𝑂𝐵 ≅ ∆𝐶𝑂𝐷 by SSS Congruence
Postulate.
Example 3:
Proof:

Statement Reason

1. 𝐴𝑀 ≅ 𝐵𝑁 1. Given
2. 𝐵𝑀 ≅ 𝐴𝑁 2. Given

3. 𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝐴𝐵 3. Reflexivity

4. ∆𝐴𝐵𝑀 ≅ ∆𝐵𝐴𝑁 4. SSS Congruence

Postulate

5. ∠M ≅ ∠N 5. CPCTC
Paragraph proof:

Since 𝐴𝑀 ≅ 𝐵𝑁 and 𝐵𝑀 ≅ 𝐴𝑁,

and by reflexivity 𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝐴𝐵,
∆𝐴𝐵𝑀 ≅ ∆𝐵𝐴𝑁 by SSS Congruence
Postulate. If ∆𝐴𝐵𝑀 ≅ ∆𝐵𝐴𝑁, then
∠M ≅ ∠N by CPCTC.
Example 4:
Proof:
Statement Reason

1. 𝐶𝐻 ≅ 𝐸𝐻 1. Given
𝐹𝐻 ≅ 𝐺𝐻
2. ∠FHC≅∠GHE 2. Vertical Angle
Theorem
3. ∆𝐹𝐻𝐶 ≅ ∆GHE 3. SAS Congruence
Postulate

4. ∠C ≅ ∠E 4. CPCTC
Paragraph Proof:

It is given that 𝐶𝐻 ≅
𝐸𝐻 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝐻 ≅ 𝐺𝐻. By the vertical
angle theorem, ∠FHC≅∠GHE. By SAS
Congruence Postulate, ∆𝐹𝐻𝐶 ≅ ∆GHE.
Thus, ∠C ≅ ∠E by CPCTC.
EXAMPLE 5:
Proof:
Statement Reason

1. Definition of Equilateral
1. 𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝐵𝐶
Triangle
2. ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐶 2. Isosceles Triangle
Theorem
3. 𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝐴𝐶 3. Definition of Equilateral
Triangle
4. ∠B ≅ ∠𝐶 4. Isosceles Triangle
Theorem

5. ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠B ≅ ∠𝐶 5. Transitive property
6. Definition of an
6. ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 equiangular triangle
Paragraph proof:

If ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 is an equilateral triangle, then

𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝐵𝐶 and 𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝐴𝐶. By isosceles
triangle theorem, ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐶 and ∠B ≅ ∠𝐶.
By transitivity, ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠B ≅ ∠𝐶. Thus,
∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟.
EXAMPLE 6:
PROOF:
Statement Reason
1. The midpoint of AB is C. 1. Given

2. 𝐴𝐶 ≅ 𝐶𝐵 2. Definition of a midpoint

3. 𝑃𝐶 ≅ 𝑃𝐶 3. Definition of perpendicular
lines
4. ∠PCA 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∠𝑃𝐶𝐵 4. Definition of perpendicular
𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑠 lines
5. ∠PC𝐴 ≅ ∠PCB 5. All right angles are
congruent
6. ∆𝑃𝐶𝐴 ≅ ∆𝑃𝐶𝐵 6. SAS Congruence Postulate

7. 𝑃𝐴 ≅ 𝑃𝐵 7. CPCTC
PARAGRAPH PROOF

If C is the midpoint of AB, then 𝐴𝐶 ≅

𝐶𝐵. By reflexive property, 𝑃𝐶 ≅ 𝑃𝐶.
Since PC ⏊ AB,
∠PCA 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∠𝑃𝐶𝐵 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑠 and
are congruent. By SAS Congruence
Postulate, ∆𝑃𝐶𝐴 ≅ ∆𝑃𝐶𝐵. Thus, by
CPCTC, 𝑃𝐴 ≅ 𝑃𝐵.
ACTIVITY 1:
ACTIVITY 2: