Vocabulary:

congruent: b¬ng nhau

corresponding: t÷ìng ùng
parallelogram: h¼nh b¼nh h nh
trapezoid: h¼nh thang
postulate (axiom): ti¶n ·
interior alternate angles: 2 gâc trong còng ph½a
vertical angles: 2 gâc èi ¿nh
angle bisector: ÷íng ph¥n gi¡c
perpendicular bisector: ÷íng trung trüc
median: ÷íng trung tuy¸n
altitude (height): ֒ng cao
criterion: ti¶u ch½
common: chung (e.g. ABC
d is common to...)

vertex: ¿nh
equidistant: c¡ch ·u
proportion: t¿ l» thùc
isosceles: c¥n

Congruent Triangles
Triangles are congruent when they have exactly

ˆ the same 3 sides

ˆ the same 3 angles

When triangles are congruent, six facts are always true.

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Corresponding sides are congruent: AB = DE; BC = EF; CA = FD

Corresponding angles are congruent: BAC

d = EDF
d ; ABC
d = DEF
d ; ACB
d = DF
dE

The good news is: we don't have to know all three sides and all three angles to prove

congruency. Once triangles are proven congruent, the corresponding leftover "parts"

that were not used in 5 below methods, are also congruent.

5 Methods that Prove Triangles Congruent

1. SSS

SSS stands for "side, side, side" and means that we have two triangles with all three

sides equal.

If three sides of one triangle are equal to three sides of another triangle, the triangles

are congruent.

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2. SAS

SAS stands for "side, angle, side" and means that we have two triangles where we

know two sides and the included angle are equal.

If two sides and the included angle of one triangle are equal to the corresponding sides

and angle of another triangle, the triangles are congruent.

Example: Let ABCD be a parallelogram and AC be one of its diagonals. What can

we say about 4ABC and 4CDA?

Solution

ˆ In a parallelogram, opposite sides are congruent. Hence sides BC and AD are con-

gruent, and also sides AB and CD are congruent.

ˆ In a parallelogram opposite angles are congruent. Hence ABC

d and CDA
d are congru-

ent.

ˆ Two sides and an included angle of 4ABC are congruent to two corresponding sides

and an included angle in 4CDA. According to the above postulate the two triangles

ABC and CDA are congruent.

3. ASA

ASA stands for "angle, side, angle" and means that we have two triangles where we

know two angles and the included side are equal.

If two angles and the included side of one triangle are equal to the corresponding

angles and side of another triangle, the triangles are congruent.

Example: ABC is an isosceles triangle. BB' is the angle bisector. Show that 4ABB 0 ∼
=
4CBB 0 .

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Solution:

Since ABC is an isosceles triangle, its sides AB and BC are congruent and also its

d0∼
BAB d 0.
= BCB Since BB' is an angle bisector, d0∼
ABB d 0.
= CBB

Two angles and an included side in 4ABB 0 are congruent to two corresponding angles

and one included side in 4CBB 0 . According to the above postulate, 4ABB 0 ∼
= 4CBB 0 .

4. AAS

AAS stands for "angle, angle, side" and means that we have two triangles where we

know two angles and the non-included side are equal.

If two angles and the non-included side of one triangle are equal to the corresponding

angles and side of another triangle, the triangles are congruent.

In the below figure, these conditions are given: Pd

RQ = LN
dM , QP
dR = Md
LN , QR =

MN. That's enough to prove 4P QR ∼

= 4LM N .

5. HL (applies to right angled-triangles)

HL stands for "Hypotenuse, Leg" (the longest side of a right-angled triangle is called

the "hypotenuse", the other two sides are called "legs")

It means we have two right-angled triangles with

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ˆ the same length of hypotenuse and

ˆ the same length for one of the other two legs.

It doesn't matter which leg since the triangles could be rotated.

Area, Perimeter and other Relations

If two triangles are congruent, then they will have the same area, perimeter, altitude,

median, angle bisectors, etc.

2 Methods that DO NOT Prove Triangles Congruent

1. AAA

Does this also work with angles? Not always!

The AAA combination will show that the triangles are the same SHAPE (similar),

but will NOT show that the triangles are the same SIZE.

In the above figure, even though all angles match, one is larger than the other, hence

the triangles are not congruent.

2. SSA

In the figure below, AB is the same length as PQ, BC is the same length as QR, and

the angle A is the same measure as P. And yet the triangles are clearly not congruent

- they have a different shape and size.

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Keyword: CPCTC - Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles

are Congruent

Marking

When two triangles are congruent, we often mark corresponding sides and angles like

below:

The sides marked with one line are equal in length. Similarly for the sides marked

with two lines. Also for the sides marked with three lines.

The angles marked with one arc are equal in size. Similarly for the angles marked with

two arcs. Also for the angles marked with three arcs.

Problems with Detailed Solutions

Problem 1

In the isosceles triangle ABC, BA and BC are congruent. M and N are points on AC

such that MA=MB and NB=NC. Show that triangles AMB and CNB are congruent.

Solution to Problem 1:

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ˆ Since triangle ABC is isosceles and BA and BC are congruent then BAM
d = BCN
d .

ˆ Also since MA is congruent to MB, then AMB is an isosceles triangle and ABM
d =
BAM
d . NB=NC; CNB is an isosceles triangle and CBN
d = BCN
d . In fact all four angles

BAM, ABM, CBN and BCN are congruent.

Comparing triangles BAM and CNB, they have corresponding sides AB and BC con-

gruent, corresponding angles BAM and BCN congruent and corresponding angles

ABM and CBN congruent. These two triangles are therefore congruent. This is the

ASA congruent case.

Problem 2

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ABCD is a square. C' is a point on BA and B' is a point on AD such that BB' and

CC'are perpendicular. Show that AB'B and BC'C are congruent.

Solution to Problem 2:

ˆ Since ABCD is a square, d0

CBC and d0
BAB are right angles and therefore congruent.

Also we have BA=BC. BC and AD are parallel and BB' is a transverse, therefore

OBC
d and d0 A
BB are interior alternate angles and are congruent.

ˆ Since CC' and BB' are perpendicular, then triangle CBO is rectangle at point O

and therefore OBC d = 90◦

d + BCO

ˆ ABB' is also a right triangle and therefore size of d0 A = 90◦

d 0 + BB
ABB

ˆ Combine the above equations with the fact that OBC d0 A,

d = BB we can conclude

that d 0 = BCC
ABB d0

ˆ Hence, 4AB 0 B ∼
= 4BC 0 C by the ASA congruent case.

Problem 3

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Given a 4ABC where M is the midpoint of AC. I and J are points on BM such that

AI and CJ are perpendicular to BM. Show that 4AIM ∼

= 4CJM .

Solution to Problem 3:

ˆ Since M is the midpoint of AC, AM = MC. AI and CJ are perpendicular to the

same line BM and are therefore parallel with CA.

Meanwhile, M
d AI and Md
CJ are interior alternate angles and therefore congruent. AM
dI
and JM
dC are vertical angles and therefore congruent.

Therefore, 4AIM and 4CJM have one congruent side between two congruent angles

and are therefore congruent.

Homework:

Exercise 1: ABC is an isosceles triangle such that K is on AB and L is on BC. Both

KK' and LL' are perpendicular to AC. Given that KK' = LL'. Show that 4KK 0 M ∼
=
4LL0 M .

Exercise 2: Find x.

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Exercise 3: ABCD is a square. E is a point on CD such that DE = 27, F is a point on

BC such that BF = 48 and AF is the angle bisector of EAB

d . Find the length of AE.

Similar Triangles
Two triangles are similar if they have:

ˆ all their angles equal

ˆ corresponding sides are in the same ratio

But we don't need to know all three sides and all three angles ...two or three out of

the six is usually enough.

There are three ways to find if two triangles are similar: AA, SAS and SSS:

1. AA

AA stands for "angle, angle" and means that the triangles have two of their angles

equal.

If two triangles have two of their angles equal, the triangles are similar.

Example: these two triangles are similar:

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These two triangles similar both have angles 72◦ and 35◦

If two of their angles are equal, then the third angle must also be equal, because angles

of a triangle always add to make 180 . °

In this case the missing angle is 180◦ − 72◦ − 35◦ = 73◦

So AA could also be called AAA (because when two angles are equal, all three angles

must be equal).

2. SAS

SAS stands for "side, angle, side" and means that we have two triangles where the

ratio between two sides is the same as the ratio between another two sides and we we

also know the included angles are equal.

If two triangles have two pairs of sides in the same ratio and the included angles are

also equal, then the triangles are similar.

Example: triangles similar both have angle 75◦ but sides (15, 21, a) and (10, 14, x)

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In this example we can see that:

ˆ one pair of sides is in the ratio of 21 : 14 = 3 : 2

ˆ another pair of sides is in the ratio of 15 : 10 = 3 : 2

ˆ there is a matching angle of 75◦ in between them

So there is enough information to tell us that the two triangles are similar.

3. SSS

SSS stands for "side, side, side" and means that we have two triangles with all three

pairs of corresponding sides in the same ratio.

If two triangles have three pairs of sides in the same ratio, then the triangles are

similar.

Example: triangles (4, 6, 8) and (5, 7.5, 10)

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In this example, the ratios of sides are:

ˆ a : x = 6 : 7.5 = 12 : 15 = 4 : 5

ˆ b : y = 8 : 10 = 4 : 5

ˆ c : z = 4 : 5

These ratios are all equal, so the two triangles are similar.

Comprehension

Question 1: What is the diameter of the moon?

Answer:

On observation, we see that a triangle is formed between the eye and the coin's

diameter and another triangle is formed between the eye and the moon's diameter.

Using standard geometry, we can prove that these two triangles are similar. So, using
r d R
the properties of similar triangles,
R = D ⇔D= r d.

Question 2: In 4ABC, Â = 2B̂ . Calculate BC 2 in terms of AB and AC.

Answer:

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Draw angle bisector AD of 4ABC . We can confirm that d ⇔ AD = BD.
B̂ = DAB

CAD d − DAB
d = CAB d = B̂

Therefore, 4ACD ∼ 4BCA by AA case.

AC AD AC CD
From that, we have
BC = AB and
BC = AC

⇔ AC · AB = BC · AD and AC 2 = BC · CD

⇔ AC · AB + AC 2 = BC · (AD + CD) = BC · (BD + CD) = BC 2

⇔ BC 2 = AC(AC + AB)

Done the proof.

Area, Perimeter and other Relations

If we have two similar triangles, then not only their angles and sides share a relation-

ship but also the ratio of their perimeter, altitudes, angle bisectors, areas and other

aspects are in ratio.

In the upcoming discussion, the relation between the areas of two similar triangles is

discussed.

Theorems on the Area of Similar Triangles: If two triangles are similar,

then the ratio of the area of both triangles is proportional to the square of

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the ratio of their corresponding sides.

To prove this theorem, consider two similar 4ABC and 4P QR;

According to the stated theorem,

SABC
SP QR = ( PAB 2 BC 2 CA 2
Q ) = ( QR ) = ( RP )

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As, Area of triangle =
2 · Base · Height

To find the area of 4ABC and 4P QR, draw the altitudes AD and PE from the vertex
A and P of 4ABC and 4P QR, respectively, as shown in the figure given below:

1
Now, SABC = 2 · BC · AD
1
SP QR = 2 · QR · P E

The ratio of the areas of both the triangles can now be given as:

SABC BC·AD
SP QR = P E·QR (1)

Now in 4ABD and 4P QE , it can be seen that:

ABC
d = Pd
QR (Since 4ABC ∼ 4P QR)

ADB EQ (= 90◦ )
d = Pd

From AA criterion of similarity 4ABD ∼ 4P QE

AD AB
⇒ PE = PQ (2)

Since it is known that 4ABC ∼ 4P QR,

AB BC AC
PQ = QR = PR (3)

Substituting this value in equation (1), we get

SABC AB AD
SP QR = PQ · PE

Using equation (2), we can write

SABC AB AB
SP QR = PQ · PQ

SABC
⇒ SP QR = ( PAB
Q)
2

Also from equation (3),

SABC
SP QR = ( PAB 2 BC 2 CA 2
Q ) = ( QR ) = ( RP )

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This proves that the ratio of areas of two similar triangles is proportional to the

squares of the corresponding sides of both the triangles.

To have a better insight consider the following example:

In 4ABC and 4AP Q, the length of the sides are given as AP = 5 cm , PB = 10cm

and BC = 20 cm. Find the ratio of the areas of 4ABC and 4AP Q.

Solution:

In 4ABC and 4AP Q , Pd

AQ is common and AP
dQ = ABC
d (corresponding angles)

⇒ 4ABC ∼ 4P QR (AA criterion for similar triangles)

Since both the triangles are similar, using the theorem for areas of similar triangles

we have,

SABC
SAP Q = ( AB 2 15 2
AP ) = ( 5 ) = 9

Problems with Detailed Solutions

Problem 1

Find the length of CF (the figure is NOT drawn to scale).

Solution to Problem 1:

According to the figure, AB, CF, DE are all perpendicular to BE, therefore EAB
d =

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EF
dC = BF d = 90◦ .
dC = BED

⇔ 4ECF ∼ 4EAB by AA case of theorem; 4BCF ∼ 4BDE by AA case of theorem.

EF CF BF CF
⇔ EB = AB ; EB = DE .

EF BF CF CF 1 1
Since
EB + EB = 1, AB + DE = 1 ⇔ CF ( AB + DE ) =1

Substitute in the known values and we get

1 36
CF = 1 1 = 7 . (1)
9 + 12

Problem 2

In a rectangle, two line segments are drawn, dividing the rectangle into four different

regions. Find out what is the area of the last region.

Note: The figure is NOT drawn to scale.

Solution to Problem 2:

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From the figure, we can see that the two triangles are similar, by the AA case. More-

over, the ratio of the area between the lower triangle and the upper one is 4:1.

Therefore, their corresponding sides length are in ratio of 2:1, by the Area of Similar

Triangle theorem.

Furthermore, if the height of the upper triangle is h, that of the lower one will be 2h.

Since the two heights of two triangles adding up altogether equals the width of the

rectangle, which is h + 2h = 3h, and the length of the triangle is 2a, the area of the

rectangle is 6ah.

1
Meanwhile, the area of the upper triangle is
2 ah = 1. Hence, a · h = 2, and we can

conclude that the area of the rectangle is 6 · 2 = 12.

From that, we can easily find out the area of the last region, which is 12 - 1 - 3 - 4 =

4, and that's our answer.

Problem 3

Square ABCD has a side length equal to 10. Suppose E is the midpoint of side AD.

Now fold the square at vertex A, along the line segment EB in such a way that A

becomes F. What is the distance between the point F to CD?

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Solution to Problem 3:

First, AE =ED = 5 since E is the midpoint of AD.

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Consider the right triangle AEB. We can calculate the hypotenuse of it using Pythagorean
√ √
Theorem: EB = EA2 + AB 2 = 5 5

Since E is equidistant from A and F, and B is also equidistant from those, EB is the

perpendicular bisector of AF.

Construct AF, and let G be the intersection of AF and BE. Here:

EA EB EA·AB 5·10 10
4AGE ∼ 4BAE (by the AA case) ⇔ AG = BA ⇔ AG = EB = √
5 5
= √
5

AG and GF are equal to each other because EB is the perpendicular bisector of AF,
10
so GF = √
5
.

Construct FH, which is perpendicular to AD. This creates another right triangle AHF

and therefore, 4AHF ∼ 4AGE by the AA case (and also ∼ 4BAE ).

AH BA AF ·BA
That leads to this proportion:
AF = EB ⇔ AH = EB

20 10
Substitute in the known values and we can solve for AH = √
5
· √
5 5
= 8.

As AD = 10, HD = AD − AH = 10 − 8 = 2, and that's also the distance from F to

CD. 2 is the answer.

Problem 4

In 4ABC , pick a point P in the interior of the triangle. Construct 3 lines through

P that are parallel to the sides of 4ABC that will create three-known-area-value

triangles, which is 4, 9, and 49. What is the area of 4ABC ?

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Solution to Problem 4:

Before we calculate SABC , let's find SDBG and the area ratio of these two triangles.

First job: Find SDBG : use the known area of 4DEP and find out the area
ratio of these two triangles.

Because the lines through P are parallel to each side of 4ABC corresponding to each

one of them, all triangles are similar to each other and to 4ABC .

By the Area of Similar Triangles Theorem, the area of a triangle is proportional to its

side length squared.

The area ratio of these three triangles is 4:9:49. Hence, the side ratio of these three

triangles is 2:3:7 (1).

Meanwhile, we can easily prove EPFB is a parallelogram and therefore EP = FB, so:

EP EP 3 3
BG = BF +F G = 3+7 = 10 (because of (1))

SDEP 9 100·SDEP
⇔ SDBG = 100 ⇔ SDBG = 9 = 100

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Second job: Find the area ratio of 4ABC and 4DBG.

SDBG
SABC = ( DG 2 DP +P G 2 3+7 2 5 2
BC ) = ( AL+LH+HC ) = ( 2+3+7 ) = ( 6 ) =
25
36

36SDBG 36·100
⇔ SABC = 25 = 25 = 144.

Homework:

Exercise 1: Inside rectangle ABCD, there are the right triangles AED and BFC as

shown in the figure. Suppose F is located along DE. If AE = 7, ED = 24, BF = 15,

what is the length of AB?

Exercise 2: Given an isosceles triangle ABC with B̂ = Ĉ = 72◦ and its angle bisector

BD which cuts AC at D,

i) Prove that 4ABC ∼ 4BCD

ii) Suppose AB = AC = 1, find the length of BC. What did you find out interesting?

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