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Postulates and Theorems

The document defines geometric terms like midpoint, segment bisector, adjacent angles, vertical angles, perpendicular lines, acute/obtuse/right angles, complementary angles, supplementary angles, angle bisector, and types of triangles. It also presents properties, postulates, and theorems used in geometry proofs, such as the segment addition postulate, angle addition postulate, properties of equality, vertical angles theorem, and congruence criteria for triangles like SSS, SAS, and ASA.

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Angelique E. Ranoco
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365 views6 pages

Postulates and Theorems

The document defines geometric terms like midpoint, segment bisector, adjacent angles, vertical angles, perpendicular lines, acute/obtuse/right angles, complementary angles, supplementary angles, angle bisector, and types of triangles. It also presents properties, postulates, and theorems used in geometry proofs, such as the segment addition postulate, angle addition postulate, properties of equality, vertical angles theorem, and congruence criteria for triangles like SSS, SAS, and ASA.

Uploaded by

Angelique E. Ranoco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A summary of definitions, postulates, algebra rules, and theorems that are often

used in geometry proofs:

Definitions:
Definition of mid-point and segment bisector
D

A M C

If a line BD intersects another line segment AC at a point M that makes AM ∼


=
M C, then M is the mid-point of segment AC, and BD is a segment bisector
of AC.

Definition of Adjacent Angles are two angles that share a common side with
each other and have the same vertex.

C A

In the above, ∠ACB and ∠BCD are adjacent angles, they share a common
side CB and have the same vertex, C.

Definition of Vertical Angles are two non-adjacent angles formed by two


intersecting lines. Vertical angles also share the same vertex.
B

A
E

C D

In the picture above, segment AC intersects BD at point E, so ∠AED and


∠BEC are vertical angles.
∠BEA and ∠CED are also vertical angles.

Definition of Right Angles and Perpendicular Lines:


If two lines intersect and make the two adjacent angles equal to each other, then
each of the equal angle is a right angle. The two lines that intersect this way is
said to be perpendicular to each other.
B

E
C A

In the picture above, CA intersects BD at point E in such a way that makes


∠CEB ∼ = ∠AEB. Therefore both ∠AEB and ∠CEB are both right angles.
Since they intersect to form right angles, segments CA and BD are perpendic-
ular to each other. We write CA ⊥ BD

An acute angle is one which is less than a right angle.


an obtuse angle is one that is greater than a right angle.
E
B

C A

In the above, ∠ACD is acute, ∠ACB is right, and ∠ACE is obtuse.


In degree measure, a right angle has a measurement of 90◦ .
A straight line (straight angle) has a measurement of 180◦
Definition: Two angles are complementary if, when placed adjacent to each
other with one side in common, their non-common sides form a right angle.
Numerically, we say that two angles are complementary if the sum of their degree
measurement equals 90◦
In the above picture, ∠ACD and ∠DCB are complementary because they form
a right angle.
Definition: Two angles are supplementary if, when placed adjacent to each
other with one side in common, their non-common sides form a straight line.
Numerically, we say that two angles are supplementary if the sum of their degree
measure equals 180◦
D

B C A

In the above, ∠ACD and ∠BCD are supplementary. Their non-common sides
form the straight line BA.

Definition of Angle Bisector:


If a line cuts an angle into two equal smaller angles, the line is said to bisect the
angle and is an angle bisector of the angle.

C A

In the picture above, ∠ACB ∼


= BCD, so CB is the angle bisector of ∠ACD

A triangle where all three sides are unequal is a scalene triangle


A triangle where at least two of its sides is equal is an isoceles triangle
A triangle where all three sides are the same is an equilateral triangle.

A triangle where one of its angle is right is a right triangle.


In a right-triangle, the side that is opposite the right-angle is called the hy-
potenuse of the right-triangle. The other two sides are the legs of the right-
triangle.

A triangle where one of its angle is obtuse is an obtuse triangle:


A triangle that does not have any obtuse angle (all three angles are acute) is
called an acute triangle.

Altitude of a Triangle
In a triangle, if through any vertex of the triangle we draw a line that is perpen-
dicular to the side opposite the vertex, this line is an altitude of the triangle.
The line opposite the vertex where the altitude is perpendicular to is the base.
B

A C
D

In 4ABC above, BD is an altitude. It contains vertex B and is perpendicular


to AC, which is the base.

Median of a Triangle:
In any triangle, if through one of its vertex we draw a line that bisects the
opposite side, this line is called a median of the triangle.
B

A C
D

In 4ABC above, BD bisects AC in D (AD ∼


= DC), so by definition, BD is a
median of 4ABC

Angle Bisector
An angle bisector of a triangle is a line that bisects an angle of the triangle and
intersects the opposite side.
B

A C
D

In 4ABC above, BD is an angle bisector of ∠ABC


Properties, Postulates, Theorems:
Segment Addition Postulate:
A B C

In a line segment, if points A, B, C are colinear and point B is between point A


and point C, then: AB + BC = AC

Angle Addition Postulate:


The sum of the measure of two adjacent angles is equal to the measure of the
angle formed by the non-common sides of the two adjacent angles.

C A

In the above, m∠ACB + m∠BCD = m∠ACD.

Properties of Equality:
For any object x, x = x (reflexive property).
If a = b, then b = a (symmetric property)
If a = b, and b = c, then a = c (transitive property)
If a = b, then anywhere a is used in a statement, b can be used instead and the
meaning of the statement is unchanged. (substitution property)
If a = b and c = d, then a + c = b + d (addition postulate)
If a = b and c = d, then a − c = b − d (subtraction postulate)

Complementary Angle Theorem: If two angles are complementary to the


same angle, then they are congruent to each other
Supplementary Angle Theorem: If two angles are supplementary to the same
angle, then they are congruent to each other
Vertical Angles Theorem: Vertical Angles are Congruent.

Ways to prove triangles are congruent:


Side-Side-Side (SSS)
If all three sides of a triangle is congruent to all three sides of another triangle,
the two triangles are congruent.
B B0

A C A0 C0

Side-Angle-Side (SAS):
If two sides of a triange is congruent to two sides of another triangle, and the angle
formed by the two sides is also congruent, then the two triangles are congruent.
B B0

A C A0 C0

Angle-Side-Angle (ASA):
If two angles of a triange is congruent to two angles of another triangle, and
the side between the two angles is also congruent, then the two triangles are
congruent.
B B0

A C A0 C0

Isoceles Triangle Theorem: In an isoceles triangle, the base angles (the


angles on the opposite sides of the congruent sides) are congruent.
Equilateral Triangle Theorem: In an equilateral triangle, all three angles are
congruent.
B F

A C D E

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