Millau Bridge

Millenium Park Sir Norman Foster

Fallingwaters
Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright

Point, Lines, Planes, Angles

1.5 Postulates and Theorems Relating
to Pts, Lines and Planes
 Postulates
Are statements accepted as true
without proof.
They are considered self-evident statements.

They are accepted on faith alone.

 #1 Ruler Postulate
• A] The points on a line can be paired with
the real numbers in such a way that any
two points can have coordinates 0 and 1.
We know this as the number line.

-4 -2 0 2 4 6
Whole numbers and fractions are
not enough to fill up the points on a line.
The spaces that are missing are filled by the irrational numbers.

2 , 3 , 7, 11,  , etc
3 4
 #1 Ruler Postulate
• B] Once a coordinate system has
been chosen in this way, the
distance between any two points
equals the absolute value of the
difference of their coordinates.

a b
This is the more important part.

Distance = a b
# 2 Segment Addition Postulate

If B is between A and C, then

AB + BC = AC
A B C

Note that B must be on AC.

#3 Protractor Postulate
• On AB in a given plane, chose any point O
between A and B. Consider OA and OB
and all the rays that can be drawn from O
on one side of AB. These rays can be
paired with the real numbers from 0 to 180
in such a way that:
• OA is paired with 0. and OB is paired with
180.
• If OP is paired with x and OQ with y, then

m  POQ  x y
 Relax! You don’t have to memorize this.

Restated:
1] All angles are measured between 00 and 1800.

2] They can be measured with a protractor.

3] The measurement is the absolute values of the

numbers read on the protractor.

4] The values of 0 and 180 on the protractor

were arbitrarily selected.
Protractor Postulate Cont.
Q
x
P
y

180 0
B O P

m  POQ  x y
#4 Angle Addition Postulate
• If point B is in the interior of  AOC ,
then
m  AOB  m  BOC  m  AOC
m 1  m  2  m  AOC
C

1
B
2
O A
#4 Angle Addition Postulate
• If  AOC is a straight angle and B
is any point not on AC , then
m  AOB  m  BOC  1800
m 1  m  2  180 0

B
2 1

C O A
These angles are called “linear pairs.”
 Postulate #5
• A line contains at least 2
points;
• a plane contains at least 3 non-
collinear points;

• Space contains at least 4 non-

coplanar points.
 Postulate #5
• A line is determined by 2
points.
• A plane is determined by 3 non-
collinear points.

• Space is determined by 4 non-

coplanar points.
 Postulate # 6
• Through any two points
there is exactly one line.

Restated: 2 points determine a unique line.

 Postulate # 7
• Through any three points
there is at least one plane.
• And through any three
non-collinear points there
is exactly one plane.
 M

While three non-collinear

Three collinear points can points can lie on exactly
lie on multiple planes. one plane.
 Three collinear points can lie in multiple planes –
horizontal and vertical.
 Three collinear points can lie in multiple planes –
Slanted top left to bottom right and bottom left to
top right.
With 3 non-collinear points, there is only one
plane – the plane of the triangle.
B

A C
 Postulate # 8
• If two points of a line are
in a plane, then the line
containing those points in
that plane.
 Notice that the segment
starts out as vertical with
only 1 pt. in the granite
plane.

As the top endpoint

moves to the plane…

The points in between

move toward the plane.

When the two endpoints lie in the plane

the whole segment also lies in the plane.
 Postulate # 9
• If two planes intersect,
then their intersection
is a line. B C

A
D
F
G

E H
Remember,
intersection means points in common or in both sets.
 Postulate # 9
• If two planes intersect,
then their intersection
is a line. B C

A
D
F
G

E H
Remember, intersection means points in common or in both sets.
 Final Thoughts
• Postulates are accepted as true on faith
alone. They are not proved.
• Postulates need not be memorized.
• Those obvious simple self-evident
statements are postulates.
• It is only important to recognize
postulates and apply them
occasionally.
Theorems
Theorems are important statements
that are proved true.

We will introduce three theorems

with an explanation of each.

We are not yet ready to learn

how to prove theorems.
Theorem 1.1
If 2 lines intersect, then they
intersect in exactly one point.

This is very obvious.

To be more than one the line

would have to curve.

But in geometry,
all lines are straight.
Theorem 1.2
Through a line and a point not on the line
there is exactly 1 plane that contains them.

This is not so obvious.

 Theorem 1.2
Through a line and a point not on the line
there is exactly 1 plane that contains them.

If you take any two points

on the line plus the point
A off the line, then…

The 3 non-collinear points

B C mean there exists a exactly
plane that contain them.

If two points of a line are

in the plane, then line
is in the plane as well.
Theorem 1.3
If two lines intersect, there is exactly
1 plane that contains them.

This is not so obvious.

Theorem 1.3
If two lines intersect, there is exactly
1 plane that contains them.

If you add an
additional point
from each line,
the 3 points are
noncollinear.

Through any three noncollinear points there is

exactly one plane that contains them.
Summary
Geometry is made of 4 parts…

1 Undefined terms: Point, Line & Plane

Primitive terms that defy definition due to circular definitions.

2 Definitions
Words that can be defined by category and characteristics
that are clear, concise, and reversible.

3 Postulates
Statements accepted without proof.

4 Theorems
Statements that can be proven true.
 Postulates
1. The Ruler Postulate

2. The Segment Addition Postulate

3. The Protractor Postulate

4. The Angle Addition Postulate

Euclid’s concept of “The sum of the parts equals the whole.

 Postulates
5. The Ruler Postulate

6. The Segment Addition Postulate

7. The Protractor Postulate

8. The Angle Addition Postulate

9. The Ruler Postulate

 C’est fini.
Good day and good luck.