There are five ways to prove that

triangles are congruent. They are:

SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, HL
We are going to look at the first
three today.

SSS Postulate If three sides of one

triangle are congruent to three sides
of another triangle, then the
triangles are congruent.

S Side

S Side

C F

S - Side

S: AB FD
S: BC DE
S: AC FE
E

ABC FDE
because of SSS

What SSS Looks Like

R

F
C

S: AB ED
S: BC EF
S: AC FD
ABC DEF

PRQ SRQ

S: PR SR
S: PQ SQ
S: RQ RQ

SAS Postulate If two sides and the

included angle of one triangle are congruent
to two sides and the included angle of
another triangle, then the triangles are
congruent.

S Side

A Angle S - Side

C F

S: AB FD
A: B D
S: BC DE
E

CAB EFD
because of SAS

What SAS Looks Like

S: WT YZ
A: W Z
S: WV ZX

X
W

Z
V

YZX TWV
M

LMN QPN
Q

S: MN PN
A: LNM QNP
S: LN QN

What SAS Does NOT Look Like

Y

The angle pair that is marked congruent

MUST be in between the two congruent
sides to use SAS! There is NOT enough
information to determine whether these
triangles are congruent.

ASA Postulate If two angles and the

included side of one triangle are congruent
to two angles and the included side of
another triangle, then the triangles are
congruent.

A Angle S Side

A: B D
S: AB FD
A: A F

A - Angle

ACB FED
A

C F

because of ASA

What ASA Looks Like

D

A: N R
S: MN PR
A: M P
MNL PRQ

FDG JHG

A: D H
S: DG HG
A: DGF HGJ

P
M

What ASA Does NOT Look Like

L

The pair of sides pair that are

marked congruent MUST be in
between the two congruent angles
to use ASA!