Content Standards

4-4 Using Corresponding Parts G.SRT.5 Use congruence . . . criteria for

triangles to solve problems and prove

of Congruent Triangles relationships in geometric figures.

Also G.CO.12

Objective To use triangle congruence and corresponding parts of congruent triangles

to prove that parts of two triangles are congruent

Is GABC congruent to GGHI? How do you know?

How does GDEH

help you solve this
problem?

MATHEMATICAL
PRACTICES

With SSS, SAS, ASA, and AAS, you know how to use three congruent parts of two
triangles to show that the triangles are congruent. Once you know that two triangles are
congruent, you can make conclusions about their other corresponding parts because,
by definition, corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent.

Essential Understanding If you know two triangles are congruent, then you
know that every pair of their corresponding parts is also congruent.

Prooff Problem 1 Proving Parts of Triangles Congruent

In the diagram, which Given: KBC  ACB, K  A
G K C
congruent pair is not
marked? Prove: KB  AC
P
The third angles of both
triangles are congruent. KBC  ACB BC  BC B A
But there is no AAA Given Reflexive Property of 
congruence rule. So, find
a congruent pair of sides.
K  A NKBC  NACB KB  AC
Given AAS Theorem Corresp. parts of 
 are .

Got It? 1. Given: BA  DA, CA  EA C E

Prove: C  E A

B D

244 Chapter 4 Congruent Triangles

 Proof Problem 2 Proving Triangle Parts Congruent to Measure Distance STEM

Measurement Thales, a Greek philosopher, is said to have developed a method

to measure the distance to a ship at sea. He made a compass by nailing two sticks
together. Standing on top of a tower, he would hold one stick vertical and tilt the
other until he could see the ship S along the line of the tilted stick. With this compass
setting, he would find a landmark L on the shore along the line of the tilted stick.
How far would the ship be from the base of the tower?
Which congruency
rule can you use? Given: TRS and TRL are right angles, RTS  RTL
You have information
about two pairs of Prove: RS  RL
angles. Guess-and-
check AAS and ASA.

S R L

Statements Reasons
1) RTS  RTL 1) Given
2) TR  TR 2) Reflexive Property of Congruence
3) TRS and TRL are right angles. 3) Given
4) TRS  TRL 4) All right angles are congruent.
5) NTRS  NTRL 5) ASA Postulate
6) RS  RL 6) Corresponding parts of   are .

The distance between the ship and the base of the tower would be the same as the
distance between the base of the tower and the landmark.

Got It? 2. a. Given: AB  AC, M is the midpoint of BC B

Prove: AMB  AMC
M A
b. Reasoning If the landmark were not at sea level,
would the method in Problem 2 work? Explain. C

Lesson 4-4 Using Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles 245

 Lesson Check
MATHEMATICAL
Do you know HOW? Do you UNDERSTAND? PRACTICES
Name the postulate or theorem that you can use to 3. Reasoning How does the fact that corresponding
show the triangles are congruent. Then explain why the parts of congruent triangles are congruent relate to
statement is true. the definition of congruent triangles?

1. EA  MA T 4. Error Analysis Find and K M

correct the error(s) in H
the proof.
L N
Given: KH  NH , L  M
E M
A
Prove: H is the midpoint of LM .
2. U  E U Proof: KH  NH because it is given. L  M
because it is given. KHL  NHM because vertical
J N
angles are congruent. So, NKHL  NMHN by ASA
Postulate. Since corresponding parts of congruent
E
triangles are congruent, LH  MH . By the definition
of midpoint, H is the midpoint of LM .

MATHEMATICAL
Practice and Problem-Solving Exercises PRACTICES
L M
A Practice 5. Developing Proof Tell why the two triangles are See Problem 1.
congruent. Give the congruence statement. Then
list all the other corresponding parts of the triangles K O
that are congruent. J N
6. Given: ABD  CBD, 7. Given: OM  ER, ME  RO See Problem 2.
Proof BDA  BDC Proof
Prove: M  R
Prove: AB  CB
O
B

A C R
M

E
D
8. Developing Proof A balalaika is a stringed instrument. Prove
that the bases of the balalaikas are congruent.

Given: RA  NY , KRA  JNY, KAR  JYN

Prove: KA  JY
R N
Proof: It is given that two angles and the included side of one
triangle are congruent to two angles and the included side of the
he
other. So, a.   NJNY by b. . KA  JY because c. .
K A J Y

246 Chapter 4 Congruent Triangles

B Apply 9. Given: SPT  OPT , 10. Given: YT  YP, C  R,
Proof
SP  OP Proof T  P
Prove: S  O Prove: CT  RP
S O C R
T

P T P

Reasoning Copy and mark the figure to show the given information. K
Explain how you would prove HP + HQ.

11. Given: PK  QK, KL bisects PKQ

12. Given: KL is the perpendicular bisector of PQ.

13. Given: KL  PQ, KL bisects PKQ

P L Q
14. Think About a Plan The construction of a line perpendicular to line  C
 
through point P on line  is shown. Explain why you can conclude that CP
is perpendicular to .

t
How can you use congruent triangles to justify the construction? 

t
Which lengths or distances are equal by construction? A P B
15. Given: BA  BC, BD bisects ABC 16. Given:   AB,  bisects AB at C,
Proof Proof P is on 
Prove: BD  AC, BD bisects AC
B Prove: PA  PB

A D C

A C B

17. Constructions The construction of B congruent to given C E
A is shown. AD  BF because they are congruent radii.
DC  FE because both arcs have the same compass settings.
Explain why you can conclude that A  B.
A D B F
18. Given: BE  AC, DF  AC, 19. Given: JK  QP, JK  PQ
Proof Proof
BE  DF , AF  CE Prove: KQ bisects JP.
Prove: AB  CD K
B C P

E F M
J
A D Q

Lesson 4-4 Using Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles 247

 20. Designs Rangoli is a colorful design pattern drawn outside houses
in India, especially during festivals. Vina plans to use the pattern at
the right as the base of her design. In this pattern, RU, SV, and QT
bisect each other at O. RS  6, RU  12, RU  SV, ST  RU, and
RS  QT . What is the perimeter of the hexagon?

C Challenge In the diagram at the right, BA + KA and BE + KE. K

21. Prove: S is the midpoint of BK .

Proof A E
22. Prove: BK  AE S
Proof
B

Standardized Test Prep

SAT/ACT For Exercises 23 and 24, use the diagram at the right. TM  BD and B A M C D
TM bisects HBTD and HATC.

23. Suppose BD  1 7 and AM  5. What is the length of CD?

24. Suppose mATC  6 4 , and mBTA  1 6 . What is mB?

T
25. Two parallel lines q and s are cut by a transversal t. 1 and 2 are
a pair of alternate interior angles and m2  38. 1 and 3 are vertical angles.
What is m3?

26. NABC has vertices A(1, 9), B(4, 3), and C(x, 6). For what value of x is NABC a right
triangle with right B?

Mixed Review
For Exercises 27 and 28, tell the postulate or theorem that you can use to prove See Lesson 4-3.
the triangles congruent.
27. 28.

Get Ready! To prepare for Lesson 4-5, do Exercises 29–32. See Lesson 3-5.
29. What is the side opposite ABC?
B x
30. What is the angle opposite side AB?

31. What is the angle opposite side BC?

75 30
32. Find the value of x. A C

248 Chapter 4 Congruent Triangles